Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The origin story of America's number one condiment involves a plumber, a failing dude ranch in Alaska, and a bleach company that bought the whole thing for 8 million dollars.
Steve Henson invented ranch in the wilderness to stop burly construction workers from throwing vegetables at him. It worked so well he eventually retired off a mail order dressing empire run out of his living room. Then Clorox got involved, took the recipe into a lab, and engineered the shelf stable version that's been in your fridge ever since. Steve trademarked the name Hidden Valley but forgot to trademark the word ranch, which meant the future most popular flavor in America was legally free for anyone to copy.
In this episode we make the original fresh version, compare it to the bottle, and rank the foods that actually need ranch the most.
šSUPPORT THE CHAN, COP SOME MERCH!: https://adamwitt.store/
š«¶CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROCERY FUND! (Patreon): patreon.com/adamwitt
š¾DISCORD: discord.com/invite/aFQ4h4BXg4
šMORE RECIPES: adamwitt.co/allrecipes
šFOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL: adamwitt.co/social-links
RECIPE: adamwitt.co/allrecipes/ranchdressing
________________________________________________________
STUFF I USEā¦
My Cookware Set: amzn.to/3vaWhbG
My Dutch Oven: amzn.to/48MKuhq
Portable Single-burner Stove: amzn.to/3IytyjV
Butane Torch: amzn.to/48TkQra
Deli Containers: amzn.to/49QO635
Large Mason Jars (32oz, wide mouth): amzn.to/49QO635
Rust-proof Mason Jar Lids: amzn.to/49QWlfy
Butane Canisters: amzn.to/3wLUtpM
Coarse Reinforced Strainer: amzn.to/3PePLHK
Fine Mesh Reinforced Strainer: amzn.to/3TxvkYP
Sheet Trays: amzn.to/3IG3zXL
The BEST Smash Burger Spatula: amzn.to/3UdSHab
Cutting Board Scraper: amzn.to/3Jy64fx
Ice Cream Maker: amzn.to/3wd2vIu
My Induction Burner: amzn.to/4dfhJNE
________________________________________________________
TIMESTAMPSā¦
00:00 Ranch Takes the Crown
01:01 Steve Henson Heads to Alaska
02:10 The Ranch Dressing Origin
03:13 Hidden Valley Ranch
04:31 Mail Order Ranch Boom
05:00 Clorox Changes Ranch Forever
06:11 How Ranch Took Over America
07:43 The Original Ranch Recipe
08:37 Making Homemade Ranch
12:14 Packet vs Homemade Ranch
13:42 What Food Needs Ranch Most?
18:00 Ranch Food Rankings
________________________________________________________
#ranch #ranchdressing #foodhistory
Disclaimer: I earn commission income with qualifying purchases made through Amazonās Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.
The origin story of America's number one condiment involves a plumber, a failing dude ranch in Alaska, and a bleach company that bought the whole thing for 8 million dollars.
Steve Henson invented ranch in the wilderness to stop burly construction workers from throwing vegetables at him. It worked so well he eventually retired off a mail order dressing empire run out of his living room. Then Clorox got involved, took the recipe into a lab, and engineered the shelf stable version that's been in your fridge ever since. Steve trademarked the name Hidden Valley but forgot to trademark the word ranch, which meant the future most popular flavor in America was legally free for anyone to copy.
In this episode we make the original fresh version, compare it to the bottle, and rank the foods that actually need ranch the most.
šSUPPORT THE CHAN, COP SOME MERCH!: https://adamwitt.store/
š«¶CONTRIBUTE TO THE GROCERY FUND! (Patreon): patreon.com/adamwitt
š¾DISCORD: discord.com/invite/aFQ4h4BXg4
šMORE RECIPES: adamwitt.co/allrecipes
šFOLLOW ALONG ON SOCIAL: adamwitt.co/social-links
RECIPE: adamwitt.co/allrecipes/ranchdressing
________________________________________________________
STUFF I USEā¦
My Cookware Set: amzn.to/3vaWhbG
My Dutch Oven: amzn.to/48MKuhq
Portable Single-burner Stove: amzn.to/3IytyjV
Butane Torch: amzn.to/48TkQra
Deli Containers: amzn.to/49QO635
Large Mason Jars (32oz, wide mouth): amzn.to/49QO635
Rust-proof Mason Jar Lids: amzn.to/49QWlfy
Butane Canisters: amzn.to/3wLUtpM
Coarse Reinforced Strainer: amzn.to/3PePLHK
Fine Mesh Reinforced Strainer: amzn.to/3TxvkYP
Sheet Trays: amzn.to/3IG3zXL
The BEST Smash Burger Spatula: amzn.to/3UdSHab
Cutting Board Scraper: amzn.to/3Jy64fx
Ice Cream Maker: amzn.to/3wd2vIu
My Induction Burner: amzn.to/4dfhJNE
________________________________________________________
TIMESTAMPSā¦
00:00 Ranch Takes the Crown
01:01 Steve Henson Heads to Alaska
02:10 The Ranch Dressing Origin
03:13 Hidden Valley Ranch
04:31 Mail Order Ranch Boom
05:00 Clorox Changes Ranch Forever
06:11 How Ranch Took Over America
07:43 The Original Ranch Recipe
08:37 Making Homemade Ranch
12:14 Packet vs Homemade Ranch
13:42 What Food Needs Ranch Most?
18:00 Ranch Food Rankings
________________________________________________________
#ranch #ranchdressing #foodhistory
Disclaimer: I earn commission income with qualifying purchases made through Amazonās Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.
