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    Supermarket standoff: Which brand makes the best ranch dressing?

    By bon appétit magazine | Work + Money – Thu, May 27, 2010 8:34 PM EDT

    The ranch dressing lineup, just before Bon Appetit editors descended upon itThe ranch dressing lineup, just before Bon Appetit editors descended upon itBecause our lasagna taste test was so successful, we've decided to embark on an 8-month (possibly longer) taste test tour of your favorite supermarket items. We nibble, we score, and we share the results with you, in hopes that they might help you avoid the paralyzation that can come with Brand Choice Overload. Today's topic: ranch dressing, the most popular salad dressing offered in restaurants of North America, according to Mintel Menu Insights. (Who knew?)

    So how did we choose our test subjects? Some were easy--you can't think of the words Hidden Valley without Ranch attached--but some required more thought. So I took myself to an Associated Supermarket (a New York chain akin to Giant, Safeway, and the like), stood in front of the dressing aisle, and let my hand wander to bottles like the planchette on a Ouija board. Just kidding; this choice involved email discussions among colleagues and many a chat with grocers.

    Once I arrived back to the office, plastic bags in hand, we set out to decide which brand is the best. The only fair way to do this was a blind taste test, so that no one on staff knew which dressing was which. And baby carrots were the vehicle of choice, because "baby carrots and ranch dip is the official food of preschoolers everywhere," said Executive Editor Victoria von Biel.

    Check out the results and tell us what your favorite ranch dressings are    .

    Ranked by flavor:

    #1 Kraft Ranch Dressing & Dip
    Nutrition: 1 serving = 120 calories; 12 g fat; 370 mg sodium
    Cost: $2.19 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
    Blind Tasting Notes: "Nice bright white color"; "Well balanced"; "Tastes like my childhood"

    #2 Ken's Steak House Ranch Dressing
    Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 15 g fat; 310 mg sodium
    Cost: #3.99 for a 16oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
    Blind Tasting Notes: "Creamy but not too taxing texture"; "Not overly mayonnaise-y"

    #3 Hidden Valley "The Original" Ranch Dressing
    Nutrition: 1 serving = 140 calories; 14 g fat; 260 mg sodium
    Cost: $2.49 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
    Blind Tasting Notes: "Not the worst, but not the best"; "Okay"; "Whatever this is, it's what I ate growing up"

    #4 Newman's Own Ranch Dressing
    Nutrition: 1 serving = 150 calories; 16 g fat; 310 mg sodium
    Cost: $4.09 for a 16oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
    Blind Tasting Notes: "Unappealing color"; "Too sweet"

    #5 Wishbone Ranch
    Nutrition: 1 serving = 130 calories; 13 g fat; 250 mg sodium
    Cost: $1.89 for an 8oz. bottle at Associated Supermarket
    Blind Tasting Notes: "Too tangy"; "Disgusting"; "Never put me through this again"

    --Julia Bainbridge

    Related:


    More from Bon Appétit:

    Photo Credit: Julia Bainridge

     

