# US dopers: best salad dressings (by brand)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662 "2011-03-31T18:51:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/21 "2011-03-31T22:34:22Z")
I love Good Seasons packets, mixed with oil and vinegar, for salad dressing and also a good marinade. Newmans Own is good, but I think you could make your own and it would taste much like it. (Is it true Newmans Own products have made $300 million for charity since it was started? I find that amazing!) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/22 "2011-03-31T22:48:21Z")
HVR, for sure. I came in to say Marzetti’s blue cheese as well. But I’m damn sure going to try that homemade blue cheese. mmm ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/23 "2011-03-31T23:06:31Z")
> [@Snickers](#): > > I’ve never found a bottled bleu cheese dressing that was any good. It’s true I haven’t looked that hard, either, but I’ve still never found one. It may be a regional brand, but Lighthouse is an excellent bleu cheese dressing, (it’s not shelf stable and is sold in the refrigerated section of the produce area) which is much, MUCH better that 99% of the house-made bleu’s of the various restaurants around here. I could eat that stuff on just about anything, but it is particularly good as a dipping sauce for onion rings or battered mushrooms. (Yeah, I’m a health nut) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/24 "2011-03-31T23:11:26Z")
Ken’s Steakhouse is good for bleu cheese and ranch. And I’m not just saying that because I live near Ken’s Steakhouse (the actual restaurant). ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/25 "2011-03-31T23:26:57Z")
Marzetti’s cream-based dressings are excellent. Their blue cheese is probably the best “basic” blue cheese you’ll find in a bottle, and their gorgonzola dressing an excellent variation. Similar, but sweeter and with a buttery note, if I recall. There’s a brand of ginger dressing called Makoto similar to a type commonly served in US sushi restaurants. If you like ginger and onions, you’ll love it. I’m personally a sucker for Thousand Island, and my personal recommendation would be Ken’s Steakhouse. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/26 "2011-03-31T23:28:52Z")
I liked the Roquefort dressing by Bob’s Big Boy. I don’t know if they make it anymore. I haven’t seen any in years. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/27 "2011-03-31T23:31:49Z")
Girard’s Champagne Dressing is wonderful. Cardini’s Caesar Dressing is my favorite dressing of all time. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/28 "2011-03-31T23:43:34Z")
Girard’s Greek Dressing is perfect for a cold pasta salad. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/29 "2011-04-01T02:35:35Z")
Good Seasons packets for Italian dressing would be much easier to ship than bottles, and Hidden Valley Ranch makes packets that you add to (I think?) mayonnaise and buttermilk. Both are better tasting than their bottled counterparts, and much more economical. Although lately we’ve been seriously digging a new Hidden Valley Ranch line of dressings called Farmhouse Originals, specifically the bacon and roasted onion flavor. That I’d pay the outrageous shipping and handling for. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/30 "2011-04-01T03:05:51Z")
I get Ranch fresh from a little island in the middle of Italy you can only get to by helicopter. They have little people who grind it fresh only seven random days a year. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/31 "2011-04-01T03:08:25Z")
Until then I use Kroger brand or whatever’s on sale. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/32 "2011-04-01T03:36:39Z")
Anyone know what the ranch dressing is at the salad bar chain Sweet Tomatoes? I typically hate ranch, but that stuff is GREAT. ---
**Author:** ![SarahFox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SarahFox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SarahFox)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/33 "2011-04-01T03:41:29Z")
My all time favorite ranch dressing brand is Kens Ranch Dressing. It’s so good Malchik gey pokazhi mne lyubov ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/34 "2011-04-01T03:58:08Z")
> [@Purd\_Werfect](#): > > Cardini’s Caesar Dressing is my favorite dressing of all time. Second. The man did invent it, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/35 "2011-04-01T04:11:46Z")
Japanese black vinegar dressing. It’s really simple - Equal parts by volume Soy Sauce Black Vinegar (made from black glutinous rice) Sugar Sesame oil Adjust to taste (especially the sugar, I tend to put in far less than necessary and adjust upwards) ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/36 "2011-04-01T04:20:09Z")
For blue cheese, I quite like Marie’s, which you find in a jar in the refrigerated section. Likewise in that section is Bolthouse Yogurt Ranch, which is very good. For off-the-shelf dressings, you might like Trader Joe’s Greek Style Feta Dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/37 "2011-04-01T13:59:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > But I’m damn sure going to try that homemade blue cheese. > mmm Dude, you gotta. It’s really amazing, and super simple. (Or maybe you shouldn’t. You won’t go back.) And yeah, the Hidden Valley packets that you mix up with buttermilk and mayo are the bomb. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2011, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/38 "2011-04-01T15:46:14Z")
Kraft Lite Done Right Red Wine Vinaigrette is lovely over some leaves, feta, and black olives. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662/39 "2011-04-04T08:26:55Z")
Yay thanks for the suggestions 😃 I have an idea of what I’m getting now. Too bad I can’t order any of the refrigerated ones but oh well. The dry packets sound like a good idea too, for the Italian dressing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-dopers-best-salad-dressings-by-brand/576662.md?page=1)