Happy National Ranch Day! It’s safe to say that ranch is one of America’s favorite condiments as it’s so versatile. Not only can you dip pizza and wings in it, but you can also cook with it, chug it, slather it on just about anything, and so much more. To celebrate this glorious day here’s 7 fun facts about ranch:
- Ranch was created by a plumber in 1949. Steve Henson was working as a plumber in Alaska while also trying to perfect his buttermilk dressing recipe. He later moved to California with his wife and they bought a ranch. According to Thrillist, “His famous buttermilk dressing soon became a staple at the dinner table of Hidden Valley Ranch and before long the Hensons started selling it to guests and local supermarkets. Over two decades later in 1972, the couple sold their name and recipe to Clorox for $8 million.
- The creamy ranch dressing we love today didn’t start becoming popular until the 1980’s which is around the time Doritos introduced their Cool Ranch Doritos, said Taste of Home.
- Ranch really isn’t that healthy to consume, but who cares it tastes great! Made with mayo, buttermilk, and herbs, one serving is nearly 380 calories and has 33 grams of fat.
- There’s a restaurant in St. Louis that incorporates ranch in every dish. I’m not kidding when I say WTR (what the ranch) because the dedication to the sauce is impeccable. They even have ranch-flavored vodka! Read more on Delish.
- Ranch is hands down the most consumed salad dressing in America. According to Thrillist, “The average American consumes salad dressing 38 times a year. Fifteen of those 38 are served up with ranch dressing” and “Italian dressing comes in a pathetic second and is eaten six out of 38 times.”
- When Clorox bought the recipe, they made changes to it. Henson only had buttermilk, spices, herbs, and mayo in his version but Clorox added vegetable oil, water, egg yolk, sugar, phosphoric acid, xanthan gum, and MSG. With all these new additions, it’s safe to say the HVR we all know tastes different from the original Henson made in the mid-1900’s, said Delish.
- Celebrities love ranch too! Chrissy Teigen once posted on Instagram that she loves ranch. Olivia Wilde has tweeted about loving a tater tot and ranch combo. But what tops all of these off is Melissa McCarthy and Courtney Cox have both “slurped down bottles and large bowls of Hidden Valley Ranch and we enjoyed every minute of it,” reported Thrillist.
