Its fair to say ranch dressing has transcended its original purpose. Fans incorporate it (or its flavor) in everything from salads to macaroni and cheese. We dip our vegetables and chicken wings into it and even drizzle it on our pizza. The New York Times points out that ranch is the official American dressing.
But are some varieties of ranch superior to others? Most definitely. Many people are dismayed by the observation that ranch seems to taste better when you eat out than it does in the confines of your kitchen (per Just Restaurant Supplies). We counted nearly 12 Subreddits dedicated to this frustrating and confounding phenomenon. Some fans have suggested that the fancier grocery store brands are closer to restaurant ranch. Others say that bottled buttermilk ranch is most similar to the dressing served in your favorite eatery. But the real solution seems to be making it from semi-scratch.
This is the position of a Mel op-ed, which, like many Redditors, says your favorite restaurant ranch is probably made from powdered Hidden Valley Ranch mix, as opposed to the ready-to-serve kind, or making one from scratch. And there is no shame in the game. Both in the Mel article and on Reddit, restaurant kitchen staffers have revealed that they mix up packets of Hidden Valley Ranch behind the scenes. And you can do this in your kitchen, too.
Ranch fans are overjoyed with the recipe
Many ranch aficionados are already onto the secret of how to replicate restaurants versions of the delicious dressing at home, thanks to the aforementioned overwhelming number of Subreddits on the topic, as well as a Quora forum. One former restaurant employee says she makes the dressing in her kitchen at home. “I make it from the Hidden Valley dry packet. A lot. After an hour in the fridge, its better than any RESTAURANT. The little Mom & Pop Cafe I worked at for 5 years made it in house, same recipe. I put Ranch on EVERYTHING. I dont know how not to!”
Other ranch lovers are beyond thankful for the tip that allows them to infinitely elevate their ranch games. “My whole life Ive been trying to imitate the powder ranch from restaurants and it never occurred to me to buy the powder,” wrote one Redditor. Hidden Valley also offers recipes on its website that can be made with the ranch mix, such as Mississippi Roasted Cauliflower Bites. And get ready for this one — the company also makes ranch seasoning mix in various flavors. Try the Buffalo ranch seasoning when making a plate of wings for a football game, or perhaps the zesty potato seasoning for a Sunday night dinner.
The difference is dairy
The key difference between bottled ranch and ranch thats been mixed from a packet — which is whats usually served in restaurants — is that ranch made from a mix usually contains real dairy ingredients. The store-bought varieties dont. The dry ingredients in ranch dressing are pretty much the same across the board: salt, herbs, and powdered buttermilk, per Mel. When you make the famous dressing from a packet, you add fresh dairy products, including mayonnaise, milk, and/or sometimes buttermilk or sour cream.
Bottled ranch, however, substitutes oil for all, or much, of the dairy to make the dressing shelf-stable. This base makes a crucial difference. As The New York Times pointed out, one of the elements that make us crave ranch is its creaminess. The other element is the herbs, including thyme, parsley, dill, and allium flavors — meaning onions and garlic. Remove the creaminess, and youre left with a less-than-satisfying experience.
Here’s Why Ranch Dressing Always Tastes Better in Restaurants
FAQ
What kind of ranch is used in restaurants?
Why does ranch dressing taste better in a restaurant?
Why does Wingstop ranch taste different?
What’s the difference between store ranch and restaurant ranch?
Can you make ranch dressing from a packet?
When you make the famous dressing from a packet, you add fresh dairy products, including mayonnaise, milk, and/or sometimes buttermilk or sour cream. Bottled ranch, however, substitutes oil for all, or much, of the dairy to make the dressing shelf-stable. This base makes a crucial difference.
Is Ranch a good dressing?
We dip our vegetables and chicken wings into it and even drizzle it on our pizza. The New York Times points out that ranch is the official American dressing. But are some varieties of ranch superior to others?
What is ranch dressing used for?
It’s fair to say ranch dressing has transcended its original purpose. Fans incorporate it (or its flavor) in everything from salads to macaroni and cheese. We dip our vegetables and chicken wings into it and even drizzle it on our pizza. The New York Times points out that ranch is the official American dressing.
Where can I buy restaurant quality ranch dressing?
You can buy restaurant quality ranch dressing at ANY local grocery store, the thing is, you have to mix it up yourself and it is EASY to do! Just like how you can’t buy premixed and ready coffee in a canned drink, you can’t buy fresh delicious ranch dressing. You just have to mix it up yourself. It’s EASY though, just follow the recipe card below.