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Expert consulted: Melanie Moorhouse – I’ve asked Melanie who is a qualified nutritionist, wine lecturer, and keen cook, to answer this question because she has a good understanding of food hygiene.
Ranch dressing goes with so many foods that it’s quite common to end up leaving it left out after a meal and forgetting to put it back in the fridge.
So how long can you leave ranch out of the fridge before it goes off?
Both store-bought ranch (that’s been opened) and homemade ranch (that’s been exposed to the air) can be left out of the fridge for up to 2 hours at room temperature (between 20–22°C or 68–72°F) and up to 1 hour for temperatures above 90° F (32° C) according to FDA guidelines.
In the rest of this article, I’m going to explain in more detail how to refrigerate and store ranch safely.
There are also three recipe ideas that you can use to get rid of your ranch quickly before it goes off.
Related: find out if you can refreeze shrimp here.
Ranch Refrigeration and Safe Storage Explained
Below I’ve explained in more detail why it’s risky to leave ranch out of the fridge for more than 2 hours – even the store-bought kind – as well as addressing some other safety issues.
Why Should Ranch Be Discarded After 2 Hours Out of the Fridge?
When looking online to find out how long it’s safe to leave store-bought ranch out of the fridge, I discovered some articles that gave incorrect times – such as up to 24 hours – citing the reason that the acidity of the product can help guard against spoilage.
And whilst this can mean that store-bought ranch may indeed last a bit longer out of the fridge than homemade ranch, the FDA’s ‘2-hour rule’ is a better guideline to avoid food poisoning because ranch typically uses a dairy base – such as buttermilk – that is susceptible to bacterial growth at room temperature in a short period of time.
So whilst you may potentially be able to get away with leaving store-bought ranch out of the fridge for more than 2 hours, I strongly advise that you do not do this if you want to avoid food poisoning.
Click here to find out if it’s safe to reuse a marinade as a sauce.
How Long Can Unopened Store-Bought Ranch Stay Out?
Store-bought ranch that’s not been opened can be left out of the fridge until its best-before date – which may be up to 4 months depending on the brand – if stored in a cool and dry place like a cupboard or your pantry because the emulsifiers, stabilizers, and preservatives enable it to have a long shelf life and the product has not come into contact with the air.
Once you have opened the ranch dressing bottle, it should be refrigerated immediately since the ‘2-hour rule’ now applies due to the potential for bacteria to come into contact with the food and cause illness.
How Long Can Ranch Stay in the Fridge Once Opened?
Store-bought ranch that’s been opened can last for up to 4 weeks when stored consistently in the fridge at a temperature of no more than 40°F (4°C)- whilst homemade ranch can last for between 1 and 2 weeks.
How Do You Know When Ranch Has Gone Bad?
Ranch that’s gone bad will smell rancid due to oxidation (contact with the air), taste sour, and may exhibit a change in texture – such as appearing to have curdled due to the separation of the oil and cream.
What Will Happen if You Eat Ranch That’s Gone Bad?
If you eat ranch that’s been left out of the fridge and spoiled, then you may experience stomach upset, nausea, and diarrhea that can range in severity depending on the degree of food poisoning that consuming the ranch has caused.
How Should You Refrigerate Ranch?
Ranch should be refrigerated in an airtight container – such as the bottle that it came in, a plastic container, or a glass bottle.
3 Ranch Recipe Ideas
Below, I’ve listed three of my personal favorite ranch recipe ideas for using up your ranch before it goes off.
1: Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 1–1.5kgs potatoes (peeled, cut into quarters, and boiled).
- 250g mayonnaise.
- 250g plain yogurt.
- 150ml ranch dressing.
- 10ml lemon juice.
- Chives to garnish.
Instructions
- Peel potatoes then cut them into quarters and put them into a pot of boiling water to cook. Boil until cooked through. To test the potatoes, prick with a fork and if it goes through the potato smoothly, it is cooked. Drain the potatoes from the boiling water.
- In a bowl add your mayonnaise, plain yoghurt, ranch dressing, lemon juice, and mix together.
- Now add your cooked potatoes and mix.
- Garnish with some cut chives.
2: Potato Bake
Ingredients
- 1kg potatoes.
- 2 onions.
- 20ml crushed garlic.
- 150g butter.
- 250ml cream.
- 150ml ranch dressing.
- Salt and pepper.
- Grated cheese for garnish.
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 180°C/356°F.
- Peel and slice potatoes thinly.
- Peel onions and slice thinly.
- Mix your garlic with the butter.
- In a bowl mix your cream and ranch dressing.
- In a large oven dish layer some of your potato, then some of the onion.
- Season with some salt and pepper, and place a few spoonfuls of the butter/garlic mix over the potatoes and onions.
- Now repeat with another layer of potatoes, then the onion. Season with some salt and pepper. Again place a few spoonfuls of garlic butter over the potatoes.
- Once you have used up all your potatoes, onions, and garlic/butter, pour the cream/ranch dressing mixture.
- Sprinkle with some grated cheese and or breadcrumbs.
- Bake in the oven for around 40 minutes. Prick the potatoes with a fork or knife and if it goes in easily, your dish should be cooked through.
3: Summer Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 500g pasta (penne or ribbon).
- 250ml mayonnaise.
- 200ml ranch dressing.
- 10ml lemon juice.
- 250g baby tomatoes.
- 1 red onion.
- 1 punnet of fresh basil.
- 100g greek feta.
Instructions
- Boil a pan of water and add your pasta to cook, drain when cooked through. Place into a salad or mixing bowl.
- In another bowl, mix your mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and lemon juice.
- Slice your baby tomatoes in half.
- Slice your red onion into thin slices.
- Add your tomatoes, onion, and basil leaves to your pasta.
- Now add the mayonnaise/ranch dressing mixture to your pasta, and mix well.
- Garnish with some Greek feta.
- Tip: you can add other ingredients like pitted olives, sundried tomato, chopped cucumber, peas, and sweet corn.
Conclusion: Follow the 2 Hour Rule
Both store-bought and homemade ranch that’s been opened and has been out of the fridge for more than 2 hours should be thrown away.
For store-bought ranch that’s not been opened, make sure that it has been used before the expiration date and is refrigerated as soon as it has been opened.
Up next: check out these 5 whipped cream recipes.
Image Attribution and Licensing
Main image: ‘Homemade Ranch Dressing’ by VeselovaElena from Getty Images (licensed via Canva).
All other images custom-made for FinerHomeLiving.com – copyright LiveWell Media LTD (all rights reserved).
Dan is the founder of Finer Home Living – he is the head content creator, chief product reviewer, senior editor, and manages the production staff. Dan began his work as a professional online product reviewer and blogger in 2015 and specializes in creating high quality content sites in the home decor, home renovation, and lifestyle improvement spaces. Learn more about me here. Click here to see my professional experience.
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