Spread (food)
A spread is a food that is spread, generally with a knife, onto foods such as bread and crackers. Spreads are added to food to enhance the flavor or texture of the food, which may be considered bland without it. Butter and soft cheeses are typical spreads.
A sandwich spread is a spreadable condiment used in a sandwich, in addition to more solid ingredients. Butter, mayonnaise, prepared mustard, and ketchup are typical sandwich spreads, along with their variants such as Thousand Island dressing, Tartar sauce, and Russian dressing.
Spreads are different from dips, such as salsa, which are generally not applied to spread onto food, but have food dipped into them, instead.
Common spreads include dairy spreads, margarines, honey, plant-derived spreads, yeast spreads, and meat-based spreads.
