Why Ranch Dressing Tastes Better in Restaurants Than It Does at Home (2024)

The relief of not having to clean your own dishes isn't the only thing that makes eating out enjoyable. Some customers swear that certain mass-produced items taste better in a restaurant setting than they do at home—and they may be on to something. The way that Coca-Cola from McDonald's is stored gives it a slight edge over the bottled stuff, for example. According to MEL Magazine, Hidden Valley Ranch also benefits from the restaurant bump.

Unless they advertise it on the menu, you can assume that the condiments at your neighborhood restaurant aren't made from scratch. This includes ranch dressing. Ask someone in the food service industry about the creamy dressing they serve with salads and wings and they may say it starts as a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch mix.

If you have a bottle of ranch dressing in your fridge, there's a good chance that it's Hidden Valley as well. So why does the dressing taste better in a restaurant than it does at home? The answer comes down to how the mix is prepared. Ranch is generally made of herbs, pepper, salt, onions, garlic, and powdered buttermilk mixed into a creamy base. When it's bottled, much of the "cream" in ranch consists of an oil-based dairy substitute. It's cheap to make, and it doesn't go bad when it sits unrefrigerated on the shelf.

While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base. This might include milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. So when you notice that the ranch in a restaurant tastes better than the bottled dressing from the store, what you're really tasting is delicious, creamy fat.

McDonald's co*ke isn't easy to recreate at home, but restaurant ranch is. Just buy the powdered mix instead of the bottled product and combine it with the base of your choice. The benefits will be worth it for ranch lovers, who are a plentiful bunch. The dressing is one of the most popular condiments in the country.

[h/t MEL Magazine]

Why Ranch Dressing Tastes Better in Restaurants Than It Does at Home (2024)

FAQs

Why Ranch Dressing Tastes Better in Restaurants Than It Does at Home? ›

While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base. This might include milk, buttermilk, sour cream, or mayonnaise. So when you notice that the ranch in a restaurant tastes better than the bottled dressing from the store, what you're really tasting is delicious, creamy fat.

Why is restaurant ranch dressing always better? ›

Even when a restaurant does start with premade ranch, they will often fold in extra fresh herbs, and maybe even more buttermilk, to lighten and bring in some brighter flavors that can be lost in shelf-stable bottling.

Why does Hidden Valley Ranch taste different? ›

The ranch packet has a fresher taste, because you add your own mayo and milk. Even though all the herbs and spices in the mix are dried, they rehydrate quickly and leave you with a product that feels homemade. This version of Hidden Valley Ranch is more flavorful than the bottled version and much, much thicker.

Is homemade ranch better? ›

The Best Homemade Ranch Salad Dressing tastes better than anything store-bought and only takes a few minutes to make. Ranch dressing is delicious on salads and as a dip for fresh vegetables. We love dipping pizza in ranch and these spicy chicken bites are awesome with ranch on the side too.

What gives ranch dressing its distinctive flavor? ›

“But the particular flavor of traditional ranch can only be achieved with the dry versions of all those aromatics: garlic and onion powder, dried herbs, powdered pepper and buttermilk.” That's because fresh ingredients were rare in Alaska at the time.

What state eats the most ranch dressing? ›

Despite its pretty mainstream popularity, though, it only ranked number one in one state: Iowa. What the hell? Are people not eating enough chicken wings or something? Or are they dipping those in Ranch now, too?

What is the most expensive ranch dressing? ›

This bottle's no joke. It's covered in 75 carats' worth of jewels, making it valued at $35,000. You could almost buy three brand-new Nissan Versas for that. But Hidden Valley knows you can't put a price tag on love, be it the holy matrimony kind or the condiment-you-drizzle-on-everything variety.

Did Hidden Valley Ranch changed their recipe? ›

Clorox reformulated the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing several times to make it more convenient for consumers, including adding buttermilk flavoring to the seasoning, allowing the dressing to be made using much less expensive regular milk.

What kind of ranch do they use at WingStop? ›

What brand of ranch does WingStop use? WingStop makes its own special blend of ranch dressing using mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch seasoning. Where does WingStop get their ranch? WingStop makes its own ranch dressing at each restaurant.

Is it OK to eat ranch everyday? ›

You'll be putting your cardiovascular health at risk.

Ranch dressing contains 320 milligrams of sodium in a two-tablespoon serving. Eating this much sodium on a regular basis could lead to heart health issues like high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.

Why is Wingstop ranch so different? ›

What Makes Wingstop Ranch Stand Out? Wingstop's Ranch is distinguished by its harmonious blend of buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, and a medley of spices. The resultant concoction is a velvety, flavorful sauce that pairs exquisitely with a variety of dishes, transcending beyond just wings.

What is the difference between Homestyle and Original Hidden Valley Ranch? ›

A: I found flavor is pretty much the same but the new original container I just got has more salt: homestyle 45 mg vs original 60 mg. I can taste the difference. Great product for either version.

Why is restaurant ranch dressing so good? ›

The secret that many restaurants have up their sleeves is seasoning mix. Well-known brands make dry counterparts to their bottled ranch that encapsulate all the flavors, including powdered buttermilk, with none of the additives and oils.

What is the ranch dressing that restaurants use? ›

I work in a restaurant and the ranch we serve is hidden valley ranch. Although, you can buy it in the bottle or you can buy the package and make it yourself, the two taste a lot different. We actually make it fresh with the package (it's so much better that way) and you can do that at home.

Why are stores out of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing? ›

Clorox, Hidden Valley's parent company, is dealing with a cyberattack that has affected the dressing's production. So stores for months have had trouble stocking what some people call America's favorite dressing.

Why is WingStop ranch so different? ›

What Makes Wingstop Ranch Stand Out? Wingstop's Ranch is distinguished by its harmonious blend of buttermilk, mayonnaise, dill, and a medley of spices. The resultant concoction is a velvety, flavorful sauce that pairs exquisitely with a variety of dishes, transcending beyond just wings.

What is the difference between Homestyle and Original Hidden Valley ranch? ›

A: I found flavor is pretty much the same but the new original container I just got has more salt: homestyle 45 mg vs original 60 mg. I can taste the difference. Great product for either version.

Where does WingStop get their ranch dressing? ›

What brand of ranch does WingStop use? WingStop makes its own special blend of ranch dressing using mayonnaise, buttermilk, and ranch seasoning. Where does WingStop get their ranch? WingStop makes its own ranch dressing at each restaurant.

Is there a difference between ranch sauce and ranch dressing? ›

Consistency: Ranch dressing has a pourable, liquid consistency, making it suitable for drizzling over salads or mixing into dishes. Ranch dip, on the other hand, is much thicker and is intended for dipping, spreading, or dolloping onto foods.

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