I grew up in a home where Light Miracle Whip was a constant staple in the fridge {my mom has always loved her “light” products but I always stocked our fridge with regular Miracle Whip, unless of course mayonnaise was on sale, then mayonnaise it was!}. I always thought mayonnaise and Miracle Whip were interchangeable.
In my defense, their makeup is practically identical. Miracle Whip contains the same ingredients as mayonnaise: eggs, soybean oil, vinegar but there are a few more spices and additional ingredients that mayo doesn’t contain. Aside from that, I just thought if a recipe called for mayo you could sub in Miracle Whip and vice versa.
As an adult with a more refined palate {ha!}, I now see the error of my ways! Their ingredients might be similar but the taste is so different, with Miracle Whip being much sweeter, spicier, and almost more acidic tasting than mayonnaise. If you sub it into a recipe, you’ll certainly be able to taste a difference!
But what makes mayo, mayo, and Miracle Whip, Miracle Whip? Are they classified as the same thing? What makes them so different?
Well to start, Miracle Whip isn’t considered mayonnaise at all because it doesn’t meet the requirements to be mayo {the USDA requires anything labeled mayonnaise to contain a minimum of 65% vegetable oil by weight and Miracle Whip doesn’t cut it!}. Plus, Miracle Whip has added sugar, paprika, and garlic powder, unlike mayo. So Miracle Whip is it’s own thing, it’s own brand. It’s a mayo-like product that differs too much from traditional mayo to be called mayo.
So Kraft came up with a new name for a new product that took the place of mayo during The Great Depression, when real mayo was too expensive for people to afford. People loved it and kept buying it, long after the Depression ended and even as the price of Miracle Whip climbed and matched that of mayo.
So now I’m curious what YOU keep in your fridge. Do you use both? Are you loyal to one or the other? Do you loath one and love the other? Does it depend on the recipe? Have your tastes changed through the years and now you dislike Miracle Whip and opt for real mayo {I know many friends in that category!}.
Let’s talk mayo…
~Mavis
This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.
Alison says
I will only use mayo which is what I grew up with, my husband uses miracle whip. We keep both around….i can’t stand the taste of miracle whip! Interesting though I never looked at what spices are in it, things I use alot but don’t like them here!
Deborah says
I was brought up in a household that only used Miracle Whip. And that’s how I raised my kids. But now later in my life I only use MW in potato salad and deviled eggs. Tastes change. But my children are raising their kids on only MW.
Kristina says
Same. I prefer mayo on most sandwiches, egg salad, tuna, & cheese being the exceptions. Another thing, I’ll eat any generic MW, but am getting choosy about the Mayo.
Lissa says
Only Mayo crosses my lips.
Teresa says
Same here. Best Foods Mayonnaise. Has to be best Foods. East of the Rockies it’s Hellmans. NO miracle whip.
Lynne says
Absolutely – Hellmans! I had a friend who worked for a company that sold a different brand of mayo and he could get their brand for free, but his wife kept Hellmans’ in their fridge.
Tracy says
YES!!
Jennifer says
Duke’s mayo here. Never bothered about brand until I had Duke’s. Now that is the only one I’ll buy.
Julia says
I only use Duke’s mayo as well. I love the tang the apple cider vinegar gives it. great on sandwiches and in egg salad.
Carrie says
I grew up on Miracle Whip. As an adult I switched to Duke’s Mayo. I make my own now with just egg and light olive oil. It is so simple and leaves out nasty soy bean oil and sugar.
The real question is how do you make a banana sandwich? My nana always made them with miracle whip, peanut butter and a banana. I use mayo, pb, banana and honey.
Mel says
Nearly the same here, except I grew up on Hellman’s, which I now can’t stand for some reason, and that’s what my mother used for banana sandwiches. I switched to Duke’s (but can longer face banana sandwiches), and I consider making homemade mayo from time to time, but I don’t think we could use it fast enough. I also make so many things from scratch now that I’m starting to wonder when I’ll hit critical mass and not have time to make other things. 🙂
Carrie says
I don’t use a lot of mayo on a day to day basis but if I want to make chicken salad or something similar I will whip up the homemade mayo.
Melissa says
Mayo on a banana sandwich??????? Must be an American thing!! I’ve never heard of it here is Australia!
Mim says
When you start getting your own eggs again, perhaps you will make your own mayo. Dead easy and soooooo much better than store bought. As for miracle whip, bleah….. Never! Goes into the same category as cheez whiz.
