The Reason Mayo Tastes So Different In Restaurants

Whether you find mayo disgusting or delicious, you can't deny that it's one of the most ubiquitous condiments out there. People have serious preferences about what they like when it comes to mayo brands. Those who prefer a richer, yolk-forward mayo may like the Japanese Kewpie mayo, while the debate rages on over whether Dukes or Hellman's is the top dog. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, there is a noticeable difference between the store-bought mayo you're using at home and the mayo you get when you go out to eat.

If you've ever sat down at a restaurant to eat a BLT or mayo-forward sandwich and thought it tastes different than the one you make at home, you're not imagining things. Restaurants and chains use heavy-duty mayo, which has more yolks to fortify it and make it richer. "I am terrified I made this discovery," one Reddit user quipped upon learning of this speciality product. "The super mayo: it beckons."

As for whether restaurant mayo is better than at-home mayo is still a matter of personal taste. A major benefit of this enhanced condiment for restaurants is how it can be used in food preparation. If your local sandwich shop or sandwich chain needs to make a bulk tub of chicken or tuna salad, heavy-duty mayo's thickness will help ensure it's not sitting in a pool of water a couple hours later. The addition of the extra egg yolks also helps to give food that nice golden brown color and crispness when cooking. If you've ever made a homemade grilled cheese with a slathering of mayo, you know the magic the mayo on the outside of the bread creates.

Unfortunately, heavy-duty mayonnaise isn't available to the masses, as it's usually sold in large quantities at special restaurant supply stores. If you are desperate to get your hands on some, you can purchase a gallon size of Hellman's on Amazon, but you'll pay a hefty price. If it's an extra creaminess from more yolks that you're after, you can easily make homemade mayonnaise with just canola oil, egg yolks, mustard, salt, pepper, and water.