World Cup tourists have grown so attached to ranch dressing, they’ve been packing bottles of it in their bags as they fly back home. TSA has jokingly (we hope) asked World Cup visitors not to chug their bottles of ranch when they get flagged at security. If you’re a ranch chugger, no judgement! We love it too—that’s why we tasted 16 bottles in the Test Kitchen to find the best ranch dressing.
To transport ranch dressing across international borders, there are a few ground rules you should follow. First, throw your precious bottle of ranch into your checked bag, not your carry-on; that way you can skirt the 3.4-ounce limit on liquids allowed in a carry-on bag. You’ll also probably want to throw the bottle in a resealable plastic bag just in case, God forbid, it cracks during your journey. And finally, avoid any ranch dressings that need refrigeration to stay fresh—though you knew that already, right?
Here’s the absolute best ranch dressing to pack in your suitcase:
The ranch to pack in your checked bag
A great ranch dressing should have a strong, pedal-to-the-metal flavor. Dill, garlic, onion, and other herbs should be prominent. There should also be a balanced tanginess, a light pepper note, and, most importantly, it should be creamy not gloppy or thick.
Hidden Valley gets a lot of credit (it did originate the category after all), but in our ranch taste test, Ken’s Steakhouse Ranch stood out as a clear staff favorite. (In our sister brand Epicurious’s ranch taste test, it also got rave reviews.) It’s got robust notes of garlic and dill, as well as a satisfying crack of black pepper. Toss a full bottle (or two or three) of Ken’s in your checked bag, and enjoy it at home on salads, or as a dip for anything your heart desires.
The ranch to stash in a carry-on
If your checked bag is simply too stuffed to fit a bottle of ranch, fear not. There is another way to get ranch home with you! Grab a packet of Hidden Valley’s powdered ranch seasoning. It’s a superpowered hit of the tangy, herby ranch flavor you love in the liquid dressing, without the TSA fuss.
You can mix the dried seasoning packet with yogurt, buttermilk, or milk and mayonnaise to make a custom batch of creamy ranch dressing. But the powerful powder also works like any other herb blend—albeit magically magnified with wonderful MSG. Trickle it atop biscuit dough, or sprinkle it over veggies before roasting for what might be the world’s most delicious side dish.
