Ranch dressing

No E-numberSauces & dressingsOrigin: Plant or animal

Get a personal answer

Pick your family’s diets in the bar above.

Every diet

VeganDepends

Most ranch is made with milk and egg, a few brands sell a plant-based version.

Gluten-freeYes

HalalYes

The milk has to come from halal-slaughtered animals.

KosherYes

Dairy and egg are kosher, though the equipment and the rest of the meal have to be as well.

KetoDepends

It usually fits a keto diet, but the powdered versions often carry sugar or starch.

Low-FODMAPDepends

Buttermilk, garlic and onion put most recipes over the line.

The short answer

Ranch dressing is buttermilk, egg and oil with herbs, and it is safe. Two tablespoons carry about 130 calories and 270 milligrams of sodium, it is not vegan, and the milk in most tubs makes it dairy, so the label is worth reading.

74/100

Use in moderation

Safe in small amounts; may bother some people or raise blood sugar.

E-numberNone

Comes fromPlant or animal

What it doesSauces & dressings

Glycemic index—

Daily limitNot set

Also calledRanch dressing, Buttermilk ranch dressing

Rules by country

🇺🇸 US FDANot evaluated as an additive

🇪🇺 European UnionNot evaluated as an additive

🇨🇦 Health CanadaNot evaluated as an additive

CaliforniaNo extra rules

Ranch dressing is a food, not an additive, so it has no E-number and none of the three regulators has evaluated it as one. Each component of the dressing has to be permitted on its own, and the part that matters on a label is the allergen declaration: milk and egg are two of the eleven priority food allergens in Canada and have to be named wherever they appear.

Daily limit: Experts haven’t set a number because normal food amounts are far below any level of concern.

What is it?

Regular ranch is an emulsion: egg yolk is the emulsifier, buttermilk or sour cream supplies the acid, and oil is what it is mostly made of. USDA lists it at 44.5 percent fat and 430 calories per 100 grams, so the two-tablespoon serving it is usually measured in carries about 13 grams of fat, 1.4 grams of sugar and 270 milligrams of sodium. The herbs and garlic in the powder versions are what make it taste like ranch.

Where it comes from: Ranch dressing is a mayonnaise-style dressing of buttermilk or sour cream, egg yolk, oil and herbs. It was invented in the 1950s by a California steakhouse and handed out with the seasoning packets, which is why the name points at the ranch house.

Why it’s in food

Dipping raw vegetables
Dressing a wedge salad
Pouring over fried chicken
Spreading on wraps and burgers
Coating a potato salad

Often found in

SaladRaw vegetablesFried chickenPotato saladTacosSandwichesChicken wings

Also listed as: Ranch dressing, Buttermilk ranch dressing, Ranch salad dressing, Ranch

Health & gut impact

Mostly fatUnder study

Regular ranch is 44.5 percent fat, so the two-tablespoon serving carries about 13 grams of it and 130 calories. The reduced-fat version in the USDA records cuts the fat to 12.4 grams per 100 grams, which is still the majority of the calories in the bottle.

USDA FoodData Central, ranch dressing

The salt does not go down with the fatConcern

A two-tablespoon serving of regular ranch carries about 270 milligrams of sodium, and the fat-free version USDA lists has 897 milligrams per 100 grams, which is the same as the regular dressing. Taking the fat out of the bottle does not take the salt out of it.

USDA FoodData Central, ranch dressing

Milk and eggUnder study

The dressing is built on both. Canada has 11 priority food allergens and milk and egg are 2 of them, so both have to be declared on the label under their common names. A plant-based bottle is not a dairy-free bottle unless it says so, and it does not taste the same.

Health Canada, priority food allergens

What can I use instead?

Vinaigrette

Ratio: Use the same amount and add a spoonful of yoghurt or cream if you want the body

Best for: A lighter dressing with a sharper edge

Greek yoghurt with lemon

Ratio: Use three parts yoghurt to one part lemon juice and oil, with the same herbs

Best for: The creaminess without the egg

Mayonnaise

Ratio: Use half as much and loosen it with milk or buttermilk

Best for: A shortcut with the same thickness

More sauces & dressings:

Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar is a fermented apple product with no E-number, and one of the safest things on a label, so it fits every diet. It seasons and preserves rather than nourishes, so reach for it when you want acid without more salt or sugar.Generally safe Balsamic vinegarBalsamic vinegar is an aged grape vinegar with no E-number, and it is safe and fits every diet except low-FODMAP in larger amounts. It is one of the few vinegars carrying real sugar, so measure a tablespoon rather than pouring.Generally safe Barbecue sauceBarbecue sauce is a sweet, salty tomato sauce with molasses in it. It is safe, but a tablespoon carries 4 to 9 grams of sugar and 105 to 260 milligrams of sodium, which makes it one to skip on a low-sugar or low-salt list.Use in moderation Hoisin sauceHoisin is a thick, sweet Chinese barbecue sauce, safe to eat but heavy on sugar and salt, and unsuitable for keto and for strict gluten-free or low-FODMAP diets. For the flavor without the jar, mix soy sauce with a little honey and star anise.Use in moderation

Common questions

Is ranch dressing healthy?

It is a rich dressing and it is not a hazard, but it is close to half fat. Two tablespoons carry about 130 calories, 13 grams of fat and 270 milligrams of sodium, so the portion on the plate decides the answer.

Is ranch dressing keto-friendly?

Regular ranch usually fits, because the carbohydrate in it is small: about 1.4 grams of sugar in two tablespoons. The powdered versions sold for making it at home are the problem, since they often carry sugar or starch.

Why does ranch taste garlicky?

Garlic and onion powder are in the standard seasoning blend, along with the parsley, dill and chives that give it the green flecks. The powder versions are the same dressing with the herbs and the dairy already measured out for you.

Can I make ranch at home?

Yes, and it is a simple emulsion: buttermilk, egg yolk, oil, and the ranch seasoning blend. Blending the egg yolk with the buttermilk first and adding the oil slowly keeps it together instead of splitting.

Is Ranch dressing safe?

Use in moderation (74/100). Ranch dressing is a food, not an additive, so it has no E-number and none of the three regulators has evaluated it as one. Each component of the dressing has to be permitted on its own, and the part that matters on a label is the allergen declaration: milk and egg are two of the eleven priority food allergens in Canada and have to be named wherever they appear.

Is Ranch dressing vegan?

Depends. Most ranch is made with milk and egg, a few brands sell a plant-based version.

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Scientific sources & regulatory citations

USDA FoodData Central, ranch dressing
Health Canada, priority food allergens