Hidden Valley Ranch is one of the most popular ranch dressing brands in the United States. Many people enjoy using it as a dip or topping for salads, wings, pizza and more. With the rising popularity of gluten-free diets in recent years, a common question has emerged: Are all Hidden Valley Ranch products gluten-free?
The Short Answer
The short answer is: Most, but not all, Hidden Valley Ranch products are certified gluten-free.
According to the company, the vast majority of Hidden Valley Ranch dressings and dips are certified gluten-free to less than 20 parts per million. This includes most of their classic ranch dressings, dips and salad dressing mixes.
However, there are some exceptions. A few Hidden Valley Ranch products contain ingredients derived from wheat, barley, rye or contaminated oats and therefore are not considered gluten-free. This includes certain ranch dressings, dip mixes and steak sauce offerings.
So in summary: Most Hidden Valley Ranch dressings are gluten-free, but verify labels and ingredients lists, especially if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy. When in doubt, look for the certified gluten-free label on the bottle.
Looking at the Labels
To determine if a particular Hidden Valley Ranch product is gluten-free, you need to read the label and ingredients carefully. Here are some things to look for:
– Gluten-Free Certification: Many Hidden Valley Ranch bottles and packages display a “Certified Gluten-Free” logo if they contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This is the safest bet for gluten-free diets.
– Allergen Warnings: Always check for any allergen warnings on the label, such as “Contains Wheat” or “Contains Barley.” If you see this, the product is not gluten-free.
– Ingredients Lists: Carefully scan the ingredients listed on Hidden Valley Ranch products. Watch out for wheat, barley, rye, malt or oats. Also look for derivatives like maltodextrin, malt vinegar, dextrin and caramel color.
– Manufacturing Notes: Some Hidden Valley Ranch products have notes on the label stating they are produced in a facility that also processes wheat. These may still be below 20ppm gluten but higher risk for celiac disease.
Checking all these label details provides the most accurate way to determine if a particular Hidden Valley Ranch product is gluten-free or not. When in doubt, contact the company directly.
Classic Ranch Dressings
Hidden Valley Ranch’s classic bottled ranch dressings are gluten-free certified and safe for gluten-free diets. This includes:
– Original Ranch
– Light Ranch
– Organic Ranch
– Reduced Fat Ranch
– Lite Ranch
– Ranch Dips
All of their bottled classic ranch varieties are labeled “Certified Gluten-Free” right on the bottle. The ingredients lists do not contain any gluten sources like wheat, barley or rye. Those with celiac disease or wheat allergies can safely use these traditional Hidden Valley Ranch dressings without concern over gluten exposure.
Other “Certified Gluten-Free” Dressings
In addition to the classic ranch dressings, Hidden Valley also labels some other flavors as certified gluten-free, including:
– Bacon Ranch
– Jalapeno Ranch
– Peppercorn Ranch
– Blastin’ Buffalo Ranch
– Chippedotle Ranch
– Lemon Dill Ranch
– Salsa Ranch
– Buttermilk Ranch
As long as these dressings have the certified gluten-free logo, they are also safe for gluten-free diets. Always check though, as flavors can change occasionally.
Salad Dressing Mixes
Hidden Valley Ranch’s salad dressing and dip mixes come in small packets that you combine with mayonnaise and milk or buttermilk to make homemade ranch dressings or dips.
Many of their dressing mix flavors are also labeled gluten-free. These include:
– Original Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
– Bacon Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
– Italian Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix
– Ranch Dips Mix
However, some Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix flavors do contain gluten sources and are not gluten-free. For example:
– Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix – The Dude
– Hidden Valley Blasted Ranch Dressing & Seasoning Mix
– Hidden Valley Ranch with Bacon Dressing & Seasoning Mix
As always, thoroughly read the ingredients on any salad dressing packet to confirm it is gluten-free before using it. Do not assume that all Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mixes are gluten-free.
Restaurant-Style and Specialty Dressings
Hidden Valley Ranch also manufactures certain restaurant-style and specialty ranch dressings that contain gluten and wheat ingredients. Examples include:
– Hidden Valley The Original Ranch – Made with Buttermilk and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
– Hidden Valley The Original Ranch – Made with Greek Yogurt
– Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Ranch with Cracked Black Pepper
– Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Buttermilk Ranch
– Hidden Valley Restaurant Style Ranch
These dressings lists wheat flour or wheat ingredients in the ingredient deck on the label. They are not gluten-free.
The Restaurant Style Ranch in particular can be confusing because it’s called “Original” but contains wheat flour instead of being gluten-free. Check the labels closely to confirm.
Dips and Dip Mixes
Hidden Valley Ranch’s classic ranch dips packaged in cups, tubs or as dip & cracker kits are certified gluten-free. This includes:
– Original Ranch Dip
– Bacon Ranch Dip
– Veggie Ranch Dip
– Hot Buffalo Ranch Dip
However, some of Hidden Valley’s dip mixes sold in packets are not gluten-free. They contain ingredients derived from wheat or barley. Examples are:
– Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Dip Mix (Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Whey, Buttermilk, Salt, Garlic, Onion, Spices, Corn Starch, Dextrose, Disodium Inosinate & Guanylate, Modified Food Starch, Potassium Sorbate)
– Hidden Valley Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Ranch Dip Mix
The dip mixes often have similar packaging to the salad dressing mixes, so it’s especially important to inspect the ingredients lists carefully rather than assuming they are gluten-free. Many are not.