Have a great day planting corn! It should be lovely for the rest of the week.
Leslie says
Mim, I found that fermenting it resulted in mayonaise that would keep longer but did not influence the taste at all. I used a little juice from a batch of (homemade) sauerkraut for a starter. Here’s a link: https://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/recipe/lacto-fermentation-recipes/foolproof-lacto-fermented-mayonnaise/
Erica says
I grew up with mayo. My husband loves miracle whip. I switched to miracle whip for awhile. Then I did a few rounds of Whole30 and became more aware of how much soy is in processed food. Now it’s homemade mayo made with extra light tasting olive oil for me all the way. It takes more time, but it’s delicious!
Maxine says
Mavis, please pop over to Twitter and search for DIY-Crafts&Gardening and check out recent post on Raised beds. There’s a picture of your old beds and Lucy. Unless you gave permission or not a big deal.
Leslie says
Went to check it out. They also used your pic here: https://twitter.com/Hairstylesgirls/status/1002459847659540481
Mavis Butterfield says
No, I didn’t give permission. Thanks Maxine.
Elise says
I from the “Best Foods” camp. Must be Best Foods…Miracle Whip? NEVER!!
Rosaleen says
Hubby is a big Miracle Whip fan. I can go either way for most things. In any but tiny amounts, I don’t notice a big difference. The greater amount of oil in mayo is very noticeable.
Tracy says
I grew up in a Miracle Whip house and hated eating sandwiches. I would always ask for peanut butter in my lunch. When I got older and discovered mayonnaise I realized it was the Miracle Whip I didn’t care for. I only have mayonnaise in the house, and go back and forth with buying it and making my own.
Linda says
I grew up with MW. When I went to college I had mayo for the first time. I called my mom because I wanted to know why she bought MW when mayo was clearly better. My mom honestly preferred MW. I haven’t had MW since.
Sue says
I really don’t like miracle whips taste, mayo for me.
Knico says
For salads like pasta or potato, it is mayonnaise all the way for me, it can either be homemade or Hellman’s but it has to be mayo. However, for sandwiches, especially the to-go variety that will sit around for a couple of hours before being consumed it is Miracle Whip. If you try your hand at homemade you really need to try them with duck eggs instead of chicken eggs.
andrea d says
Despite the fact that we keep Hellman’s Mayo in the fridge, and both sets of parents use gobs of it, neither my husband nor myself can stand the stuff (2 of my kids like it though- not sure where that comes from). We use it just for tuna and egg salad. If a recipe calls for mayo, I either skip the recipe, leave it out altogether, or substitute sour cream -whichever option best fits the recipe. Don’t think I’ve ever tried Miracle Whip. As for ‘Light’, my thinking is, if you’re going to eat something that’s not that good for you, might as well go all out and and just eat the regular.
LaToya says
Always mayonnaise, has to be Best Foods/Hellmans or Kraft – no store brand or other brand will do.
Miracle Whip 2 days a year – the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving on turkey sammies.
Crystal says
I have an egg allergy, so can’t use either. I use Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing and Sandwich Spread when mayo is called for (or sometimes will use plain yogurt in something like a pasta salad). It tastes good enough that family is fine with swapping this out so I can eat the same as everyone else. The biggest difference is that it is whiter than mayo.
For anyone looking for an egg-free, or vegan, mayo substitute, this stuff is the best I’ve found.
Laura says
I’ve never had that but I love Just Mayo (also egg-free/vegan)
Laura T. says
I use Just Mayo too!
Laura T. says
Sorry, wasn’t done. I grew up with Miracle Whip but started to like the less sweet mayo later.
Now it’s the Just Mayo. It’s funny, three of us here use Just Mayo & we’re all named Laura! :0)
Lauralli says
I’m in the loathe Miracle Whip category! Nasty stuff! It’s Hellman’s for me!
Pamela says
Only real mayo. Hellmans preferred but it is too expensive sometimes. So I make do with my grocery store brand. It’s ok.
Heather says
I use mayo, and I much prefer homemade mayo in all but one case… artichokes. I have no idea why but with artichokes I like to use miracle whip to dip lol
Laura Z says
Try melted butter or olive oil. Even more delicious! I love artichokes!
JoAnn Moran says
Try good mayonnaise with a little siracha, red wine, or Worcestershire in it as a dip for artichokes. All three are surprisingly delicious.
Connie says
I was raised on Hellmann’s Mayo and still use it today. I never tasted Miracle Whip.
