When we say ranch, the first thing in mind is probably chips and “Hidden Valley.” After all, they are one of the most popular brands known for their… You guessed it, their ranch!
But did you know that there are two kinds of Hidden Valley Ranch?
There is the ranch dip and mix version.
You’re probably thinking, “they’re essentially the same!”
Hate to burst your bubble, but these are two different things! Wait, what? How are they different?
That’s where we come in to help compare Hidden Valley ranch dressing mix vs dip.
Read on to get all your questions answered!
​​What is Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix?
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix is a kitchen staple!
You probably already have it at home.
You can add this ranch dressing mix to different dishes, whether a salad, sandwich, pizza, fries, or many other recipes. This condiment enhances your dishes’ flavors with its creamy flavor, making them more delectable.
In fact, ranch dressing mix is one of the top salad dressings, either in sauce or powdered form.
Pro-tip: Add other ingredients like buttermilk, yogurt, or mayonnaise to give your ranch dressing mix a creamy base. Since some companies make ranch dressing mix using yogurt rather than buttermilk, you can add oil or eggs to get a creamy texture, too.
As for the calorie count, two tablespoons of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix has 140 calories and 15 grams of fat.
The fat from the ranch dressing mix comes from the egg yolks and Canola oil or soybean oil.
You can find other brands of ranch dressing mix containing about 129 calories with 13 grams of fat, 2 grams of carbs, and less than a gram of protein per two tablespoons.
Brands using buttermilk or yogurt would have lower calories and fat.
What is Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Dip?
Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix is made best for vegetable trays. It’s a good choice if you prefer something with a creamier, smoother texture.
Fun fact: Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing was created in the late 1950s by Steve and Gayle Henson, who are real ranchers! They have a guest ranch in Santa Barbara, California, which was favored by people who love nature.
We love the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Dip Mix for its delicious and creamy flavor for chips, vegetables, among other favorite recipes that need a dip.
You can also use ranch dip mix to sprinkle over meats, potatoes, and popcorn.
It can also be a condiment alongside savory dishes as a taste enhancer, giving instant flavor.
Hidden Valley Dip Mix consists of a creamy blend of herbs and spices, which give it a delicious flavor and taste enhancer.
One tablespoon of ranch dip mix contains almost 66 calories, 5.9 grams of fat, 12.5mg cholesterol, 255mg sodium, and 0.9 grams of protein.
What is the difference between Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix vs Ranch Dressing Dip?
While Hidden Valley Dressing and Ranch Dressing Dip have striking resemblances, they also have distinct differences.
Here are the factors to consider regarding Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix vs Dip.
1. Ingredients
Everyone loves the taste of Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix and Dip!
It gives that buttery, tangy flavor suitable for dishes and snacks.
The critical ingredients in both ranch dip and dressing mix vary. For Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Dip, the central ingredients include mayonnaise and sour cream, which gives it a thicker consistency.
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix mainly consists of buttermilk and mayonnaise.
You can find manufacturers substituting yogurt for buttermilk, though.
You can already tell that the ranch dressing mix and ranch dip have different textures based on the ingredient list.
The ranch dip has a creamy consistency, much more than the dressing mix with a thinner consistency.
Other than that, both ranch dip and mix contain similar essential ingredients, like:
- Salt
- Onion
- Garlic
- Mustard
- Herbs like chives, dill, or parsley
- Spices like ground mustard seeds, pepper, and paprika
- Oil emulsion
2. Uses
Both Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix and Dip are essential kitchen staples but for different reasons.
As the name suggests, ranch dressing mix is mainly used for salad dressings.
Given its thick consistency, it can bind salad ingredients excellently. However, you can also use it as a condiment for a flavor enhancer in pizzas, fries, sandwiches, among other recipes.
As for ranch dressing mix dip, it’s mainly for dipping to enhance your food’s flavor.
It’s perfect for serving alongside vegetable trays, chips, and other things you want to dip it into.
