There’s a whole wide world of sausage, and some of it is hard to tell apart. Like, what is the difference between Italian sausage and sweet Italian sausage? (And how about hot Italian sausage? And mild Italian sausage?) And can you use them all interchangeably?

Italian sausage, as it’s referred to in the United States, is most often a pork sausage that is made with fennel seed or anise. It packs a ton of flavor, and can be seasoned with fresh or dry herbs. It’s the usual type of sausage that you’ll find in most pasta sauces, as a pizza topping, etc.