Is ground pork the same thing as sausage?

Ground pork is simply pork meat that has been ground into a fine texture. It can be used in many dishes, but it doesn't have any specific flavorings or seasonings added to it.

Sausage is made with ground pork (or other meats), but it has additional ingredients like spices, seasonings, and sometimes other meats or fillers. It's often encased in a casing.

Think of it this way:

* Ground pork is like the blank canvas - you can add whatever you want to it.

* Sausage is like a painting - it already has specific flavors and textures determined by the recipe.

Here's a simple analogy:

* Ground pork is like flour - you can use it to make bread, cookies, or cake.

* Sausage is like a pre-made cake mix - it's already flavored and ready to be baked.

You can absolutely use ground pork to make sausage at home! But it's not the same as purchasing pre-made sausage.