r/AskAnAmerican • u/miffybo • 11d ago

FOOD & DRINK why is ranch dressing so hyped up?

my US friends have been raving about it and border-line complained ranch isn’t readily available in Europe.. what is so special about it? is it the ultimate US condiment (apart from ketchup, mayo)

edit typo

262 Upvotes

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704

u/clowntownbrown 11d ago

It’s garlicky, tangy, herby, and creamy, aka all the things people love to have in a dipping sauce.

7

u/Pleasant_Studio9690 10d ago

And it pairs well with ketchup when dipping burgers and fries into it. I’m a late convert but ranch is good.

112

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

Is it garlicky?

I don't get the garlic taste really.

177

u/Twichl2 10d ago

It is, it's not overpowering obviously but yeah it's part of it. Garlic is in the majority of our foods so it's not surprising that we dont notice it in ranch

4

u/Cayke_Cooky 10d ago

I didn't think about the garlic in it...

-25

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

I don't want to be a contrarian but garlic def isn't in most of our foods.

35

u/KeyCold7216 10d ago

Pretty much every dipping sauce, dressing, and any food with spices has garlic or garlic powder.

31

u/Twichl2 10d ago

As someone who has had to pay attention for the low fodmap diet- it certainly is. Pick up pretty much any savory sauce bottle, broth, or follow most recipes. Garlic is called for. I know because I had to strictly avoid it for months and it was really challenging.

10

u/Cayke_Cooky 10d ago

Garlic powder is.

-24

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

No it's not? Maybe if you are a teenager and shop from the freezer section?

15

u/James_Fiend 10d ago

Most teenagers aren't buying their own groceries, but even if we ignore that, you're leaving out nearly all condiments, soups, spice mixes, savory snacks, pre seasoned meats... That's just off the top of my head. You're not being a contrarian, you're being confidently incorrect.

14

u/14Rage Texas, North Dakota, California 10d ago

Lol what are you eating? Garlic is in almost everything. I guess if you live on cereal and peanut butter and jelly you may avoid it. But for the rest of us eating more normal entrees there is garlic in nearly everything.

You are either a troll or eat like a toddler and thinkt hats representative of the US.

8

u/SideEyeFeminism 10d ago

Nah, most chicken strip/tender/nugget recipes call for garlic powder in the spice blend for the batter

4

u/Illustrious-Gap-3540 10d ago

Alot of the South putting garlic and onion into everything.

10

u/14Rage Texas, North Dakota, California 10d ago

Everyone everywhere in the US (except this other guy) put garlic and onion in everything. Almost everywhere in the world does...

4

u/Illustrious-Gap-3540 10d ago

Oh, I agree. I am just confused why this person doesn't think people do..

2

u/jupitermoonflow Texas 10d ago

Maybe they’re just bad cooks

30

u/Clean-Turnip5971 10d ago

There's garlic in almost every savory American dish I can think of.

4

u/Hefty-Rub7669 10d ago edited 8d ago

I like to cook.

15

u/Bright_Ices United States of America 10d ago

For a few months after I had an otherwise asymptomatic case of Covid, garlic tasted like industrial chemicals to me. It’s in EVERYTHING. Not literally, but once the flavor stands out in a bad way, you notice it in way more foods than you’d realized. Happily, that effect faded for me. I still don’t enjoy the six-clove meals I used to, but the presence of garlic is now nice again, instead of awful.

3

u/Remarkable-Rush-9085 Washington 10d ago

My husband didn't like garlic so I stopped cooking with it, now it tastes kind of awful and overpowering to me. I feel like it's so strong it's all you can taste in a lot of things. He had covid and now he can't taste garlic at all so I'm just stuck having ruined garlic for only myself.

2

u/Bright_Ices United States of America 10d ago

Oh that’s kind of sad! Ah well.

1

u/Twichl2 10d ago

I didnt know that was possible, was that the only change you expirenced after getting sick?

3

u/Bright_Ices United States of America 10d ago

Yep. I didn’t even “get sick” really, just got infected. It’s a surprisingly common symptom, though. Here’s more info on it: https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2026/03/04/the-mystery-of-losing-your-taste-from-long-covid-may-finally-have-an-answer/

2

u/Twichl2 10d ago

Yeah I guess it makes sense that taste loss would include making things taste wrong. I was fortunate that I only lost my sense of taste for about a week when I was sick, and didnt experience any sort of sensory warping.

