Doritos Cool Ranch flavored tortilla chips have been around since the late 1980s and have become one of the most popular snack foods in the United States. The unique taste of Cool Ranch Doritos comes from a special blend of seasonings and spices, but what exactly are the ingredients that give Cool Ranch Doritos their signature flavor? In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the various seasonings and flavorings used to produce the one-of-a-kind taste of Doritos Cool Ranch tortilla chips.
Main Ingredients in Doritos Cool Ranch Seasoning
While the exact recipe for Doritos Cool Ranch seasoning is a well-guarded trade secret, some of the main ingredients are known through Doritos nutritional information and food scientist insights. These key ingredients include:
- Maltodextrin – A food additive made from corn, wheat or potato starch that is used as a texture and flavor enhancer.
- Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) – An umami flavor enhancer commonly used in chips and savory snack foods.
- Garlic powder – Dehydrated, ground garlic that provides a pungent garlic taste.
- Onion powder – Dehydrated, ground onion that provides onion flavor.
- Whey – A protein commonly derived from milk that can add a creamy, dairy-like taste.
- Buttermilk – The tangy fermented dairy product adds creaminess and tang.
- Romano cheese – A hard, sharp cheese that brings a rich, savory cheese flavor.
- Tomato powder – Dehydrated tomato that gives a subtle tomato taste.
- Sugar – Added to balance flavors and add sweetness.
- Salt – Brings out the flavor of the other ingredients.
In addition to these main ingredients, there are likely small amounts of other seasonings like paprika, yeast extract, dried parsley, citric acid, and onion juice concentrate that help round out the Cool Ranch flavor profile.
The Unique Cool Ranch Flavor Blend
While the exact measurements and ratios used are proprietary, Doritos likely combines the ingredients mentioned above into a distinctive flavor coating specifically formulated to give Cool Ranch Doritos their one-of-a-kind taste. Here’s a look at how some of the main ingredients contribute to the overall flavor:
- Maltodextrin – Provides a crispy, crunchy toasted corn flavor and helps the seasoning adhere to the chips.
- MSG – Stimulates umami receptors and enhances the savory, salty notes.
- Garlic powder – Imparts a punchy garlic bite.
- Onion powder – Adds an oniony onion zing.
- Whey and buttermilk – Contribute a tangy, creamy dairy component.
- Romano cheese – Gives a sharp, bold cheese flavor.
- Tomato powder – Provides a subtle, rounded tomato taste.
- Sugar – Offsets the spice and saltiness with a touch of sweetness.
- Salt – Enhances the other flavors and makes them “pop”.
By combining all of these ingredients, Doritos is able to achieve the one-of-a-kind medley of flavors that Cool Ranch fans know and love. The seasoning has garlic and onion notes with a twang from the buttermilk and Romano cheese, while the tomato and sugar add subtle supporting flavors. Together they come together to create the unique, tangy taste of cool ranch.
The Cool Ranch Seasoning Process
In order to transform the raw ingredients into the distinctive Cool Ranch seasoning, Doritos uses a multi-step process:
- The ingredients are precisely measured out based on proprietary recipes developed by Doritos food scientists and flavor experts.
- The dry seasoning ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, maltodextrin, and sugar are thoroughly blended together in large industrial mixing machines.
- Liquid ingredients like buttermilk and tomato powder are sprayed on and absorbed by the dry blend.
- The cheese and whey powder get folded in to incorporate the dairy components.
- The complete seasoning blend is passed through screens and sieves to ensure smoothness and consistency.
- The finished Cool Ranch seasoning then gets transported via enclosed conveyors to the seasoning tumblers.
- In the tumblers, the tortilla chips get evenly coated in the Cool Ranch seasoning using tumbling action.
- Coated chips move through a series of shakers that remove any excess seasoning.
- The seasoned chips then go on to baking and packaging.
Doritos carefully controls the seasoning process in order to get the exact amount of coating on each chip to achieve optimal coverage and flavor delivery in every bite. The result is the quintessential taste of Doritos that Cool Ranch fans crave.
