Difference between contents and ingredients

[Phuong Lam]

Test No. incompl/inter-12 "At the Restaurant", question 6

If you're really interested, I'm sure the chef will tell you the ......... of that dish.

(a) ingredients
(b) contents
(c) make-up
(d) composition

Test No. incompl/inter-12 "At the Restaurant", answer 6

If you're really interested, I'm sure the chef will tell you the ingredients of that dish.

Correct answer: (a) ingredients

Your answer was: incorrect
If you're really interested, I'm sure the chef will tell you the contents of that dish.
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What's deffence between contents and ingredients? Why word ingredients in this sentence is correct?

[Alan]

Contents would be for what is inside a book or a box/package. Ingredients for the things you need to make a meal.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/run

[Natzin]

And what about a sandwich? How is it right to say: the contents of the sandwich or the ingredients of a sandwich???

[Yankee]

Hi Natzin

The British Sandwich Association defines a sandwich as:

"Any form of bread with a filling, generally assembled cold - to include traditional wedge sandwiches, as well as filled rolls, baguettes, pitta, bloomers, wraps, bagels and the like, but not burgers and other products assembled and consumed hot. Hot eating sandwiches are also included."

Amy

[Natzin]

Hi Yankee

Thank you very much for the quick reply, but I'm still missing the correct word (may be because I'm just stupid ) is it "ingredient" or "contents" ???

[Yankee]

Hi

The British Sandwich Association uses neither "ingredients" nor "contents", but rather "filling"!

Various dictionaries also say that what's in between the two pieces of bread of a sandwich is called "filling".

If you want to refer to more than what is in between the two pieces of bread (in other words, everything that makes up the sandwich - including the bread), then you might be able to say "ingredients". I myself would say "sandwich fixings" in that case.

Amy

[Natzin]

Well, this is I must say, the best possible answer! Thank you very much for your thorough answer! I owe you one,

[Goodmahsa]

hi yankee
thanx for your explanations but just one point :according to your explanations when a sandwich serves hot everything that makes up it,is called ingredients but after a period of time when the same sandwich got cold everything that makes up it is called filling!!!!!
I'm in a muddle please correct me if I'm wrong thanx in advance

[Nanucbe]

'Heterogeneous and homogeneous' may be the difference between content/filling and ingrdients. best of luck, nanucbe