Homemade Ranch Dressing - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

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.

How Long Does Homemade Ranch Last? Stored in a well-sealed container in the fridge (assuming you began with fresh sour cream and buttermilk) your buttermilk ranch dressing should keep for up to two weeks.

And of course, you can always make a flavored ranch by adding in mashed roasted garlic, sriracha (or your favorite hot pepper sauce), barbecue spices, cilantro and lime, and more. And it goes without saying, that while the ranch experience at restaurants can be superior, even a mediocre ranch is still pretty fantastic.

Directions. In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth. Whisk in thyme, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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.

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.

Ranch normally has a pleasant smell, so if it develops any kind of foul odor, it's likely past its prime. If you can't determine its quality from its texture or smell, you can also taste the dressing to see if it still tastes high quality.

To Freeze: Freezing homemade ranch isn't recommended since the taste and texture tends to change once it's thawed.

Ranch should be refrigerated after opening because it contains perishable ingredients like buttermilk, which has a high moisture content and is prone to spoilage. Since perishable ingredients can become unsafe to eat after two hours at room temperature, refrigerating this dressing is essential to keep it fresh.

This might seem obvious, but you can add a lot of flavor to ranch dressing by adding more of what's already in it. I love adding lots of fresh herbs, extra garlic, or even lemon zest.

How can I thicken my homemade ranch dressing? ›

Over the years, Steve had been perfecting his signature salad dressing, a tangy blend of buttermilk, savory herbs and spices. His ranch guests couldn't get enough of the stuff, and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing was invented.

Who Invented Ranch? Around 1950, Steve Henson unknowingly made history when he whipped up a unique mixture of dry herbs and buttermilk. Originally a plumber, Steve came up with the concoction while working briefly in Anchorage as a construction worker and part-time cook for his crew.

Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

The ingredients in ranch dressing and ranch dip are generally the same, but the proportions may vary. Ranch dip typically contains a higher ratio of the creamy base and seasonings, making it thicker and more suitable for dipping.

Ranch dressing is a savory, creamy American salad dressing usually made from buttermilk, salt, garlic, onion, mustard, herbs (commonly chives, parsley and dill), and spices (commonly pepper, paprika and ground mustard seed) mixed into a sauce based on mayonnaise or another oil emulsion.

Cool Ranch's ingredients list may contain funky elements like MSG, sodium acetate, a trio of artificial colors, and "what's that?" additions like disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate. But the chips also get some of their trademark flavor from tomato, onion, and garlic powders, plus cheddar cheese and buttermilk.

But there are some usual suspects: buttermilk, mayonnaise, herbs (especially dill, chives, and parsley), garlic, vinegar (often white distilled), and spices (from paprika and cayenne to black pepper and mustard). Sometimes sour cream joins in for extra tang and richness.

When tasting ranch dressing, we want tang without cloying sweetness. Creaminess without gloppiness or weird, chemically-thickened sliminess. A good ranch should taste primarily of buttermilk with richness from the eggs and oil in the mayonnaise. Garlic should taste fresh, not dry and stale.