Do homemade salad dressings need to be refrigerated?

Some homemade salad dressings should be refrigerated, like blue cheese or ranch. But, homemade vinaigrettes without dairy or other perishable ingredients can be stored in your pantry or on the countertop to showcase your creation.

How do you keep homemade salad dressing from solidifying?

Storing your dressing in the refrigerator can cause it to congeal and solidify, but letting it reach room temperature on your counter and giving it a shake can restore its consistency. If you want to prevent solidifying at the source, use less olive oil and substitute half with vegetable or seed oil instead.

HOW TO MAKE BLENDER SALAD DRESSING

Name: Blender salad dressing recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: Peeled citrus, such as lemons or oranges; Herbs, such as basil, oregano or thyme; Cheese, such as gruyere or parmesan; Salt and pepper; Extra virgin olive oil; Balsamic vinegar

Whether you’re craving a spicy honey vinaigrette or a classic Caesar dressing, knowing how to whip up a homemade salad dressing can help you take a bowl of leafy greens to the next level. Learn how to easily whip up a blender salad dressing with a few simple techniques that can result in many possibilities.

An orange KitchenAid® blender with sliced oranges and grilled chicken nearby.

RECIPE FOR BLENDER SALAD DRESSING

With only a handful of simple ingredients and your trusty blender, you can make a rich and tangy parmesan balsamic vinaigrette to drizzle on a tart or pasta salad. This recipe provides a base that you can alter with your favourite seasonings to make a blender salad dressing that can elevate your salads and more.

KitchenAid^®Blenders let you tap into your creativity! Mix and match ingredients to find the right flavour combination and texture for your blender salad dressing. If you’re whipping up a smaller portion, like for a hearty soup recipe, check out KitchenAid^®Hand Blenders to ensure you have the right one on hand.

Ready to make a citrusy and herbaceous blender salad dressing for your next family gathering? Follow this recipe to make a batch that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Yields

Approximately two servings. Adjust amounts accordingly to accommodate the number of guests.

INGREDIENTS

Peeled citrus, such as lemons or oranges
Herbs, such as thyme, basil or oregano
Salt and pepper
Extra virgin olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
Cheese, such as gruyere or parmesan
Garlic cloves

TOOLS

A blender
A serving bowl

Prep Time

5 minutes.

Total Time

10 minutes.

STEP 1: PREP

Completely peel the garlic cloves and citrus

If trying out other recipes, KitchenAid^® Stand Mixers and KitchenAid^® Attachments¹ can help you efficiently tackle certain parts of meal prep like peeling or spiralizing.

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STEP 2: COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS

Add the ingredients (lemon, garlic, basil leaves, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar) to the blender.

KitchenAid^®Blenders and KitchenAid^®Hand Blenders come in various sizes, and each can blend tough ingredients to produce the taste and texture you want for your homemade salad dressing.

Confused about how to choose the right blender? Use this blender guide to find the model that suits your needs best.

A person using a blue KitchenAid® blender.

STEP 3: BLEND THE INGREDIENTS

Secure the lid
Start blending using the lowest setting

Blend while gradually increasing the speed until your dressing reaches your desired consistency and everything is fully incorporated.

A bowl of homemade noodles and vegetables.

Step 4: Serve and enjoy

Taste your dressing to make sure it is to your liking. If no further adjustments are needed, pour your salad dressing into a serving bowl until you're ready to use it.

If you’re looking for a great pairing for this dressing, try drizzling it on top of a creamy pasta salad or balsamic mushroom noodles.

A KitchenAid® blender surrounded by various herbs and vegetable oil.

TYPES OF HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSINGS

With your blender and the right ingredients, you can create a variety of salad dressings. So, if you like popular dressings such as Caesar, Italian, ranch and blue cheese, then a blender can ensure that you always have some on hand.

A homemade Caesar salad topped with croutons.

BLENDER CAESAR DRESSING

The first step to whipping up a creamy and sharply flavoured Caesar salad dressing is to blend egg yolks, anchovies, and garlic with dry mustard, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and black pepper. Try this Caesar dressing on a fresh Brussels sprouts salad.

A dish of homemade vinaigrette dressing.

BLENDER VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

Vinaigrettes are versatile and act as a blank canvas for your favourite ingredients, spices, oils and vinegar, like balsamic or malt. You can concoct a truly unique vinaigrette to pair with different greens, vegetables or proteins. The trick is to get creative and add your twist.

A serving bowl filled with a crisp salad topped with limes and shredded cheese.

BLENDER ITALIAN DRESSING

Italian dressing is a great way to kick up the flavour of a pasta salad or fresh vegetables. You can also use it as a tangy marinade for your chicken cutlets. With garlic, olive oil, and Worcestershire sauce, a garlic parmesan dressing only takes a few minutes.

Leafy greens and tomato wedges drizzled with ranch dressing.

BLENDER RANCH DRESSING

A creamy classic, ranch dressing complements chicken wings, carrot and celery sticks or a chopped salad. To create a rich base for a ranch dressing, combine ingredients like mayonnaise, sour cream and fresh dill.

A platter of spiralized fruit and leafy greens.

BLENDER BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

If ranch dressing doesn’t provide enough of a punch, then you should make a batch of salty and delightfully pungent blender blue cheese dressing. Mix sour cream, white wine vinegar, buttermilk, and garlic and then get ready to devour the entire batch with a plate of chicken wings.

CAN YOU FREEZE HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING?

While homemade salad dressing tastes best fresh, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to six months. Keep in mind that it may taste a bit different and the consistency may have changed from its original texture once defrosted.

There are some creative ways to use your extra dressing instead of freezing the leftover batch. Try marinating steak or fish overnight with leftover dressing or use it as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders and crusty bread. You can even drizzle it over toasted crostinis, your favourite fresh vegetables, or creamy soft cheeses.

Lemons, carrots, radishes and lettuce on a countertop.

SHOULD YOU REFRIGERATE HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSINGS?

Some homemade salad dressings, like blue cheese or ranch, must be refrigerated. However, homemade vinaigrettes that don’t contain dairy or other perishable ingredients can be stored in a pantry.

HOW LONG WILL HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING LAST IN THE FRIDGE BEFORE IT EXPIRES?

It depends on the ingredients but many homemade salad dressings can last roughly one week when sealed and stored in a fridge. If you like to prepare a dressing in advance, then consider vinaigrettes as they can last three to four weeks in a pantry, depending on your recipe.

Sliced lemons, cherry tomatoes, herbs and a jar of vinaigrette.

HOW DO YOU PREVENT HOMEMADE SALAD DRESSING FROM SOLIDIFYING?

Refrigerating your homemade dressing can cause it to congeal and solidify. To restore it to its proper consistency, allow it to reach room temperature and then shake it. To prevent solidifying, include less olive oil by substituting half with seed or vegetable oil.

A homemade dressing is easy to make and can add a ton of flavour and freshness into even the most mundane leftovers. All you need is the right ingredients and a blender that can get the job done.

Shop KitchenAid^® Blenders to find the perfect fit for your kitchen and cooking style.