Scalloped vs Au Gratin Potatoes: Difference and Comparison

Potato, among all the vegetables, is the well-loved vegetable of all times and by all generations. Potato made with cheese is what is scalloped potato and au gratin potatoes.

Key Takeaways

  1. Scalloped potatoes are made by layering thinly sliced potatoes with milk or cream and baking until tender.
  2. Au gratin potatoes are made by layering thinly sliced potatoes with cheese and breadcrumbs and baking them until golden brown.
  3. The main difference between scalloped and au gratin potatoes is the addition of cheese and breadcrumbs.

Scalloped vs Au Gratin Potatoes

The difference between scalloped and au gratin potatoes is that the former is baked with basic cream cheese, whereas the latter is baked with the cheese as well as has cheese between the layers and the cheese is also sprinkled on top of it along with bread crumbs for some crunch.

Scalloped vs Au Gratin Potatoes

The word is scalloped means to slice thinly. Scalloped potatoes are the kind of potato dish that is a casserole type dish. It is prepared mixed with basic cream cheese sauce in the oven.

Au gratin potatoes are cooked either by baking, grilling or cooking in the boiler. Potatoes are mixed with the ingredients and then cooked, and are then topped with cheese, bread crumbs, etc., for a good crust as well as the top.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonScalloped PotatoesAu Gratin Potatoes
Meaning It is a dish in which potatoes are sliced are baked all together with basic cheese cream sauce.It is a dish in which along with cooking the potatoes with the basic cheese, there are even fillings made tossed in cheese by putting the cheese in the middle as well as by sprinkling it upon the dish.
TechniqueIt is cooked using oven or baking technique by any means.It can be cooked not only by baking but also by grilling or by cooking in the boiler.
OriginIt comes from the old English word “collop” which means to slice thinly.It comes from the French word ‘grater’ which means to scrape.
TypeIt is a casserole type dish, that is, in such a dish a deep, big bowl is used which is possible for the baking environment.It is not such a specific dish as a casserole one as it is not restricted to baking.
Restriction Generally, only potatoes are prepared scalloped.Not only potatoes but meat, fish, crabs and other vegetables can also be cooked au gratin.

What are Scalloped Potatoes?

Scalloped potatoes are a sort of dish which is casserole type dish in which a big deep pan or bowl is used in which the dish is cooked rather than baked in the oven, which has a few distinct forms, including American and Irish ones.

It contains cheese cream that may also have flavoured stock mixed with it or milk or cheese sauce of some definite flavour or any other substitute as per the requirement of the dish but not cheese.

One may believe that it contains scallops, which is a kind of shellfish, yet it doesn’t. The Old English word “collop” from the Old French “escalope” signified “cut neat”, which is the way potatoes are ready in scalloped potatoes.

scalloped potatoes

What are Au Gratin Potatoes?

The expression “gratin” comes from the French word “grater”, which signifies “to scratch”, which signifies “to scrape the skin.” Aside from potatoes, meat, poultry, fish, pasta, vegetables, and crab, meat may likewise be arranged au gratin.

The fixings are combined as one and set in a gratin dish, then, at that point, finished off with breadcrumbs, ground cheddar, and egg, and spread for sauteing and baking process.

Au gratin potatoes include grated cheese, because of which the dish becomes even more cheesy and decadent as the grated cheese is sprinkled in between the layers and also on top of it.

au gratin potatoes

Main Differences Between Scalloped and Au Gratin Potatoes

  1. Nicely chopped parsley or any other green leaf is used to garnish the scalloped potato dish, whereas bread crumbs a used to attain a good crunch on au gratin potatoes.
  2. Scalloped potatoes type dish whereas au gratin potatoes are not.
Difference Between Scalloped and Au Gratin Potatoes
References
  1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0493270?casa_token=oA2y936jF6YAAAAA:M5MMXN0mwd7wBy57qq-l6peLzbOSkSxX3Qiy6DrTf7k4uqjtRof6LGM1v0dH83G0LzOS5_BOnbZF-g
  2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ido8AAAAYAAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP5&dq=%EF%BB%BFdifference+between+scalloped+and+au+gratin+potatoes&ots=7an1OKp0RN&sig=lo8JHzW6Kt-CXlvD2bBxeN79Stg

Last Updated : 14 August, 2023

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24 thoughts on “Scalloped vs Au Gratin Potatoes: Difference and Comparison”

  1. I was always been confused between scalloped and au gratin potatoes. After reading this article, I am now aware of the difference between the two.

    Reply
  2. The explanation provided in the article has greatly expanded my knowledge of the differences between the two potato dishes.

    Reply
  3. The detailed comparison provided in this article has greatly enhanced my understanding of the two potato dishes.

    Reply

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