Popular Mayonnaise Brands Ranked From Worst To Best
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What's the most popular condiment in the United States? It's not ketchup or mustard. The correct answer is mayonnaise — and it's not even a tight race. Each year, approximately $2 billion worth of mayonnaise is gobbled up in America. That makes the mayo industry more than twice as big as the ketchup industry and more than four times as large as the mustard industry.
The history of mayonnaise dates back hundreds of years. Depending on who you believe, either France or Spain is the birthplace of this condiment that is now ubiquitous in the U.S. These days, you can find mayonnaise slathered on sandwiches, added to pancake batter, and everywhere in between.
The ingredients in mayonnaise aren't a secret. In fact, for a product to classify as mayonnaise in the United States, it needs to be at least 65 percent vegetable oil and contain egg yolk, vinegar, and either lemon juice or lime juice. And while there are many popular brands of mayonnaise, a few brands stand apart from the rest. In this ranking, we'll begin with the worst of the bunch and finish the list with the best mayo brand of them all.
14. Miracle Whip
Simply learning about the history of Miracle Whip should give you clues that this counterfeit mayonnaise should be kept out of your home. This stuff was introduced in 1933 as a less expensive version of mayo and its popularity quickly took off.
Back then, saving a few cents made sense due to the Great Depression. However, you and your taste buds deserve better in this day and age. Miracle Whip can't even call itself mayonnaise because it doesn't have enough vegetable oil in it. It's also disgustingly sweet and obviously overly processed compared to normal, civilized mayo.
If you grew up eating Miracle Whip, then being in the habit of buying it is not completely your fault. Even if you purchase it on a regular basis, you probably don't eat Miracle Whip with pears like your grandparents did back in the day. But do yourself a favor and try any of the forthcoming brands of mayonnaise. You'll be blown away by how much better they are than this cheap knockoff.
13. Heinz
When it comes to ketchup, Heinz is undoubtedly an outstanding option. They've been selling that condiment since 1876 and many say they literally invented modern day ketchup. So to claim that Heinz ketchup is America's favorite isn't an overstatement at all.
More than 140 years after Heinz began selling ketchup, they started to sell mayonnaise. Better late than never, right? Well, not exactly. They launched their mayo in 2018 and let's just say that it wasn't worth the wait. While their ketchup is a delight from the moment it enters your mouth, their mayonnaise is a dud; it tastes like how you'd imagine paint would taste. There are absolutely no redeeming qualities at all, unless the thought of eating something that is white, creamy, and tastes like chemicals sounds like a good time to you.
If Heinz is your ketchup of choice, keep buying it, as they obviously know their way around the tomato. But when it comes to mayo, Heinz has a lot of catching up to do. Stay far away.
12. Vegenaise
If you follow a vegan diet but your love for mayonnaise keeps you up at night, Vegenaise sounds like it should be the answer to all of your problems. Name-wise, it's perfect; it would be appropriate that the best vegan mayonnaise would be called Vegenaise. Sadly, while this stuff is vegan-friendly, it's practically inedible.
To make Vegenaise vegan, the company removed the eggs but kept the other main ingredients (oil, vinegar, and lemon juice) the same. Tragically, while taking away the eggs, they also managed to take away all of the good flavor of typical, non-vegan mayonnaise. Vegenaise basically tastes like nothingness. It looks like mayonnaise but there's just not enough flavor present to ever recommend buying this vegan condiment. We know it has vinegar and lemon juice in it but your taste buds will be thoroughly underwhelmed and won't be able to taste much of anything. If you want vegan-friendly mayo, there are better options.
11. Kraft
Typically, Kraft is a very reliable brand. When you see their name on a product, you can usually be confident that you'll get your money's worth. For example, who doesn't adore Kraft Macaroni & Cheese? That said, when it comes to mayo, their offering should be avoided.
Looking at mayonnaise made by Kraft, there doesn't appear to be an issue. The condiment is obviously extremely creamy and the smell of it is fantastic. At this point, you will think buying Kraft mayo was a wise decision. Unfortunately, the experience only goes downhill from here.
