The Store-Bought Condiment Michael Symon Still Swears By

Michael Symon's resume is impressive and his impact on the food scene significant. He owns several restaurants, has hosted and co-hosted a handful of cooking shows, has won plenty of cooking competitions, and has even written a few books, according to Food Network. Perhaps the secret to all that success, in addition to serious cooking chops, of course, is that no matter how many accomplishments the chef can boast, he remains a refreshingly regular guy. Symon's energy is easy-going, friendly, and relatable, which is why his kitchen tips are so easy to work in our own everyday routines for instant game-changing (and mouthwatering) results. 

In fact, the Midwesterner, who's inspired by the cuisines of his Greek and Italian heritage, prioritizes keeping food simple. He once explained to Philadelphia Magazine that he doesn't get into complicated trends like molecular gastronomy because he loves food when it sticks to the delicious basics. In the same interview, Symon listed some of the many, many things he's eaten, expressing an open-mindedness and sense of adventure when it comes to food. Considering the celebrity's unpretentious approach, maybe it shouldn't surprise fans to learn that there's one condiment Symon swears by even when — as The Stranger emphasizes — it gets a bad rap: Miracle Whip.

Miracle Whip was introduced by Kraft during the Great Depression as a cheaper alternative to mayonnaise and later was touted for having less fat than mayo during the fat-free fad diets of the 1980s (via The Conversation). Today, the difference is really just a matter of taste, and the debate rages on. According to The Takeout, Miracle Whip is made with a longer ingredient list than most other mayonnaise recipes. The major ingredient variation is that mayo uses more egg yolk and no corn syrup, and it's easy to make a simplified mayo at home with eggs, vinegar, and oil.

Miracle Whip is a little sweeter and has a bit more spice than mayo, and it's a taste Michael Symon grew up loving, so much so that it still has a place in his heart. He told Serious Eats, "My dad used it when I was a kid. I got older, I became a chef, and I thought, 'I can't use this stuff, it's bad, it's evil.' But now I go to the grocery store and I get it, I put it in the cart, people start looking through my cart — I can't help it, I love Miracle Whip." Symon explains part of Miracle Whip's allure is that you can't just make it at home like mayo. There's only one Miracle Whip so if you love it, you have to buy it. And don't let anyone shame your condiment choices — you've got Michael Symon's seal of approval.