3. Calories
As delicious as Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix and Dip are, we can’t deny how unhealthy they can be when eaten in huge amounts. They are both high in calories and fat!
However, Ranch dressing dip wins the highest in calories as it’s made with sour cream or mayonnaise. Because of that, both calorie content is higher.
While Ranch dressing mix is lower in calories, it’s still heavier, thicker dressing, thus more fattening than other dressings available. When using the ranch dip or dressing mix, please use it sparingly!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you wondering what else is there to know about Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix vs Dip? Check out these frequently asked questions about these ranch seasoning products!
1. Can I make a homemade ranch dressing mix?
Yes, you can make homemade ranch dressing mix or dip!
We recommend going for homemade as you get to control the number of ingredients you put in. Furthermore, there are no artificial ingredients, additives, or preservatives.
Here’s how to make a homemade ranch dressing mix:
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup of sour cream
- 3/4 cup of milk
- Three tablespoons of ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup of buttermilk powder
- Two tablespoons of parsley
- One teaspoon of dill
- One tablespoon of onion powder
- Two teaspoons of onion flakes
- 1.5 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
- Two teaspoons of chives
- A splash of lemon juice
Simply mix all of these ingredients into a bowl until well incorporated and pour it into an airtight container.
Store it in the fridge for about 20 minutes (or more) before using or serving.
Pro-tip: Substitute lemon juice with vinegar or omit it if you don’t like it tasting too sour.
This is how to make the ranch dip:
- Two tablespoons of ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup milk
Simply stir well and place it in an airtight container. Store it in the fridge about 20 minutes before using.
Pro-tip: Replace Greek yogurt with sour cream and vice versa, as needed.
2. Can you use Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix for dip?
It’s possible to use these two ingredients interchangeably. If you plan on using ranch dressing mix for ranch dressing dip mix, we recommend adding mayonnaise, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, and soya sauce.
Lemon juice will give it that tangy flavor perfect for dipping.
Mayonnaise and Greek yogurt give your ranch dressing mix a creamier texture.
Pro-tip: Substitute lemon juice for vinegar if you don’t have any. If needed, you can replace Greek yogurt with sour cream.
When using the Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing dip mix to substitute the dressing mix, we recommend adding a bit more liquid to achieve a thinner consistency.
3. How can you make ranch taste less sour?
Not everyone appreciates the tangy flavor of lemon juice in their ranch!
To offset the slightly sour taste, we recommend adding other ingredients like milk or mayonnaise.
You can even add soya sauce or onion powder to make it slightly saltier.
4. How do you store ranch dressing mix or ranch dressing dip?
Keep your store-bought ranch dip or dressing in the fridge and use it by the expiration date. Since ranch contains buttermilk, yogurt, and other perishable ingredients, you must use it within the recommended date.
If you made your own ranch dip or dressing, we recommend storing it in an airtight container. Please keep it in the fridge the entire time.
The homemade version won’t last as long as store-bought ones because of its lack of preservatives, so use it right away!
5. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix vs Dip: What’s Better?
There’s no better product as it depends on what you need it for (and your texture preferences).
If you need something to use as a dip for your dishes or snacks, then ranch dip is the way to go. But if you prefer a thinner consistency for salads or sprinkle over snacks and dishes, then the dressing mix is your best choice.
For those looking at it from a health perspective, the dressing mix contains fewer calories than the dip, so you may want to choose the former. That said, note that both are still high in fat and calories!
6. What is Ranch Dressing Powder?
This is a dried version of the ranch dressing, which uses dry buttermilk powder, dried herbs, and other seasonings.
Wrapping It Up
We hope that our comparison between Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix vs Dip informed you of their differences and when it’s best to use them.
You can use them either as a condiment or salad dressing as long as you add the right ingredients to achieve your desired consistency.
One thing’s for sure: They both taste amazing and are must-haves for your kitchen.
Just don’t overuse it, for your health’s sake!
