Hidden Valley needs no introduction for fans of ranch dressing. It’s often regarded as one of the best store-bought ranch dressing brands. It’s certainly a favorite in countless homes around America.
If you are here, you likely share the love for Hidden Valley but are curious about the difference between its Buttermilk and Regular (Original) dressings. We think by the end of this article you will have a clearer picture of which one is right for you.
Be sure to vote for your favorite in our poll at the end of this article if you already have a preference between the two.
Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch vs Regular
Taste Test
It was certainly difficult to tell the differences between these two dressings when tasted side by side.
Nonetheless, the prevalent flavors in Hidden Valley Buttermilk were buttermilk (as should be expected) and secondarily a hint of vinegar. Its creamy flavor was smooth and consistent throughout its time in the mouth, however, one of our testers called it a bit bland.
Hidden Valley Original had a bit more pep than Buttermilk. This was likely because of the use of more spices like dried garlic and onion. The mix of spices in the creamy base of the dressing are a perfect match for this classic dressing.
Overall, two of us preferred Buttermilk while one person liked the Original. Everyone agreed, however, that both dressings were tasty enough to enjoy for whatever purpose desired.
Appearance
It is almost impossible to tell these ranch dressing apart simply based on their appearance. For what it’s worth, Hidden Valley Buttermilk is pictured left while Original (Regular) is pictured right. The Buttermilk Ranch may be a bit darker but it is difficult to tell by the naked eye.
Nutrition
There are no major differences in the nutrition facts between Buttermilk and Original Hidden Valley Ranch. We suppose that if someone was strict about counting calories, the difference of 10 calories in Original versus Buttermilk might be meaningful. However, most people undoubtedly decide on selecting these two ranch dressings based on other factors not related to nutrition.
| Hidden Valley Buttermilk | Hidden Valley Original (Regular) | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 2 Tablespoons (30mL) | 2 Tablespoons (30mL) |
| Calories | 130 | 120 |
| Total Fat | 13g | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 2g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 5mg | 5mg |
| Sodium | 260mg | 260mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 2g | 2g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 1g | 1g |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
| Vitamin D | 0% | 0% |
| Calcium | 0% | 0% |
| Iron | 0% | 0% |
| Potassium | 0% | 0% |
Ingredients
Both dressings actually contain similar ingredients including buttermilk. However, the buttermilk in Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch is more abundant compared to Original.
Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch – Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Canola), Water, Buttermilk, Sugar, Less Than 2% Of: Egg Yolk, Salt, Lactic Acid, Vinegar, Modified Corn Starch, Disodium Inosinate And Guanylate, Garlic*, Onion*, Phosphoric Acid, Monosodium Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Spices, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid And Calcium Disodium EDTA Added To Preserve Freshness. *Dried
Hidden Valley Ranch Original – Vegetable Oil (Soybean And/Or Canola), Water, Buttermilk, Sugar, Salt, Egg Yolk, Less Than 1% Of: Spices, Garlic*, Onion*, Vinegar, Phosphoric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Modified Food Starch, Monosodium Glutamate, Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid And Calcium Disodium EDTA Added To Preserve Freshness, Disodium Inosinate & Guanylate. *Dried.
Ownership
While we often associate The Clorox Company with cleaning and home care products, the company’s portfolio of brands expands well beyond that. One of its non-cleaning/home care brands is Hidden Valley. The company acquire Hidden Valley, a small mail-order dressing business at the time, in 1972.
Serving Sizes
Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch can be purchased in 16 and 24-ounce bottles. However, you have many more size options with Hidden Valley Original Ranch. Original is available in 8, 16, 20, 24, 36, 52-ounce bottles.
Poll: Hidden Valley Ranch Buttermilk vs Original Ranch
Do you have a favorite between these two ranch dressings? Vote for it in our poll.
