Illinois may rank dead last in a number of economic categories, but it ranks much higher in a rather specialized holiday eating measure.
Culinary experts say that 30 million green-bean casseroles will appear on Thanksgiving tables today; and Illinois is ranked 17th among the 50 states for love of the iconic side dish, according to the Del Monte Green Bean Index.
Del Monte Foods -- which operates several food-growing, processing and distribution sites in northern Illinois -- asked 3,000 Americans whether or not they plan to eat green-bean casserole at today’s Thanksgiving dinner.
The survey also asked survey respondents to rate their favorite "secret ingredient" to add to the iconic blend of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French-fried onion to make it unique. According to the survey, the favorite additives for green-bean casserole are:
- Bacon (34%)
- Mushrooms (17%)
- Cheese (11%)
- Grilled Onions (8%)
- Almonds (7%)
- Sausage (6%)
- Bread crumbs or crushed crackers (5.6%)
- Garlic (5.2%)
- Jalapeños or hot sauce (4%)
- Sour cream (3%)
Here is the complete ranking of the states in order of percentage of survey respondents who plan to eat green-bean casserole for Thanksgiving dinner:
- Louisiana: 60%
- Oklahoma: 58%
- Kentucky: 57%
- Florida: 54%
- Wisconsin: 52%
- Missouri 51%
- Colorado: 50%
- Kansas: 49%
- New Hampshire: 48%
- Maine: 46%
- Vermont: 45%
- California: 44%
- Mississippi: 43%
- Idaho: 41%
- Utah: 41%
- Texas: 40%
- Illinois: 39%
- Ohio: 38%
- New York: 37%
- Michigan: 37%
- Alabama: 36%
- North Carolina: 36%
- New Mexico: 35%
- Maryland: 34%
- Tennessee: 32%
- Massachusetts: 32%
- New Jersey: 31%
- South Carolina: 30%
- Pennsylvania: 29%
- Virginia: 29%
- Arizona: 29%
- Minnesota: 28%
- Indiana: 27%
- Georgia: 26%
- Delaware: 25%
- Oregon: 23%
- Rhode Island: 23%
- Connecticut: 22%
- Nevada: 22%
- Montana: 21%
- Iowa: 21%
- Washington: 21%
- West Virginia: 20%
- Alaska: 20%
- Arkansas: 20%
- Nebraska: 19%
- Wyoming: 19%
- South Dakota: 19%
- North Dakota: 18%
- Hawaii: 17%