Mayonnaise might be a love-it or leave-it condiment for some but for me, it’s number one. For sandwiches, dressings, marinades, and salads, there almost isn’t a day when I’m not reaching for the mayo. It’s the key ingredient in Barbie’s Tuna Salad, Old-Fashioned Potato Salad, and Delicious Egg Salad, plus it’s magic for making Salmon Fillets with Creamy Dill and Parmesan Crusted Chicken stay moist while cooking. Want to up your burger game? Then swap out the basic condiments for this Secret Burger Sauce where the not-so-secret ingredients are mayo and pickles. Also, can you imagine a BLT without mayonnaise? It truly should be called a BLTM because mayo isn’t optional, it’s necessary! It used to be there were only a few options for store-bought mayonnaise but the selections have been gradually growing over the past few years and I found myself wondering, is there a top choice that tastes better than all the others?
The answer is no. Seriously, this is the first taste test I’ve done where I would happily use any of the 8 mayonnaises I tasted. However, I did find nuances between each one and instances where I would pick one over the other. Here’s what I found.
How I Tested
All of the store-bought mayonnaises were tasted blind and plain. While this might not be how we usually eat mayo, I found it important to taste them solo so I could distinguish the flavors between them. I judged based on texture and flavor, and made notes on the best uses for each.
The Best Store-Bought Mayonnaise Taste Test Results
Mildly tart, creamy, and light with only a hint of lemon, there is a reason that Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is America’s #1 go-to. It’s extremely versatile and isn’t too overpowering in flavor or texture, making it my top pick for pairing with any sandwich. Extra points also went to Hellmann's for the best top-down squeeze bottle as it’s by far the easiest to use and keep clean.
Growing up in the South, Duke’s was the only mayo that we bought. Since moving to Vermont, I have to order Duke’s online but I think it’s worth it for the flavor. Duke’s mayo is light, creamy, and incredibly smooth making it my first choice for making potato, tuna, egg, and salmon salads where the mayo flavor is so prominent. If you live in a part of the country where you can buy this off the shelf, then it’s easily your best mayo pick. If you’re like me and have to order it, I keep it for the times when you want strong mayo flavor, such as in an aioli.
Best for Making a Gourmet Dinner: Kewpie Mayo
Kewpie mayo, also known as Japanese mayo, is made with egg yolks instead of whole eggs, making it richer than all other types of store-bought mayo. It’s more expensive and I have to go to the Asian market to get it, but it’s 100% worth it when using it to make a recipe feel a bit more upscale, like in my Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas and Greens. It’s also the mayo of choice when making Spicy Sushi Mayo to get as close to sushi takeout as possible.
Tastes Closest to Homemade: Sir Kensington’s
The first mayo to be made with Certified Humane Cage Free Egg Yolks, Sir Kensington’s use of better eggs and organic lemon juice makes the mayo taste closest to homemade. Tangy, creamy, and lemony, Sir Kensington’s mayo is what I reach for when I want an upscale mayo that doesn’t break the bank. Sir Kensington’s also has a line of very good flavored mayos, such as a Chipotle Mayo that will take your next sandwich to the next level.
The Best Store-Bought Mayonnaise Taste Test Results
Mildly tart, creamy, and light with only a hint of lemon, there is a reason that Hellmann's Mayonnaise is America's #1 go-to. It's extremely versatile and isn't too overpowering in flavor or texture, making it my top pick for pairing with any sandwich.
Canola oil, avocado oil and olive oil mayonnaise are available as “healthier” options. Both are higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, but the calories are the same. Additionally, olive oil-based versions tend to combine olive oil with other vegetable oils so that the flavor isn't too overpowering.
The Best Store-Bought Mayonnaise, According to Chefs
Earning top ranks for its luscious texture, desirable tangy flavor, and versatility, “All I buy is Duke's Mayo, and I always look for the squeeze bottle because I don't like to dirty up a knife and have to wash it,” Surti says.
Duke's is tarter, with a more distinctive, almost vinegary, smell. Hellmann's is more neutral. That said, though, someone will immediately claim to prefer the “saltier, more citric” taste of Hellmann's. Or point out that Duke's contains no sugar.
Trader Joe's mayonnaise is clearly meant to be a stand-in for Hellman's—they even have nearly identical packaging. The ingredients lists are also quite similar, though Trader Joe's uses a combination of distilled vinegar, lemon juice, and cider vinegar for its zip.
Obviously there are the usual variations such as light mayo, vegan mayo, and many other types you can commonly grab right off the shelf at the grocery store. But there's one variety that's only available to food service providers: "heavy duty mayonnaise," sometimes called "extra heavy."
Which one is healthier? Although Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories, mayonnaise is less highly refined and may be the healthier choice. However, you should seek out mayo that's made with healthy oils, such as olive or avocado oil, instead of inflammatory seed oils like soybean, canola, or corn oil.
Duke's contains a higher ratio of egg yolks than most other commercial mayos, which makes it rich, creamy, and less likely to separate when heated. There's a wisp of tang from vinegar and a touch of paprika. Its texture is thicker and almost custard-like instead of simply slick or gelatinous.
However, mayonnaise is lower in saturated fat than butter because its main ingredient is unsaturated oils, such as rapeseed, sunflower or olive oil. Switching to a light version of mayo can help lower the calories it adds to your foods.
Hellmann's mayonnaise – known as Best Foods® west of the Rockies – is America's no. 1 mayonnaise brand. Its great taste enhances the flavor of many foods including fish, chicken, grains, vegetables and salads.
And one particular mayonnaise reigns supreme, especially in the South. If you've spent any time below the Mason Dixon Line, you already know the mayonnaise brand I'm talking about. But if not, the South's favorite mayo brand is Duke's Mayonnaise.
Duke's is the brand that many of us Southerners grew up on, so it's the mayo that tastes like what we expect and crave. Most food memories of this caliber require the replication of a prized family recipe.
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