What is the difference between Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip? And which one is better? Usually when the topic comes up in polite conversation, I do my best to sneak out of the room before it becomes impolite conversation filled with expletives, hair pulling and flying sandwiches. If escaping isn't an option I bring up a less volatile topic - like religion, the death penalty or Chinese labour laws.
I'm in the hate it camp. For Miracle Whip that is. I don't like it, I've never liked it and other than the basic look of it, it isn't at all like mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is a creamy, rich, delicate concoction that enhances food. Miracle Whip is stronger tasting, sweet, filled with spices and not so subtle. So when people ask what the difference between Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip is, I can only assume they've only tried one of them. Because if you've tried them both you KNOW there's a difference.
Beyond taste there are a few more things that set them apart.
What is the difference between Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip?
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Geographically speaking, certain groups prefer Miracle Whip while others like the blander Mayonnaise.
The deep south and Midwest is Miracle Whip territory all the way. While the rest of the U.S. is spreading Mayonnaise on everything.
Many times what you were raised on dictates what you lean towards. My mother used Miracle Whip but only if the store was out of a little something called "Sandwich Spread", a mixture of mayonnaise-like goo and relish. In the 80's she branched out into the hoity toity world of Mayonnaise but now generally just buys whichever she can get the biggest bucket of at Costco.
I'm not sure how I escaped the lure of Miracle Whip, having been raised on it, but I did. One of the reasons I prefer Mayonnaise (other than the taste) is you can make mayonnaise at home with 4 ingredients and a few minutes and it tastes as good or even better than the stuff you buy in the store. That isn't always the case with homemade goods. Like people say they prefer homemade ketchup. As if. There's no way anyone could duplicate the perfect combination of sweet and tart that comes oozing out of a Heinz bottle. Anyone who says they prefer homemade ketchup is a hippie hipster liar who wears shoes made out of braided cat hair.
You knew this was coming. I'd like to do an informal poll. Let's keep it polite people.
What do you prefer? Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?
Have a good weekend!
MIRACLE WHIP!
To muddy the waters even further, some stores in the US now sell a traditionally British product called salad cream that doesn't taste like either mayo or Miracle Whip.
Only Miracle Whip in our house, I tried Hellmans once and hated it, has no taste, very bland.
I grew up with both mayonaise and miracle whip in the fridge...my mother only used miracle whip and my dad only used mayonaise. I only wanted miracle whip on my food when I was a young child, but switched to mayonaise 100% by 2nd grade. To this day I find miracle whip the second most disgusting condiment....second to only ketchup. So gross. My sister still uses miracle whip for her deviled eggs and literally nobody likes them. Meanwhile my deviled eggs are delicious, my sandwiches are lovely, my potato salad is divine, and my macaroni salad is yummy, all because I use the world's greatest condiment--mayonaise. In the hereafter miracle whip will be used to torment the devil and all his angels.
I just watched a show on TLC about how Heinz invented ketchup last night and it was FASCINATING. ~ karen!
I find it funny that heinz claims ketchup I have a handwritten recipe book of my great grammas from the 1790s early 1800's and I have been making her catsup recipe all my life because I have issues with food additives etc I can't stand the sweetness of prepared catsup/ketchup. The only thing I do differently is I puree it instead of leaving it like a chutney/relish. I also make my own versions of miracle whip and Mayo.
Miracle Whip. Nothing says BLTs better. So Karen what is it. In one sentence you say " I prefer Mayonnaise (other than the taste)" and another your say " while others like the blander Mayonnaise.". I always thought bland meant tasteless. Anyway I always liked Sandwich Spread and if you ask an American, they say "Huh". Like you said it is mostly what you were brought up on. As a Canadian living in Texas you just can't get this stuff, Kraft Peanut Butter, Coffee Crisp, etc. but I can get Miracle Whip. Love your posts.
Here in the Deep South it’s Duke’s...mayonnaise that is! Always Duke’s...
Just recently discovered Duke's at my local Aldi, and now understand why it has such a cult following, it's FABULOUS! I am also in the Mayo camp - booo on Miracle Whip - WAY too much sugar/sweetener, ick.
Hellman’s and Cross and Blackwell salad cream. (English.)
There are those who worry about eating raw eggs. I don't really worry, but I find the problem is easily resolved by immersing the egg in boiling water for 30-45 seconds which should almost sterilize the outside of the shell while leaving most of the interior unaltered.
Your leek & potato soup and your Caesar salad dressing are the best.
Thanks for all your good recipes!
Hellman's mayo.all the way. Although I've heard good things about Duke's, I've never run across it. As for Miracle Whip, yuck!!!
100% agree. ~ karen!