Eating ranch dressing with hot wings is a very popular combination in the United States. There are a few main reasons why people like to dip their hot wings in ranch dressing:
To cool the heat
Hot wings are typically cooked with a spicy hot sauce or dry rub that contains ingredients like cayenne pepper, chili powder, and other spices that give them a powerful heat. The Scoville scale measures the spiciness or “heat” of chili peppers and spicy foods. Most hot wing sauces range between 10,000-500,000 Scoville heat units. For comparison, a jalapeño pepper scores 2,500-8,000 units. So hot wings can pack some serious spice!
Ranch dressing provides a cooling contrast to the heat of hot wings. Ranch is creamy, cool, and tangy. It contains ingredients like buttermilk, sour cream, and mayonnaise that have a soothing effect when eaten with spicy foods. The fats and proteins in the dairy ingredients of ranch help neutralize and tone down the burning heat of the hot wings.
To balance flavors
In addition to cooling heat, ranch balances out and complements the flavors of hot wings. Typical buffalo wing sauce has a buttery, tangy flavor in addition to spice. But it can be very salty from soy sauce, vinegar, and butter. Ranch dressing counters the saltiness with its cool, tangy flavor. The herbs and seasonings in ranch, like garlic, dill, and black pepper, also accentuate the other flavors in hot wings without overpowering them.
For moisture
Hot wings are typically fried until the skin is very crispy. While this makes them crunchy on the outside, it can also leave them dry on the inside. Dunking hot wings in a creamy, cooling ranch dressing adds moisture and makes them easier to eat. The fat in the ranch also helps soften up the crispy skin a bit.
To cut richness
In addition to being spicy, many hot wings are also coated or cooked in rich, fatty ingredients like butter, oil, or salt pork. The richness of the wings coupled with the heat can be overpowering. Creamy ranch has a lightening effect, cutting through fats and rounding out the flavors. The tanginess of ranch cuts through the richness, while the dairy fats coat the mouth to manage the heat.
For tradition
Eating hot wings with ranch dressing is now an expected combination and culinary tradition in the U.S. Hot wings and ranch are served together at bars and restaurants. Most places automatically provide ranch dressing or offer it as a dipping sauce for hot wings. Recipes online typically instruct hot wing eaters to dip the wings in ranch dressing. So the habit is partly driven by the popularity of the combination. When people are served hot wings, they expect to dip them in ranch because that’s become the customary way to eat them.
For pleasure
Most importantly, people dip hot wings in ranch because they enjoy the taste! The spicy heat combined with the cooling creaminess and tang creates an irresistible flavor combo. The variety of textures from crispy, meaty wings and rich, creamy dressing also makes for a more interesting eating experience. The pleasing contrasts and flavors make ranch dressing a satisfying accompaniment to hot wings for many people.
Conclusion
Ranch dressing is the perfect companion for hot wings because it cools their heat, balances their flavors, adds moisture, cuts their richness, and follows eating traditions. But mainly, eating spicy hot wings dipped in creamy, cooling ranch dressing is a winning flavor combination that many people find highly enjoyable. The next time you eat some hot wings, try them with ranch dressing on the side for a tasty twist.