There's A Secret Variety Of Mayonnaise You've Probably Never Heard Of (2024)

FAQs

Why can't Miracle Whip be called mayonnaise? ›

Today, commercially, anything labeled “mayonnaise” must be comprised of 65% vegetable oil by weight. The added water and other elements in Miracle Whip take that oil content down, meaning it can't be classified as mayonnaise and must instead be labeled “dressing”.

HELLMANN'S: The world's favorite mayo.

However, because mayonnaise is made with acid (vinegar or lemon juice), it tends to prevent bacterial growth. Usually it's the meat, poultry, fish or eggs in a sandwich kept out of the refrigerator for more than two hours that is the medium for bacteria to grow.

Nutrition Lowdown

There's no doubt that mayonnaise is brimming with fat. One cup contains 1440 calories, 160 grams of fat and 24 grams of saturated fat. It's an excellent source of vitamins E and K, but it also contains almost 50 percent of your daily recommended amount of sodium.

Mayo Versus Miracle Whip

It has the same ingredients as mayonnaise, but it adds a number of others, including sugar, mustard and spices. Miracle Whip is noticeably sweeter and some say tangier than traditional mayonnaise.

Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories

Because Miracle Whip contains about half the calories of mayo, it's a good alternative for those who are counting calories. Fat-free Miracle Whip provides even fewer calories, with a 1-tablespoon (roughly 15-gram) serving containing only 13 calories ( 3 ).

The most common allergen in mayonnaise is egg. In rare cases, other ingredients in mayonnaise may cause an allergic reaction. It's also possible to have a food intolerance with mayonnaise, rather than an allergy.

The United States Department of Agriculture does not recommend eating raw shell eggs that are not cooked or undercooked due to the possibility that Salmonella bacteria may be present. However, homemade mayonnaise can be safely made if raw, in-shell pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg products are used.

Which is better for you: mayonnaise or butter? Both are calorie-and fat-dense spreads that should be used in moderation, says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RD, of the American Dietetic Association. But your better bet is mayonnaise, which contains less saturated fat than butter (1.5 g per tablespoon versus 7.3 g in butter).

Is Miracle Whip bad for you? ›

All three versions of Miracle Whip are relatively high in sodium. Miracle Whip has 105 mg while Miracle Whip Light has 131 mg and Miracle Whip Free has 126 mg. If you are a healthy adult, you need to limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg a day.

Miracle Whip is usually described as sweeter and spicier than mayo, which some people prefer. Mayonnaise is richer, with a lightly sour taste and an eggy aroma. They both have a similar creamy texture, and when it comes down to it, mayonnaise and Miracle Whip work the same in most recipes.

Occasionally, you may see small red flecks in your Miracle Whip. These flecks are paprika.

On the other hand, prepared dressings, like Miracle Whip, have to be avoided. They have loads of added sugar.

The sugar used to make Miracle Whip accounts for why it tastes noticeably sweeter than regular mayonnaise. Some store-bought mayonnaise, such as Hellmann's, contains sugar in its ingredient list, but not enough to detect a sweet taste like Miracle Whip.