Steak Sauces and Marinades
Hidden Valley Ranch is perhaps best known for bottled salad dressings. However, they manufacture some other condiments as well.
In particular, Hidden Valley produces several steak sauce and marinade flavors that contain gluten:
– Hidden Valley The Original Steak Sauce (contains wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley Honey BBQ Steak Sauce (contains wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley Smokehouse Maple Flavored Steak Sauce (contains wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley The Original Marinade (contains wheat flour)
So any Hidden Valley Ranch steak sauces or marinades are not gluten-free due to containing wheat flour as a main ingredient. They should be avoided on a strict gluten-free diet.
Soup and Dip Mixes
Hidden Valley Ranch has some savory dry soup and dip mixes that require added water, milk or butter. A few of these contain gluten:
– Hidden Valley Ranch Cheddar Bacon Loaded Baked Potato Dip Mix (contains wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley Ranch BLT Dipping Soup Mix (contains wheat flour)
However, there are also someHidden Valley Ranch soup/dip mixes that are labeled gluten-free, such as their Creamy Onion flavor.
As always, check the ingredients on all soup and dip packages to confirm if they are gluten-free or not. Do not make assumptions either way based on the Hidden Valley Ranch brand name.
Seasoning Blends and Flavored Oil
Hidden Valley Ranch sells some seasoned salts, spices, and flavored oils under their brand name in the spice aisle. For example:
– Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Shaker Bottle
– Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning
– Hidden Valley Ranch Spicy Seasoning
– Hidden Valley Ranch Flavored Sunflower Oil Spray
These types of dry seasoning blends and oils do not naturally contain gluten. However, always check the labels to confirm there are no gluten-based additives included. Most Hidden Valley Ranch spices and oils do appear to be gluten-free based on ingredients.
Kids and Lunch Items
Hidden Valley Ranch produces pre-packaged lunch items and snacks marketed for kids, which contain some gluten-containing grains and flours:
– Hidden Valley Ranch Lunch Kits (crackers contain wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley Ranch with Flackers (crackers contain wheat flour)
– Hidden Valley Popcorn Chicken Ranch Kit (breading contains wheat flour)
So parents of children with food allergies or celiac disease will want to avoid these lunch and snack kits and focus on the gluten-free dressings only.
International Offerings
Hidden Valley Ranch dressing is popular worldwide. However, product formulations vary between countries.
For example, Hidden Valley Ranch sold in Canada contains modified corn starch, which may or may not be gluten-free depending on the source. So gluten-free status can differ.
In general, always confirm the gluten-free status of Hidden Valley Ranch products based on the labeling practices and ingredients of your specific country. Do not assume formulas are the same worldwide.
Cross-Contamination Risks
According to Hidden Valley Ranch, their products certified gluten-free are produced on shared equipment that also processes wheat:
“The products that display the gluten-free claim are produced on shared equipment that also processes foods containing wheat. They are manufactured to contain less than 20ppm of gluten from wheat, rye, barley, or any gluten containing grain.”
So there is some risk of gluten cross-contamination depending on how sensitive you are. People with celiac disease or wheat allergies may want to exercise extra caution.
Calling the Company
To verify the gluten-free status of any Hidden Valley Ranch product, the best approach is to call their consumer comment line directly at 1-800-352-4477. Their customer service department can look up any individual product and confirm if it is gluten-free or not.
This is recommended especially if a product does not have a gluten-free label or the ingredients are ambiguous. Do not guess if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy – call Hidden Valley Ranch to double check first.
Finding Gluten-Free Ranch Dressings
If you need an alternative to Hidden Valley Ranch, there are many other brands of gluten-free ranch dressings on the market. Some good options include:
– Ken’s Steakhouse Ranch – Specifically labeled gluten-free
– Newman’s Own Ranch – Marked gluten-free
– Brianna’s Premium Ranch – Dairy-free and gluten-free
– Primal Kitchen Ranch – Marked certified gluten-free
– Olive Garden Light Ranch – Labeled gluten-free
– Annie’s Organic Ranch – Certified gluten-free
There are also alternative ranch seasoning mixes from brands like McCormick’s GF Ranch Mix and Ozery Bakery Ranch Mix. These tend to be made without wheat or gluten sources.
Homemade Gluten-Free Ranch
Making your own homemade ranch dressing is also an easy gluten-free option. There are many recipes online that use ingredients like:
– Mayonnaise
– Buttermilk
– Sour cream
– Milk
– Lemon juice
– Garlic powder
– Onion powder
– Dried parsley
– Dried dill
– Salt
– Pepper
By making your own using these basic gluten-free ingredients, you can customize the flavor and ensure it is 100% gluten-free. Add crumbled bacon, hot sauce, herbs or other ingredients to match your tastes.
Conclusion
While the majority of Hidden Valley Ranch dressings are gluten-free, some flavors, mixes and other products do contain gluten. Always carefully read the labels and ingredients lists, and look for the certified gluten-free marks. If in doubt, call the Hidden Valley Ranch customer service line for clarification. Stick to the certified gluten-free varieties of traditional bottled ranch dressings for the safest bet. But know that there are many other good store-bought and homemade gluten-free ranch options available if needed.
