In the U.S., it’s no surprise that ranch took the top spot for the most popular salad dressing according to a 2017-2018 survey by The Association of Salad Dressings and Sauces. It’s incredibly versatile, both as a creamy dressing for salads, as a dip for pizza and wings, or as a marinade. But the ingredients in the little ranch packets aren’t exactly the same as when the recipe was first written, and there’s one ingredient that makes the dressing even more delicious now.
The original recipe was developed by Steve Henson in the 1950s during his time as an occasional cook on a construction crew in Anchorage, Alaska. Because fresh ingredients were sparse, Hensen combined dried herbs, dried onion, and dried garlic, then buttermilk, sour cream, and/or mayonnaise could be added just before serving.
When Henson and his wife opened the Hidden Valley Guest Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., guests took home these seasoning packets as a souvenir after their steakhouse meal. In just a few years, the dry seasoning mix was being mailed all over the country, and in 1972, the Clorox company bought the rights to the recipe for $8 million.
The ingredients in the seasoning packet have changed a bit since Henson first wrote the recipe and in particular, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is now one of the ingredients. MSG is a (sometimes misunderstood) flavor enhancer and we set out to see if we could taste the difference between the Hidden Valley Ranch packets with and without MSG. Here’s what we found.
HVR Seasoning Packet Taste Test
Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning packets can be purchased with and without MSG. A minor detail you might have overlooked before now. To taste and compare, we prepared each packet as the directions suggested by mixing it with sour cream. Testers then tried the dips on a carrot, cucumber, and plain chip without knowing which dip had MSG and which didn’t.
The results were unanimous. The dip that contained MSG had more pronounced flavors of onion, garlic, dill, and parsley—in other words, the main flavors of ranch dressing. It’s no wonder why it’s actually quite hard to find the packets without MSG (I had to special order it in bulk) because the version with MSG tastes so much better.
One thing to note is the version with MSG actually has more sodium than the version without, so along with having the MSG flavor enhancer, it also has more salt. This could be another reason the version with MSG tastes so much better.
How to Tell the Difference on the Packet
So whether you want to do your own taste test or purposely buy one or the other, you might be wondering how to pick the right seasoning packet. Luckily, it's as simple as looking for the "No MSG Added" notation on the packaging. If you don't see that yellow note, you can assume you're getting the MSG version, before double-checking the ingredients on the back.
Once you're stocked up, you can get your zesty dinner started.
FAQs
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.
Why does Hidden Valley Ranch taste different than Restaurant ranch? ›
When it's bottled, much of the "cream" in ranch consists of an oil-based dairy substitute. It's cheap to make, and it doesn't go bad when it sits unrefrigerated on the shelf. While many restaurants use mass produced ranch mix, they often add it to a higher-quality base.
Does the Hidden Valley Ranch packet have MSG? ›
The ingredients in the seasoning packet have changed a bit since Henson first wrote the recipe and in particular, monosodium glutamate (MSG) is now one of the ingredients.
Is Hidden Valley Ranch homestyle the same as original? ›
A: I found flavor is pretty much the same but the new original container I just got has more salt: homestyle 45 mg vs original 60 mg. I can taste the difference. Great product for either version.
Did Hidden Valley Ranch changed their recipe? ›
Clorox reformulated the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing several times to make it more convenient for consumers, including adding buttermilk flavoring to the seasoning, allowing the dressing to be made using much less expensive regular milk.
Is there a real Hidden Valley Ranch? ›
Yes! Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® dressing was developed in the late 1950s by real ranchers, Steve and Gayle Henson. The Hidden Valley® Guest Ranch is located near Santa Barbara in California and was favored by visitors who wanted to enjoy the natural surroundings.
Does Hidden Valley Ranch Powder go bad? ›
Ranch dressing mix, when unopened, can typically remain fresh and tasty up to 2 years past the printed date on the package - this is a best-by date, not an expiration date. Once the package has been opened, the mix should be used within 3 months for optimal flavor and quality.
Does Hidden Valley Ranch have a lot of sodium? ›
Each 1/2 tablespoon of a Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix packet contains between 135 and 240 milligrams of sodium, which means you might be consuming as much as 10 percent of your daily value for sodium from a single serving of dip or dressing.
Why is Hidden Valley Ranch out of stock everywhere? ›
Clorox, Hidden Valley's parent company, is dealing with a cyberattack that has affected the dressing's production. So stores for months have had trouble stocking what some people call America's favorite dressing. Other mayonnaise-based dressing brands are available, including at fast food restaurants.
Does Kraft own Hidden Valley? ›
Since 1972 Hidden Valley Ranch has been owned by Clorox. Ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy. While working as a contract plumber in Alaska, Steve Henson started cooking for his coworkers and perfecting his buttermilk dressing recipe.
These twists on the original are all from Hidden Valley Ranch, the nation's biggest brand of ranch dressing. And they are part of a strategy by the brand's parent company, Clorox, to dominate the condiments aisle.
What is the ranch dressing that restaurants use? ›
I work in a restaurant and the ranch we serve is hidden valley ranch. Although, you can buy it in the bottle or you can buy the package and make it yourself, the two taste a lot different. We actually make it fresh with the package (it's so much better that way) and you can do that at home.
How much ranch seasoning is in a packet? ›
HOW MANY TABLESPOONS IN RANCH SEASONING PACKET? There are 2 tablespoons of ranch seasoning in one packet of ranch seasoning mix. So if a recipe calls for a packet of ranch seasoning all you have to do is measure out 2 tablespoons and add it into the recipe instead of using the packet.
What's the difference between original ranch and buttermilk ranch? ›
Traditional ranch is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, dried herbs (usually dill, parsley, and chives), garlic powder, and onion powder. Buttermilk versions have, as you guessed, the addition of buttermilk and tend to be a bit thinner.