Debra Beeuwsaert says
I have both MW and mayo. My sister and her children – it’s only MW. My mother uses MW on her sandwiches, but mayo in potato and egg salads. I can handle either, but prefer mayo.
FarmGirl says
My whole family only uses Miracle Whip. I tried Mayo once and didn’t like it at all.
Rita says
Best Foods mayo only. Can’t stand MW!
Dawn says
It seems to come back to what you grew up in so many times. MAYO! I don’t like Miracle Whip at all, but then, we grew up with mayo! 🙂
Laura Z says
Blech. I hate Miracle Whip. It tastes so artificial to me and not anything like Mayo. I prefer Duke’s, which is less sweet than the others because of the lack of sugar. If you can get it, it really is the best for potato salad and cole slaw. My second choice would be Hellman’s or Blue Plate, although it is a tad harder to find bottles of Blue Plate on the shelves here that have not been there a while. No mayonnaise tastes good if it’s old!
Melanie says
Either or–whichever one is on sale. 🙂
Laura says
Thanks Melanie–I thought I was the only one! I only use mayo/MW to get the cheese to stick to the bread, so it doesn’t matter which one I use. They stick equally well! Takes us forever to use a jar of the stuff since we use so little. When I get a deli sandwich, though, I do love the flavor of the mayo as they use a lot more than the amount I do!
Lisa Millar says
I don’t think you can buy Miracle Whip here, so I haven’t ever tasted it!!
I LOVE the Japanese Kewpie brand of mayo. I have converted a number of people to it 🙂
Other than that… home made is best!
Alice says
But thought they were the same thing so we pretty much grew up on Miracle Whip. I never liked the taste of it so as a new bride, I always bought mayonnaise and raised my kids on that.
I’m sure mom still used MW but I don’t have to eat her food anymore if I don’t want to! Name brand mayo is not a big deal to me just as long as it is mayo.
I should ask my kids if they know the difference between the two. They are all three just starting out on their own. That should be a fun question to throw around with them!
Alice
Peggy says
I prefer the taste of Miracle Whip, but 360 of 365 days in the year, I don’t really use it. Very seldom. My hubby is different, it couldn’t be just mayo, it had to be Hellman’s. Once he didn’t talk to me for a few days because I put Miracle Whip in something. ???. Anyway, he’s now a type 2 diabetic and rarely eats it himself, but I did find a compromise on potato salad or tomato sandwich days (which is pretty much all I’m flavor specific on). I simply add a bit of pickle juice to the mayo and I have that zing I like, and ALDI carries (sometimes through the year, I don’t think always), organic mayo. 🙂 And the price is fantastic, just like most things at ALDI. 🙂
Linda says
We eat nothing but Duke’s because it has no added sugar. If you haven’t tried it yet, I highly recommend it!
Staci says
Miracle Whip – blech!! Mayo for me and I keep a small jar of MW for my husband. MW is weird and sweet and gross. 🙂 I’ve never been too particular about the brand of Mayo, though. Since we have plenty of our own eggs, I guess I should give the homemade a whirl.
Cindi says
My husband’s folks use Miracle Whip and when we visit I bring our own small jar of mayo — Best Foods (or Costco — I swear it’s the same stuff.) Miracle Whip tastes too sweet for me.
Jeanie says
Only Mayo and only full fat Hellmans (Best Foods on West Coast) although I have recently tried Sir Kensington’s and think it’s mighty good.
Kelli says
I grew up on MW and loved it but never had mayo. One day a friend made my chicken salad recipe and I was in awe of how good it was! Turns out she used mayo and it let those yummy flavors shine instead of trying to hide them like MW. So now we use mayo for everything but my kids use MW on sandwiches for a little more flavor.
Teresa says
As for me and my house, we shall serve the Miracle Whip for sandwiches and Mayo for potato salad.
EJ says
Husband and I both grew up in Hellman’s households but now we use the mayo sold by Aldi’s-Burmans. Tastes just like Hellman’s to us for way less money.
Rebecca in MD says
Same here – – – Burman’s mayo is delicious!
Kari says
I despise both, but my hubby is a Miracle Whip fan. If we are entertaining, I may put both out so guests can choose. He also uses mayo to make fry sauce. Eww…
Wendy L. says
While growing up, I lived next door to a woman who worked at Nalley’s. I lived on their mayo, chili,
pickles and potato chips from their commissary. I even interviewed to work in their food lab when they were developing
pringles. Mayo is now our favorite, usually Best Foods. Full fat for our sons and light for my HH and me.