    1,579 comments

    • MichelleM
      MichelleM  •  1 year 11 months ago
      I totally agree that Kraft dressings are horrible just as much as I dislike Wishbone and HIDDEN VALLEY has always been the BEST!!!! The taste test should of been done with people off the street with a blind testing approach. And with about 100 people..not a handful. MSG is cancer causing who would want that in their dressing let alone any foods!
    • Razorback
      Razorback  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Apparently very few know what msg is or they just want to dis the kraft dressing. They are playing the old follow the leader let's all just follow the pack. I have tried all of the ranch dressings and if they will take time to ask their favorite restuarant owner what ranch dressing He uses they will find it is in all likely to be Kraft. So I will sign off and let the ignorant call me a fool or some other name.
    • Allan
      Allan  •  1 year 11 months ago
      More like Krapt dressing - can't stand the stuff. Would much rather have the Hidden Valley
    • ShelbyS
      ShelbyS  •  1 year 11 months ago
      No bottled ranch can taste better than the Hidden Valley in the package that you make at home. It's the soy that is the problem with bottled ranch. In times of desperation though, Ken's is the choice in our house.
    • Stazia
      Stazia  •  1 year 11 months ago
      I love hidden valley! Not kraft! It's nasty
    • dolly
      dolly  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Kraft is disgusting! I refuse to go along with these results. even the store brand tastes better than Kraft! I bought two bottles of Kraft on sale one time the minute I tasted it I threw my salad and the opened bottle away. I wouldnt even donate the unopened bottle to the food pantry thats how terrible the taste is.
    • Jason
      Jason  •  1 year 11 months ago
      No way man!!! Hidden valley ranch ALL the way BABY!!! What the hell is this taste test talking about!! That's just nuts...ken's buttermilk, in my opinion, is also very good..
    • Greencaraction
      Greencaraction  •  1 year 11 months ago
      go make ur oooon
    • Gyspy Shisters
      Gyspy Shisters  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Kraft is the one that's too mayonnaisey!! Hidden valley is the best by far!!

      I swear thought that the one and only best ranch dressing you can make it from scratch with the ranch packetts... You get to control the amount of mayonnaise and such in it. I always ad a spoonful or sour cream to mix into it and it gives it something extra. Try it out!!!
    • Mary
      Mary  •  2 years 0 months ago
      For those on a low sodium diet Ole Cape Cod Sweet and Sour Poppy Seed dressing is outstanding!!! Calories 90; Fat Cal. 40; Sodium 45 mg; Carb. 12 g. and it has an incredible taste!
    • Ron
      Ron  •  1 year 11 months ago
      If you have a Winn Dixie Store near year try their Garden Ranch dressing. We use it as a dip too. Has tiny tiny pieces of veges and a light flavor. Really good. Try It!
    • Beth
      Beth  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Personally, I think all of dressings selected for this comparison are junk. I haven't been able to find a store bought Ranch dressing that isn't 'sweet' in years (Hidden Valley and Kraft included), and forgive me here, but I don't recall the Ranch dressing from my youth ever being 'sweet'. Total dissapointments...
    • pacatrue
      pacatrue  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Not that anyone will see this, but a blind taste test does NOT mean they are actually blindfolded while eating. It means they don't know which item they are tasting at the time. Essentially, the dressings were poured into non-descript bowls before the judges came in the room, or some such.
    • Stacy
      Stacy  •  1 year 11 months ago
      I love Kraft Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.. It's gotta be Buttermilk though, all the rest of that crap is nasty.. Don't like a Strong tasting ranch.. I can't eat a salad that has that kind.. Only Buttermilk.
    • Ptown Resident
      Ptown Resident  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Tho you have to make it yourself, Uncle Dan's is the very best!!
    • Ozzy
      Ozzy  •  1 year 11 months ago
      You guys have clearly never heard of wing stop ranch.
    • Teresa
      Teresa  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Actually, the best ranch dressing is when you use a packet of dry Hidden Valley and either add buttermilk (for the buttermilk version) or the mayo & milk (for the original). The bottled dressings are okay while the refrigerated versions are a lot better. Just my 2 cents.
    • Paige
      Paige  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Coming from someone who has been using ranch on a regular basis as a dipping agent for 15+ years, I can honestly say Kraft is the worst! I prefer Wishbone or Newman's Own.
    • Meghan
      Meghan  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Hidden Valley is definitely the best! I love the Lite version of the Ranch. It really doesn't taste like it is lite and it is almost half the calories if I remember correctly. Its the only ranch I buy, and if eating out I can't really stomach the other ranches. I like to bring the pizza or takeout home so I can enjoy my low in calories and best tasting ranch, for sure!!! And yes, Kraft is yuck, I never liked their ranch.
    • KimF
      KimF  •  1 year 11 months ago
      Does anyone remember the Hidden Valley Dressing we used to make with the envelop of seasonings, buttermilk and mayo, yum yum!
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