# Which are the best and worst salad dressings in your view **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 13, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263 "2005-07-13T00:53:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/1 "2005-07-13T00:53:16Z")
I had an urge to eat salad today so while at the grocery store buying some I saw that there are about 15 salad dressings. I have only tried two in my life (Thousand Island and Ranch). Thousand Island is good, Ranch isn’t very good on salad (its better on pizza). What all salad dressings are good and which aren’t? I didn’t want to spend $15 on a bunch of dressings I’d never use so I just got some thousand Island. What about Bleu Cheese, Bacon & cheddar, peppercorn ranch, creamy cucumber, honey mustard, zesty blue cheese, etc. I don’t know anything about them or if they are any good. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/2 "2005-07-13T00:56:56Z")
I can’t stand Bleu Cheese personally, and I like homemade ranch better than bottled. My preference would be Greek, Italian, dressed up ranch like peppercorn or bacon & tomato, cucumber and any sort of berry vinagrette. My parents found a Vidalia onion dressing they’re bananas over, ick! Can’t go wrong with Italian or French, they make good marinades if you don’t use 'em up on salads. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/3 "2005-07-13T00:57:41Z")
It’s all a matter of personal taste, but that being said… I use more Russian/Catalina dressing than any other. Honey Mustard is good, as is French. My all-time favorite is the hot bacon dressing they used to serve at Sizzler. The stuff was as addictive as crack, and about as healthy! Ranch is vile, but the nadir of dressings has to be bleu cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Elvez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@Elvez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elvez)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/4 "2005-07-13T00:58:44Z")
All of the ones you listed there at the end are very good, IMPO, when my mood is right. My favorite dressing for salad right now is made by that Safeway house brand. It’s an Italian Bleu Ceasar, mixing together flavors of Italian, Bleu Cheese, and Ceasar dressings. Fuggin’ _good_. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/5 "2005-07-13T01:05:45Z")
I got curious, here’s the [top 12](http://www.foodfunandfacts.com/top12saladdressings.html) most popular dressings. ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/6 "2005-07-13T01:10:14Z")
**Newman’s Own** (yes, Paul Newman’s brand) has a couple of really good dressing’s that I’ve tried. The [Parmesan Roasted Garlic](http://www.newmansown.com/4a8_parm_garlic.html) and the [Balsamic Vinaigrette](http://www.newmansown.com/4a1_balsamic.html). ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/7 "2005-07-13T01:50:08Z")
I love the Good Seasons Italian dressing that you make yourself by shaking the contents of the mix envelope in the glass cruet with your own oil and vinegar. I use balsamic vinegar, and the dressing is delicious on sandwiches, meats, and of course salads as well. I also love honey mustard dressing, but not honey dijon. Come to think of it, I like every salad dressing I’ve ever tried, just about. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/8 "2005-07-13T02:01:44Z")
Overall, I’d put Thousand Island/Russian dressing as #1. Also goes great on roast beef. However, a simple oil and vinegar can be heavenly, as long as you use extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. Good Seasons is OK if you eat it fresh, but gets worse and worse as time goes on, and you don’t need the seasonings, anyway. I can’t think of a generaly category of dressing I don’t like. I used to dislike blue cheese, but have learned to love it. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/9 "2005-07-13T02:14:06Z")
> [@rexnervous](#): > > **Newman’s Own** (yes, Paul Newman’s brand) has a couple of really good dressing’s that I’ve tried. I like Newman’s [Raspberry & Walnut](http://www.newmansown.com/4a13_lightrasberry.html) Vinaigrette. I would say it’s my favorite, right now, followed by his Balsamic. Worst all time: Green Goddess Dressing. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![Ashes\_Ashes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/db5fbb/32.png) [@Ashes\_Ashes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashes_Ashes)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/10 "2005-07-13T02:24:36Z")
I’ve never liked ranch dressing, it tastes of spoiled milk and bad garlic to me. I liked thousand island and russian dressing until they started to taste too sweet for me. Now I usually go for ceaser salad dressing. All the Paul Newman’s dressings I’ve tried are darned good for store bought. ---
**Author:** ![Poonther](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Poonther](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poonther)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/11 "2005-07-13T02:33:12Z")
I think that thousand island is the worst dressing of all time. It coats your salad so thick that you can’t even taste the veggies. I call it training dressing because a lot of kids like it and it’s usually the first dressing they try. When you grow up try any of the oil based dressings, they are my favorite. Of course I’m a dressing whore, I’ll try any of the new ones that come out. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/12 "2005-07-13T02:33:54Z")
I too like most dressings as long as not to sweet. If I’m eating out, I usually opt for creamy garlic or bleu cheese. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/13 "2005-07-13T02:35:50Z")
Not really crazy about ranch dressing on salads, but it does have other uses - I make a heavenly crab roll using the mix. I love Green Goddess, (sorry, **FaerieBeth**!) especially on baked potatoes. For salads I like Old Dutch Sweet and Sour. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/14 "2005-07-13T02:37:40Z")
I don’t like anything mayo-based. I prefer Berenstein’s Italian, Newman’s Own Caesar (NOT the creamy, blllarrgh). Failing either of those just some balsamic and olive oil. I’m not picky, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/15 "2005-07-13T03:35:58Z")
I sometimes will order my salad with both blue cheese and french dressing on it. I drizzle both together over my salad and have a really creamy, sweet, dressing with the bite of blue cheese. It’s really good. Try it, you might like it. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/16 "2005-07-13T04:48:28Z")
My personal favorite is a mixture of _La Masia Vinagre de Jerez_ and extra virgin olive oil. It is very important to use the “extra virgin” as the regular olive oil just won’t do the job. :rolleyes: For low calorie I use _Annie’s Naturales Raspberry Vinaigrette_ and another commercial brand that I like is _Brianna’s Home Style_ _Asiago Caesar, Blush Wine Vinaigrette or Chipolte Cheddar_. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/17 "2005-07-13T05:04:25Z")
My all time favorite dressing is the bacon vinegarette at Golden Corral . God , that’s good stuff ! For store bought , I like bacon ranch , and just discovered a poppyseed dressing that rocks . I have found a carmelized onion dressing that is not always available at my store , but I grab it up whenever I can find it ! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/18 "2005-07-13T05:13:13Z")
Bah, we all know ginger dressing is the supreme master of salad dressings. No contest 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/19 "2005-07-13T05:43:30Z")
Don’t buy any Kraft dressings. Blech! Nasty nasty. I personally loathe French dressing. I think I could achieve a similar taste with corn syrup and ketchup. I’m also very suspicious of Thousand Island. It looks like French in sheep’s clothing. I go with Ranch for dipping (vegetables, sandwiches, pizza, whatever). Caesar on caesar salads _only_. For other salads, I like Italian or other oil and vinegar types. If it’s sweet, then the sweetness has to come from dried fruit or balsamic vinegar. My sister made this awesome dressing once with dried cranberries and lots of cracked black pepper in it that I’ve never been able to recreate. It was soooo good with baby spinach. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263/20 "2005-07-13T13:28:32Z")
Catalina and French are vile, IMO. But SpouseO likes 'em. For storebought, I tend towards the Ranch and Caesar (creamy) spectrum - I haven’t yet found a storebought bleu cheese (my favorite) I like. Does anyone have any recommendations for bottled bleu? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-are-the-best-and-worst-salad-dressings-in-your-view/312263.md?page=2)