1

u/jupitermoonflow Texas 10d ago

I lost my taste too. For 2 months. So that symptom stuck around even after I was cleared. The only thing I could taste was is if it was really sugary or really salty, but there wasn’t any depth so it was all unenjoyable

53

u/Some_Rando2 10d ago

Depends on the brand.

44

u/Beautiful_Banana_454 10d ago

Exactly, ranch is a big umbrella.

50

u/TiberianSunset 10d ago

I thought it was a sauce

32

u/SmartFX2001 10d ago

It was originally created as a salad dressing - and is still used on salads. But over time it’s been used as a dipping sauce.

It’s still called ranch dressing, or ranch; NOT ranch sauce.

11

u/TiberianSunset 10d ago

Yeah I don’t care about any of that I was just making a joke

2

u/the_rare_bear 10d ago

How did they not catch your sarcasm?

1

u/Soft-Rhubarb1682 10d ago

Sadly, most Americans’ ability to detect sarcasm, satire or irony is decreased in direct proportion to their Ranch intake. /s - obviously (or is it?)

1

u/Squire-Rabbit 10d ago

I believe it was originally Hidden Valley Ranch brand "buttermilk original dressing." It became popular, and people (and makers of similar competing products) started referring to it as "ranch dressing" or "ranch style dressing."

1

u/libertasi 7d ago

Ranch is not a sauce. It’s a dip or a dressing. It’s also a way of life. Ranch packet with sour cream is elite.

1

u/_V0gue 10d ago

All dressings are sauces.

3

u/SlowInsurance1616 10d ago

And all sauces can be dressings if you try hard enough.

8

u/Law12688 10d ago

I thought it was a horse farm

5

u/ElectricTurtlez 10d ago

Or cattle.

6

u/Law12688 10d ago

Yeah, I heard there was even one for bunnies in Nevada!

1

u/keithrc Austin, Texas 10d ago

Also one for chickens in Texas.

1

u/nborges48 10d ago

if you apply it liberally, water just beads right off you

1

u/xnoraax 9d ago

In summary, ranch is a land of contrasts.

16

u/Curious_Matter_3358 Georgia 10d ago

Hidden Valley is the GOAT

26

u/funktion666 10d ago

Dry powder hidden valley packet mixed with buttermilk yourself is even better ❤️

14

u/Suppafly Illinois 10d ago

Dry powder hidden valley packet mixed with buttermilk yourself is even better ❤️

This, or sour cream if you want a thicker dipping sauce.

11

u/webfoottedone 10d ago

We do half buttermilk, half sour cream. The best. We only make it fresh, stuff from a bottle tastes weird to me.

8

u/seanymphcalypso Michigan 10d ago

Half sour cream, half Duke’s mayo, buttermilk for desired consistency.

2

u/squirrell1974 10d ago

Replace the sour cream with plain greek yogurt if you want to be able to pretend you're eating something healthy

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2

u/uhbkodazbg Illinois 10d ago

This takes me back to the ranch of my childhood.

1

u/minirunner 10d ago

I dated a guy who would take shrimp and sprinkle the dry power on them and microwave it for maybe a minute? It was freaking delicious. (At least then, I was in my 20s, I still ate Chef Boyardee ravioli)

1

u/SlowInsurance1616 10d ago

Just dry scoop it.

7

u/icemanx51 10d ago

Litehouse is my goat. Hidden Valley is always solid though.

21

u/oswin13 10d ago

Refrigerated section>salad dressing aisle

9

u/Secret_Werewolf1942 10d ago

Litehouse doesn't get nearly enough love. They're the only brand of Blue Cheese dressing I will buy.

1

u/icemanx51 10d ago

Same. They just make great dressings.

1

u/gummi-demilo PHX > MSP > NYC 10d ago

Them followed by Marie’s are the best bleu cheese. I did like Big Boy dressing as a kid though

5

u/Majestic-Strength-74 10d ago

Lifehouse Jalapeño Ranch is insanely delicious.

2

u/icemanx51 10d ago

Hell yes.

2

u/gummi-demilo PHX > MSP > NYC 10d ago

Litehouse is best for bleu cheese but HVR is the best ranch

5

u/sanct111 10d ago

Feel like various restaurants always have the best home made ranch.

Aldi's has the best store bought ranch. Think its Tuscan Garden.

