141. Ranch Dressing
Our national terroir
We are a nation of condiments. But unlike ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise, ranch dressing is entirely our own. OK: it’s very similar to England’s Heinz Salad Cream, developed 40 years earlier, but darn it, ranch is ours. Our national flavor.
A plumbing contractor named Steve Henson originally developed the dressing while feeding work crews in Alaska. In 1956, he and his wife Gayle purchased a California dude ranch they named Hidden Valley Ranch, where guests loved it so much that Henson started selling packets of dried dressing mix in stores. It was the height of Spaghetti Westerns, the Marlboro Man and cowboy-themed packaged goods, so the name had a whiff of cool. By the 1980s, it was the best-selling salad dressing in the country. In 1987, Cool Ranch Doritos were born.
Today, we have ranch dill pickles and dill pickle ranch; ranch-dusted popcorn, chips, and rice cakes. Indeed, over 70% of ranch consumption is outside the salad bowl. Whether it’s chicken tendies in Texas, baby carrots in Idaho, or pizza in Pennsylvania, it’s the condiment of choice, the “American” flavor with all specific American places sanded off.
During the 2026 World Cup, we reveled in social media posts by besotted Europeans, never mind that it’s been available in Europe for years. Is it Exhibit A of corporate, processed American food? Sure! Is it owned by the bleach company Clorox? You bet. Yes, we have many delicious regional foods, but our signature taste is a factory product. It’s our national terroir.
Links:
Ranch Dressing: Why do Americans love it so much? – Brendan Koerner, Slate, August 5, 2005
Is the World Cup ranch craze real or hype? – Caroline Hatchett, BBC, July 1, 2026
BACK AT THE RANCH: SAGA OF A DRESSING CONTINUES – Colman Andrews, Los Angeles Times, October 4, 1987
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This post is part of The American 250, a series featuring 250 words on 250 objects made by Americans, located in America, in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. Through December 31, 2026.
I’m looking for ideas for this series — have something you’d like me to consider for inclusion? Please feel free to leave a comment!
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YUMMMMM.....Thank you....