When you first taste this mayonnaise, you'll remain hopeful. It's not great but the flavor has enough mayo-powered goodness for you to remain pleased. But before you can crack a smile, the aftertaste rears its ugly head and all your hopes will be dashed, as Kraft mayonnaise has an unnatural aftertaste that is oddly sour. A sourness from the lemon juice or lime juice in mayonnaise is appreciated, but this is the type of sourness that makes you think that you left the mayo out on your counter for too long. Unless you want to find out what eating old mayonnaise may taste like, avoid Kraft.
10. Sir Kensington's
If you love Sir Kensington's ketchup, you're not alone, as this brand's ketchup has a cult-like following with more and more devotees added each year. So if Heinz ketchup tastes too processed to you and you crave something more natural, the ketchup that Sir Kensington's sells deserves a place in your shopping cart. It's undeniably yummy and tastes fresh.
Even though Sir Kensington's launched in 2010 as a ketchup company, mayo is now their number one seller. And while they deserve praise for their ketchup, the mayonnaise they sell is highly overrated. Though the monocled British nobleman on the jar may lead you to believe you're getting premium mayo worthy of its elevated price tag, the truth of the matter is that this stuff tastes like sophisticated Miracle Whip — and that's not a compliment. This condiment is way too sweet and that overshadows any of its other positive qualities, including the fact that Sir Kensington's deserves credit for meticulously sourcing their ingredients.
9. Whole Foods 365
The next time you're cruising the aisles at Whole Foods, you may be tempted to grab a jar of their store brand of mayonnaise. It's reasonably priced, relatively speaking; plus, this is a store known for selling high-quality products including oil and vinegar, so it'd be logical that their mayonnaise is also high-quality. But though their mayo does indeed tastes pretty good, it has one fatal flaw that prevents it from receiving a recommendation.
No matter if you go with their regular mayo or their organic version, the flavor won't disappoint. It's not the best mayonnaise you've ever tasted, mind you, but it'll make you nod in approval. The flaw of this condiment is its poor consistency. The creaminess of this stuff is lackluster at best, it doesn't spread well, and it tends to turn to liquid a lot faster than other brands. Considering that being creamy is one of the most satisfying attributes of mayonnaise, this is a fault that can't be overlooked.
8. Cains
If you grew up in New England, Cains may be the mayonnaise you remember from your childhood. This condiment has a very unique flavor, as if it's the lovechild of Miracle Whip and traditional mayonnaise. The result is a mayo that is sufficiently eggy yet also has a subtle-yet-enjoyable sweetness.
For something like potato salad, Cains is a great choice. You'll be licking your bowl until every last drop of the potato salad has disappeared. New Englanders will also tell you that there's no mayonnaise that is better to put on a lobster roll. However, if you don't want your mayo to have any sweetness at all, pick another brand. Also select another mayo if you value the taste of the lemon juice or the vinegar, as those flavors are very light.
Cains has been selling mayonnaise since 1924 and the taste of this condiment has remained remarkably consistent for decades.
7. McCormick
McCormick is a brand known primarily for their huge array of spices and their unforgettable seasonings like Old Bay Seasoning. Did you know that they also make mayonnaise? It's called McCormick Mayonesa and you will either love this condiment or hate it. There's not much room for any opinions in between those two extremes.
If you enjoy Latin American cuisine, you'll love this stuff. The most notable difference is that instead of lemon juice, McCormick Mayonesa is made with lime juice. And it's not just a touch of lime juice, it's enough lime juice to make this mayo supremely tangy. Put it in fish tacos or use it as dip for your milanesa and you'll be in heaven.
However, if you have a cowardly palate that's accustomed to the grotesque sweetness of something like Miracle Whip, the tanginess of this mayonnaise may very well be too much for you to handle. In that case, proceed with caution.
6. Earth Balance
If you want the best vegan-friendly mayonnaise, turn to Earth Balance. This brand, which has been focusing on healthy, plant-based, and vegan foods since their start back in 1998, sells spreads, nut butters, dressings, butter substitutes, and more. Their mayo-like product is called Earth Balance Original Mindful Dressing & Sandwich Spread. The name is a mouthful (especially compared to Vegenaise), but this condiment tastes so much like traditional mayonnaise that you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
In addition to having no eggs, this Earth Balance spread is also free of soy, dairy, preservatives, trans fat, and GMOs. Put this stuff on a sandwich and you'll be more than pleased. Vegans who have been suffering without a quality mayonnaise substitute will be downright overjoyed.
