Homemade Ranch Dressing - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

How is ranch made from scratch? ›

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.

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.

If you don't have time or inclination to make your dressing from scratch, but you want that elevated restaurant-style ranch, think about zhuzhing up the bottled version with things like finely chopped shallot or scallion, a clove of minced fresh garlic, a splash of buttermilk or dollop of sour cream if you have them ...

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. Help it stay fresh by not dipping anything directly into the container that you're storing it in—for example, a half-bitten carrot.

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.

The reason it's so beloved is because it has a very particular aromatic flavor profile, which all comes down to the seasoning. Where the sauce typically differs is in its consistency. Some dressings are thicker, tangier, or creamier, but ultimately they can all be recognized as ranch.

“Eating expired ranch dressing could lead to foodborne illnesses, especially if the ranch has been improperly stored,” she says. It's important to discard this dressing if it's past its expiration date or if you notice changes in its smell, color, or consistency, Randhawa says.

But even if your ranch appears bright and mold-free at first glance, take a sniff — just like with spoiled milk, you'll easily be able to tell if it smells a little rancid. If you're willing to brave a tiny taste, a sour flavor is another surefire indicator that it's best not to consume your leftover dressing.

When ranch dressing goes bad, it becomes a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. These bacteria can multiply rapidly and release toxins that can cause food poisoning. Consuming spoiled ranch dressing can lead to gastrointestinal issues, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Because while some restaurants do use a bottled shelf stable dressing, what you are referring to is a powdered ranch mix (typically the Hidden Valley brand) that the restaurant cooks add milk/ buttermilk and sour cream to make their dressing. I agree it is far better tasting.

Why is restaurant ranch so creamy? ›

The difference is dairy

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.

To thicken up your homemade ranch, use more mayo, sour cream, or yogurt. To thin out the texture, add additional milk/liquid. Transfer dressing to a sealed jar or bottle and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to thicken. Serve over salad, with veggies for dipping, or however you like!

Can you freeze ranch dressing? Yes, you can but the consistency and the overall texture may change.

Like all frozen foods, buttermilk will keep indefinitely if properly frozen, but it will taste best if used within three months.

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.

Ranch dressing is essentially a buttermilk mayonnaise dressing spiffed up with herbs. It was popularized by Clorox, when they figured out a way to make their Hidden Valley brand shelf stable. (According to Slate, bottled ranch dressing is shelf stable to 150 days or about 5 months.

"Titanium dioxide, an ingredient often used in body care items, especially sunscreen and face lotions, helps provide the white color in ranch dressing," says Jones.

This is a very common question, since ranch dressing has become such a staple in the United States. The confusion seems to come from the belief that one of the ingredients is raw eggs. It isn't. Therefore, yes, you can eat ranch dressing while pregnant.