Leslie says
Grew up on Miracle Whip but didn’t care which. When I need some now, which is rare, I just make mayo.
Leanna says
Mayo – Best Foods.
Deborah says
We are a Miracle Whip family. I only mayo if a recipe calls for it. Like spinach dip. Or my mothers tomatoless cheese dip. I don’t care for the taste of mayo on a sandwich.
Jenn says
I am a mayo only girl, and it’s only Hellman’s that I buy. Mayo was what I ate growing up. Now my hubby grew up eating Mircle Whip and didn’t know anything about mayo until he had moved off to college. He moved back in with his grandparents (they raised him) because they were getting up in their years and he started wanting mayo. His grandma had a fit, but she ended up having to buy both. If she made him a sandwich, he had to specify that he wanted mayo because otherwise he’d get Miricle Whip.
Kathy says
I suppose I am the odd man out. Grew up in a mayo home, but prefer Miracle Whip. Mayo vs dressing, MW wins in my home. Cannot explain why except got sick to my stomach once from real mayo and can’t stand the taste any longer.
Marybeth says
We alwasy have mayo. When I can get miracle whip on sale then I buy it. My mom had a recipe for chicken with miracle whip. So good.
Marcia says
As a kid, we had Miracle whip, but I’m a mayo only girl. Regular mayo, not light. I prefer Hellman’s/ Best Foods. (Best Foods on the West Coast). But, I’m also cheap – so if I run out and it’s not on sale, I’ll buy store brand.
Katherine says
I dislike both. Tuna salad is made with brown spicy mustard at my house. My husband likes mayo and keeps a small jar in the fridge.
Laura Z says
I like my tuna with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Mimi says
Miracle Whip is vile and won’t ever be found in my house. Best Foods mayo is all I ever buy. I made homemade mayo twice. The first time it was ethereal, just amazing. The second time it was a failure but I’ll try again some day.
Theresa Mignemi says
I only eat Hellmann’s/Best Foods mayonnaise for sandwiches. When I make a tuna or macaroni salad I also add dijon mustard with the mayo. Mmmmmmmm that’s goodeatin’.
Robyn says
Mayo for me! Hellman’s. I put a bit of sugar, mustard and vinegar with the mayo in potato salads so it tastes kind of like MW only better!
Kipper says
Best Foods aka Hellman’s mayo only here. I try to get the olive oil or canola version but sometimes “accidentally” buy the full fat. Never liked Miracle Whip and it is not allowed in the house.
DebbieB says
I grew up on Miracle Whip and Mom still uses it, but years ago I switched to mayo. Now I only buy Trader Joe’s brand mayo. Love the taste. I would be interested in trying to make my own though.
Tracy says
Miracle Whip?? Ewwwww…. Mayo only, and only Hellman’s. Ina Garden think so too! (Miracle Whip…PTOOOEY!)
Laura says
Grew up on MW also but we keep Just Mayo (it’s egg-free) in our fridge at all times and love it!
Anita says
mayo only in this household! don’t even try to bring in miracle whip, yuck!!
Deb says
I don’t eat either on sandwiches but it must be Miracle Whip for potato salad, deviled eggs, tuna or egg salad. It’s a cooked salad dressing and I can’t get over the idea of raw eggs in mayonnaise.
Annie says
I grew up with Miracle Whip but learned to love Mayo as an adult. Sometimes I’d use both on a sandwich! I don’t use anything with canola or soybean oil now though, so I only buy avocado oil mayo which is affordable at Costco. Miracle Whip is far too sweet now that I’m off all sugar too! As someone else mentioned, I use spicy mustard with tuna, but also mayo as well. Love mustard!
Ellen in Clackamas says
I am totally a Best Foods Mayo person. Do not like the taste of MW. I, like Cindi above, take a small jar with me when I visit my daughter because MW is all she has in her frig…she didn’t grow up that way!!! Haha…it is her husband’s preference and he eats a lot of sandwiches. She says she doesn’t care because they taste the same–What?????
Earlene says
It’s been fun to read all the comments! I’m a mayo person as is my hubby! Miracle whip is too sweet and makes tuna salad taste weird with the sweetness! Or egg salad or potato salad. What a fun item to talk about! Thanks
Mary Ann says
Never had Miracle Whip until after I was married. I love mayo — Best Foods or Kraft Light only, but hubby likes Miracle Whip as a dressing for coleslaw, so that’s they way I started making it and now I love it, too. But ONLY on slaw — always mayo otherwise.