The main issue to keep in mind is that this vegan mayo tends to separate easily and turn into an oily mess. To combat that, it's always a good idea to stir it up right before using this condiment.
5. Duke's
While Cains is popular in New England, Duke's is the mayonnaise of choice for many in the South. This legendary condiment was brought to life by a brilliant woman named Eugenia Duke in 1917. A native of Georgia, her mayo started getting rave reviews while she sold her homemade sandwiches in South Carolina. By 1923, she turned all of her focus to selling her bottled mayonnaise. Today, more than 100 years after Eugenia Duke whipped together her first batch of mayo, there are many loyal customers who don't even consider switching to another brand.
Compared to other brands, Duke's mayonnaise has a stronger vinegar taste. That gives this condiment a bite that other competitors simply don't have. For certain foods that need that vinegar-powered bite to taste right, like Southern tomato sandwiches, using any other brand of mayo just won't do.
An added bonus when it comes to Duke's is that it's the creamiest of all mayonnaises. If you desire creaminess, look no further.
4. Kewpie
It'd be wrong to have a ranking of the best brands of mayonnaise and not mention Japanese mayonnaise; Japan is home to some spectacular mayo and Kewpie is the best of their best. This condiment, which has also become popular in the United States, is similar to traditional, American mayonnaise except that it features more egg yolk, apple vinegar, and MSG (don't worry, MSG isn't as bad for you as you may have heard). The result is a mayo that is so savory that it may blow your mind.
Kewpie mayo tastes great on sushi but don't just limit it to Japanese food. Use this stuff on anything else you normally put mayonnaise on and your taste buds are sure to be thrilled.
As mentioned previously, mayonnaise was invented in Europe. However, America was the source of inspiration for Toichiro Nakashima. He was so impressed after tasting mayo in the United States back in the 1920s that he made his own version of the condiment when he returned to Japan — and soon the Kewpie brand was born.
3. Trader Joe's
If you're scouring high and low for a store brand of mayonnaise that's comparable to the big boys in the industry, head on over to Trader Joe's. Though they sell regular mayo, what you'll want to search for when you go to one of their stores is the Trader Joe's Organic Mayonnaise.
This condiment is so good that you'll be telling your friends about it. First of all, the price tag is very reasonable. Second of all, it has a deep flavor that is sure to titillate your tongue. This stuff has no sweeteners at all, so there's nothing to distract you from enjoying its richness. Thirdly, not only is this mayonnaise organic, it has no preservatives, artificial flavors, or artificial colors.
This stuff isn't just good for a store brand, it's the best organic mayo you can find anywhere. If you only eat organic foods, this is the only mayonnaise you should ever buy.
2. Blue Plate
Are you someone who loves mayonnaise so much that eating mayo out of the jar by the spoonful sounds like a scrumptious way to spend an afternoon? If so, Blue Plate is the brand of mayonnaise that you should stock in your home. No other brand is as flavorful as this stuff. The first time you taste it, you'll be stunned by its power but also enthralled by its depth.
Blue Plate has a history that dates back to 1927 and was created near New Orleans. Like the city, this mayonnaise is flamboyant in the best way possible.; from its yellow tinge to its egg yolk-heavy flavor, there's nothing subtle about this mayonnaise. There's also the perfect hint of sourness and sweetness added to the mix to keep you on your toes.
Use Blue Plate mayo for dipping purposes or add it to your meal. Whatever you do with it, there will be no way to suppress your ear-to-ear grin.
1. Hellmann's (Best Foods)
Many mayo fanatics will tell you there are all two varieties of mayonnaise: Hellmann's and everything else. The best way to describe Hellman's signature condiment is that it tastes exactly like mayonnaise is supposed to taste. It's perfection in a jar and is what every other brand of mayo aspires to be. Even Julia Child admitted that Hellman's is the cream of the crop. It's so good, she remarked, that you shouldn't even bother trying to make your own.
If you live out west, you may have never heard of Hellmann's. That's because Hellman's goes by the brand name of Best Foods west of the Rocky Mountains. And while the names are different, Hellman's and Best Foods are exactly the same when it comes to the actual mayonnaise.
No matter whether you know it as, Hellmann's or Best Foods, this mayo is not a secret. In fact, this brand accounts for almost half of all mayonnaise sold in the United States — and rightfully so. This is mayonnaise at its absolute finest.