Ingredient Variations Between Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese
While both are classics, Doritos Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch actually have quite different seasoning ingredient profiles despite both being cheese flavored:
| Ingredient | Nacho Cheese | Cool Ranch |
|---|---|---|
| Cheddar cheese | X | |
| Romano cheese | X | |
| Buttermilk | X | |
| Onion powder | X | |
| Garlic powder | X | |
| Jalapeno pepper | X | |
| Tomato powder | X |
As seen above, Nacho Cheese contains cheddar cheese and jalapeno for a spicy cheddar flavor, while Cool Ranch has a blend of romano cheese, buttermilk, garlic, onion, and tomato seasonings. This showcases how Doritos crafts distinct seasoning mixes to give each variety its unique snacking experience.
Why Exact Ingredients Are Kept Secret
Doritos does not reveal the exact amounts of each ingredient in their Cool Ranch seasoning blend. There are several reasons why Doritos keeps these details proprietary:
- As a unique branded flavor, the recipe gives Doritos a competitive advantage so they want to keep it secret.
- Releasing details could allow copycat recipes and products to emerge, potentially cutting into Doritos sales.
- Different regions source ingredients from various suppliers, so exact amounts may vary slightly.
- Recipes get tweaked over time based on consumer preferences, market trends, and R&D.
- Precision mixing on industrial scales is critical for consistency versus home kitchens.
- Disclosure risks just focusing on individual components versus overall flavor experience.
While it may be tempting to want to know the inside details of how Doritos achieves the Cool Ranch flavor, the secrecy allows them to maintain their unique market position. The bottom line is that years of innovation have gone into perfecting the proprietary blend of ingredients that deliver the timeless taste adored by Cool Ranch fans worldwide.
Alternative Names for Cool Ranch Flavor
While most people know the flavor as Cool Ranch, Doritos has actually marketed it under a few different names over the years:
- Cooler Ranch – This was the original name when first introduced in 1986.
- Cool Ranch – The more common name it’s now typically called.
- Cool American – Used in Europe and some Latin American countries.
- Texas Ranch – How it’s branded in Germany.
The different international variations of the name generally try to evoke the idea of a cool, tangy American ranch flavor. But no matter what it’s called, the unique taste sensation remains the same and continues to be a favorite for Doritos fans worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cool Ranch the same as ranch dressing flavor?
While it shares some similarities, Cool Ranch seasoning is not the same as traditional ranch dressing flavor. It has a more tangy, cheesy, garlic and onion taste compared to regular ranch. So while it may remind you of ranch, Doritos Cool Ranch captures its own unique flavor profile.
Do Cool Ranch Doritos contain any actual ranch ingredients?
No, there are no actual ranch-derived ingredients like dried ranch seasoning mix, ranch dressing, or ranch dip used in Cool Ranch Doritos. The flavoring relies on seasoning blends that evoke the essence of cool ranch without including real ranch components.
Are Cool Ranch Doritos gluten-free?
No, regular Cool Ranch Doritos are not gluten-free as they contain wheat-based ingredients. Some people who must eat gluten-free opt for alternative chip brands that are certified gluten-free.
What kind of cheese is used for Cool Ranch flavor?
The main cheese ingredient used for the Cool Ranch flavor is Romano cheese. The sharp taste of Romano cheese powder helps provide the signature zesty, tangy cheese flavor notes.
Is the Cool Ranch flavor available on other Doritos products?
Yes, in addition to the original tortilla chips, Doritos offers the Cool Ranch seasoning on other products like Doritos Loaded snacks, Doritos Jacked snacks, and more. The flavor has proven so popular that it has expanded beyond just chips.
Conclusion
Doritos Cool Ranch chips derive their unique taste from a secret blend of ingredients like maltodextrin, MSG, garlic powder, onion powder, Romano cheese, buttermilk, tomato powder, sugar, and salt. The exact amounts and preparation process are closely guarded secrets, but the tangy, savory, garlic and onion-infused flavor profile is unmistakable. While originally known as Cooler Ranch, the seasoning mix continues to delight snackers worldwide no matter what it’s called. The mystery surrounding the recipe helps maintain the distinctive flavor that can’t be duplicated. So next time you crunch into the Cool Ranch crunch, you can appreciate the one-of-a-kind blend of seasonings that deliver the amazing taste experience generations of fans have come to love.