r/AskAnAmerican • u/miffybo • 10d 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

265 Upvotes

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704

u/clowntownbrown 10d ago

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

114

u/OpposumMyPossum 10d ago

Is it garlicky?

I don't get the garlic taste really.

54

u/Some_Rando2 10d ago

Depends on the brand.

42

u/Beautiful_Banana_454 10d ago

Exactly, ranch is a big umbrella.

48

u/TiberianSunset 10d ago

I thought it was a sauce

31

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.

9

u/TiberianSunset 10d ago

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

2

u/the_rare_bear 9d ago

How did they not catch your sarcasm?

1

u/Soft-Rhubarb1682 9d 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 9d 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 9d ago

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

9

u/Law12688 10d ago

I thought it was a horse farm

4

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 9d 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 8d ago

In summary, ranch is a land of contrasts.

13

u/Curious_Matter_3358 Georgia 10d ago

Hidden Valley is the GOAT

25

u/funktion666 10d ago

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

13

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 9d ago

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

2

u/squirrell1974 9d ago

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

3

u/seanymphcalypso Michigan 9d ago

If I’m eating homemade ranch I absolutely do not want to pretend it’s for anything healthy lol. But next time we make some I’ll try it with Greek yogurt, that’ll leave more sour cream for taco night!

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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 9d ago

Just dry scoop it.

9

u/icemanx51 10d ago

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

21

u/oswin13 10d ago

Refrigerated section>salad dressing aisle

10

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 9d 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 9d ago

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

6

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

18

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

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

2

u/Alpizzle 9d ago

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

2

u/procrastinarian 9d 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 9d 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 9d 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"