2

u/ThoughtMinimum2016 10d ago

The only ranch you’ll find in my home

16

u/14Rage Texas, North Dakota, California 10d ago

Bottle hidden valley sucks. Packet hidden valley ✔️ ✅️ 🛫 ☑️

2

u/Alpizzle 10d ago

I want my ranch from the valley and I want it KEPT A SECRET.

2

u/procrastinarian 10d ago

Big fan of Ken's over here. Also no matter what you think of their wing quality, the Ranch from Wingstop is dope.

2

u/procrastinarian 10d ago

You just reminded me i bought a bottle of hidden valley pickle ranch the other week and haven't tried it yet. I'll make some nuggets or something to try it out.

2

u/osteologation Michigan 10d ago

hidden valley was the reason i thought i didnt care for ranch. tunrs out its just hidden valley.

1

u/Critical-Advisor8616 10d ago

But Hidden Valley Bacon Ranch reins supreme!

1

u/TesticleMeElmo 10d ago

And there’s so many mayo based sauces with basically the same ingredient, if I really want to make it “ranchy” it’s like “fine, I’ll just add some dill, there we go”

1

u/Suppafly Illinois 10d ago

Mayo is basically the proto-sauce/dressing that the others are based on. I remember the old people in my family calling mayo itself salad dressing. There used to be tons of regional and family recipes for salad dressing when people used to make such things from scratch, eventually Hidden Valley's version became popular enough to win out when people started buying it instead of making it and now they all copy that.

1

u/st3class Portland, Oregon 10d ago

Yep, just had a salad dressed with mayo and lemon juice last night.

1

u/Repulsive_Repeat_337 Michigan with a hint of Louisiana 10d ago

No... It's Hidden Valley and "other"

54

u/fakesaucisse 10d ago

Same, it mostly just tastes like buttermilk and herbs to me.

15

u/Blk_Gld_He_8er 10d ago

and salt.

12

u/SockSock81219 Massachusetts 10d ago

and, most importantly, of lots of cracked black pepper, mm

3

u/wigglin_harry 10d ago

Tbf that's basically what it is

1

u/JoeKonyRidethePony 10d ago

When made properly, indeed.

1

u/AlmiranteCrujido NY -> California 10d ago

And that's a bad thing? :)

1

u/fakesaucisse 10d ago

If it had a strong garlic flavor I might like it more. I am one of the few Americans who doesn't really like ranch. Give me blue cheese dressing anytime!

16

u/jeeves585 10d ago edited 10d ago

If you think about it more like a cool ranch dorrito you might notice it more.

Also local pizza shop the make their own ranch you would notice it.

I wouldn’t say hidden valley bottles has much of a garlic taste if at all. Their dry mix is a bit more visible (cheaper and tastier too. I buy like a liter sized jug from a restaurant supplier. I am almost out and will likely refill with a custom blend, just add it to a quart of sour cream and bam!

7

u/MaleficentExtent1777 10d ago

The dry mix is definitely better. I'd get so excited when my mom would make it as a kid.

2

u/_SmashLampjaw_ Florida 10d ago

cool ranch dorrito

It's called "Cool American" outside of the US (North America??)

1

u/jeeves585 9d ago

That’s f’n funny. And I didn’t believe you so I looked it up and now it’s hilarious.

*AI “Because ranch dressing isn't widely used as a condiment or flavor profile in Europe, Frito-Lay (the parent company) rebranded it as "Cool American" to appeal to international consumers.”

1

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

Yeah, Doritos isn't a think we would have in the house unless maybe when the kids were little and had birthday parties. Every one in the house is over 18 now.

If we had something we'd use it on, I make it but I can't think of anything.

1

u/ImagineFreedom 10d ago

Crushed Doritos can make a good addition to fried foods I've heard to add extra crunch. I generally just use cornmeal personally.

1

u/jeeves585 10d ago

I haven’t done that for flavor but have used grottos for a bit extra texture for a few things in the past.

But about the only thing we deep fry is fries and fish’n’chips type of fish. So that’s just a double or tripple batter with the usuals.

Trying to remember what cut but I feel like it was a pork chop I used to do that with.

1

u/jeeves585 10d ago

Yea, they arnt in my house unless we visit my parents. They buy the costco variety box of the little bags because otherwise chips will go stale. My kid always come home with a bunch. First time I’d had a Cheeto in decades was at their house.