Gardenpat says
Miracle Whip all the way!!!!!
Barbara Benware says
I used to be a Hellmans mayo only snob, then came single motherhood and I tried Aldi mayo. Its ok and now that is all I buy and it is fine. Never ever used or bought Miracle Whip!!!
C says
Duke’s mayo only down South. Miracle Whip is
Diane says
Grew up on Miracle Whip & thought it was just mayo brand name. As an adult, I switched to Hellman’s. There’s nothing like a thick slab of homegrown tomato on really fresh bread with Hellman’s mayo! Sometimes add a slice of American cheese, but usually it’s just the tomato!!
Cheryl says
You forgot the bacon.
Cheryl says
I have both in the house. My dh has a food allergy (citrus) so when I make potato salad or deviled eggs I have to use Miracle Whip. For food I just eat Hellmans mayo.
Gina says
Trader Joe’s Mayo. Husband says it takes just like his mother’s homemade.
Jennifer says
I grew up on Miracle Whip, while dh grew up on Hellmann’s. For years I would buy both, but I ate it so rarely that it would go bad before I could get my money’s worth. I still buy Hellmann’s for him and the kids. I am diabetic now, so I can’t have it anyway. I have found mustard to be great on sandwiches as a substitute, such as it is.
Sheila Cahill says
Mayo only and homemade is my favorite. It takes only minutes to make if you have a good processor or a blender. (Plus if you have fresh eggs it’ll be even more amazing) To jazz up a chicken or tuna salad add lemon zest to a batch of homemade mayo. It’ll knock your socks off!
Lisa says
Grew up with miracle whip and loved it as kid, now I loath it! I am in love with Real Mayo only, forget low fat blah blah blah… only the real deal for me, and the more the better! My hubby and kids like both on sandwiches but I only use real mayo for tuna, potato salad, etc. and the BEST is Mayo smeared thick on a slice of tomato! YUM!
Practical Parsimony says
I love Miracle Whip and always will. Mayo is nasty to me. I used MW in a recipe that called for mayo and ruined the whole thing. So, I keep both in my refrigerator. Mayo is just too slimy. Miracle Whip has 50 calories in a tablespoon, whereas, mayonnaise has 100 calories in a tablespoon. This disparity in calories in favor of MW in no way influences my taste for MW.
Kcmama says
I would only eat MW growing up. I couldn’t stand the taste of Mayo but tastes change apparently and now I find I prefer Mayo as MW is sickeningly sweet to me. I find no real difference between brands but my daughter can and she does not like the Aldi brand.
AmyWW says
I liked Miracle Whip when I was a kid because it is sweeter. Now I prefer mayo and only use Hellman’s. My hubs prefers Miracle Whip so we always have both of those name brands in the fridge. In a pinch I will use Miracle Whip in something like potato salad or coleslaw where there are other strong flavors in the dressing to tone down the flavor of the MW. Mayo is what I strongly prefer. I wouldn’t eat MW on any kind of sandwich.
Pam Kaufman says
We are definitely Miracle Whip fans though I would like to try homemade at some point.
janis heinrich says
miracle whip only. Mayo seems too heavy to me.
Wendy Steele says
Duke’s only for years–no sugar!
Tracie@SomewhatAwry.com says
I am in the Mayo group. Hellman’s all the way! I had never had MW until I got married and seriously do not like the taste. My husband was a Kraft mayo guy until I bought Hellman’s about six years ago and he is a total convert too!
Leslie J Honcoop says
Like you, I grew up thinking MW WAS mayo. My hubby grew up using real mayo — so I was afforded an education in REAL mayo not long after we married. Since then I always have both, but MW only gets used these days for deviled eggs, potato salad, and BLT’s. I’ve converted to regular mayo for the rest.
My mom still is MW all the way. 😉
Linda says
I keep both- mayo for sandwiches and most salads and MW for chocolate cake and some salads. I’ve tried other brands of mayo with poor results. It’s Hellman’s/Best Foods for us.
Amber Fast says
My husband works in a manufacturing plant that makes all kinds of Mayo and Salad Dressings. Many different recipes depending on the brand.
Always Save and Best Buy brands are the exact same recipe, just different labels. It really is true that many things are the same branded and unbranded. 🙂
He brings home Duke’s Mayo for me, no sugar added.
Christa H. says
100% Duke’s mayo is the best. Grew up on MW though.