The History of Ranch Dressing started in 1949 from a hidden valley. (2024)

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The History of Ranch Dressing started in 1949 from a hidden valley.? ›

Ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy. While working as a contract plumber in Alaska, Steve Henson started cooking for his coworkers and perfecting his buttermilk dressing recipe. Five years later he moved to California with his wife Gayle and bought a ranch.

HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH STARTED IN 1954

Over the years, Steve had been perfecting his signature salad dressing, a tangy blend of buttermilk, savory herbs and spices. His ranch guests couldn't get enough of the stuff, and Hidden Valley Ranch dressing was invented.

Who Invented Ranch? Around 1950, Steve Henson unknowingly made history when he whipped up a unique mixture of dry herbs and buttermilk. Originally a plumber, Steve came up with the concoction while working briefly in Anchorage as a construction worker and part-time cook for his crew.

History tells us ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy in Alaska. Steve Henson is the man behind this dressing perfection. In fact, Henson moved to California and purchased a ranch he called Hidden Valley Ranch, which made the now famous dressing a staple.

The combination of ranch and pizza is said to have been popularized by Domino's Pizza in 1994, when the chain started including sides of the dressing with its wings and customers got ranch-curious.

Until it outgrew its homebase and moved to Colorado, where this gate is pictured, Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing was headquartered in Santa Barbara. The South Coast over the years has been the cradle of a number of inventions and products.

The makers of Hidden Valley dressing created the Original Ranch recipe; a unique blend of herbs, spices and buttermilk, made in a real place by real people. The balance of flavors makes it a favorite dressing.

Ranch was created by a plumber, Steve Henson and his wife, Gayle. In 1954, they purchased a ranch right above Santa Barbara, California and named it Hidden Valley Ranch. They opened a steakhouse there that became popular for its salad dressing.

The ranch packet has a fresher taste, because you add your own mayo and milk. Even though all the herbs and spices in the mix are dried, they rehydrate quickly and leave you with a product that feels homemade. This version of Hidden Valley Ranch is more flavorful than the bottled version and much, much thicker.

No other country in the world can guarantee it on shelves (though it's somewhat popular in Germany) like we do in the states. More than being uniquely American, ranch dressing has become the iconic condiment of the Midwest.

Does Clorox own Hidden Valley? ›

Since 1972 Hidden Valley Ranch has been owned by Clorox. Ranch dressing was created in 1949 by a plumber-turned-cowboy.

It's a bright herbal flavor and a slight tang to wake your palate up for the next round of glorious cheese. Essentially, the acid from the dressing cuts the grease from all that cheese and pepperoni and gets you ready for the next bite. It's a palate cleanser of sorts. Find more things you never knew about ranch.

Commercialization. Manufacturing of the mix was later moved to San Jose, then Colorado, and then to Sparks, Nevada, in 1972. In October 1972, the Hidden Valley Ranch brand was bought by Clorox for $8 million, and Henson retired.

American Food & Grocery Brands - Hidden Valley Ranch - American Food Store.