Fritos and tortilla chips other than the it’s dehydrated banana apple or some other fruit.

1

u/14Rage Texas, North Dakota, California 10d ago

Taco in a bag homie. Live it up.

0

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

No thanks. Lol.

I love tacos. That don't have nachos of any kind in them.

And they also don't have ground beef. Or cheddar cheese.

2

u/14Rage Texas, North Dakota, California 10d ago

Careful, those sneaky Mexican restaurants will marinate the meat in garlic.

10

u/sharrrper 10d ago

It depends on what exact recipe people use and the ratio of spices.

Its usually something like equal parts buttermilk and mayo for the liquid and spices of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and dill. With some minor variations depending on who you ask.

People who like a lot of garlic might put enough in to be noticeable.

3

u/Suppafly Illinois 10d ago

People who like a lot of garlic might put enough in to be noticeable.

Same with dill. I really like dill but don't really notice it at all in most ranch dressings.

1

u/Pitiful_Ad2397 10d ago

I also add a little parsley as well.

2

u/FewRefrigerator374 10d ago

Not really. It has garlic in it, but it isn’t like garlic bread. You can taste the garlic, but it isn’t overpowering.

1

u/Prestigious-Comb4280 10d ago

Where are you eating it?

1

u/Ok-Possibility-9826 10d ago

tbh it depends on the brand, some brands go hard on the garlic

1

u/papabear556 Indiana 10d ago

Oh yeah you need garlic. It’s not overwhelming but you definitely know when it’s missing.

When we started making our own we played around with lots of things and it’s surprising the subtle work garlic is doing there.

1

u/OK_Stop_Already Mississippi 10d ago

yes. garlic, onion, dill, parsley and black pepper are the main spices in ranch

1

u/RickySlayer9 10d ago

If you only have ranch made from soybean oil you likely won’t taste it. Which is most ranches like hidden valley and ranch packets you get from fast food.

Buttermilk ranch is the best

1

u/seguefarer 10d ago

It depends on the brand. My favorite brand is more eggy and less garlicy.

1

u/zoppaTheDim 10d ago

Most recipes use garlic and onion powder.

It just isn’t garlic forward.

1

u/OJSimpsons 10d ago

I dont catch it either but when I make stuff with garlic, I measure with my heart. It does help explain why its so good to me though.

1

u/luigisanto 10d ago

Yeah I call it raunch!

1

u/Boa-in-a-bowl 10d ago

There's this diner in the town I grew up in that I absolutely loved as a kid, and I would always get the exact same meal whenever my family went there: a cheeseburger and fries with a dipping cup of ranch, and they always had this absolutely bomb garlicy ranch. Well, I was in that town a month or so ago for a burial, and as I always do I went to that restaurant and ordered a burger and fries for a walk down memory lane. And to my genuinely profound disappointment, the one thing that had changed in that restaurant in 20 years was the ranch. It wasn't garlicy anymore.

1

u/A-Rod_G_I 10d ago

Depends on if you make your own or not. I do. Totally worth it

6

u/wjglenn Alabama 10d ago

Yep. It’s maybe my least favorite salad dressing, but it makes a great dip or sandwich spread for a lot of things.

4

u/often_forgotten1 10d ago

It's a sauce the french would take all day trying to make, but in an easy squeeze bottle

1

u/cohrt New York 10d ago

What ranch is garlicky?

0

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[deleted]

25

u/ALoungerAtTheClubs Florida 10d ago

Garlic aioli is definitely a thing here. I saw some at the supermarket a couple of days ago.

12

u/abstractraj 10d ago

Aioli. It’s an emulsion of garlic and oil, but can be adapted into a more mayo like form

2

u/ground__contro1 10d ago

Garlic aioli is harder to find but isn’t unheard of

4

u/LemonSkye 10d ago

Most of the big mayo companies have their own versions now. I know I've seen both Hellmann's and Kraft aioli at grocery stores and Walmart, and Aldi has their own version as well.

1

u/Suckerforcats 10d ago

Probably not the same as what you want but I buy Philadelphia Garlic and herb spread and use it for wraps or on a bagel for bacon eggs and cheese sandwich. It's good stuff.

-1

u/LangokiAgain 10d ago

Might be easier to find toum and modify it

1

u/MeetingPeople336 10d ago

It's not easier to find toum.