The short answer is that one group of people have good taste while the other group of people are absurd. There's a little more to whether you're more likely to dollop mayo or Miracle Whip on that toasted hamburger bun, like where you were raised.
Usually when the topic of mayo versus Miracle Whip 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 and their fans apart.
Table of Contents
What's the difference between Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip?
- Tangy, creamy
- 90 calories per tablespoon
- More oil
- No sweeteners
- Originated in Europe 200 years ago
- Tangy/Sweet
- 60 calorie per tablespoon
- Less oil
- Has high fructose corn syrup
- Invented in 1933 by some asshole
What YOU prefer probably has as much to do with where you live.
You probably like Miracle Whip if you live in ...
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Pennsylvania or Maryland.
You probably like Mayo if you live in ...
Canada, the other American states or Europe.
You're showing your age if you prefer this one
Just for fun I asked ChatGPT who it thought would prefer mayo over Miracle Whip.
What ChatGPT had to say
- Older generations (around 50 years old and above) grew up before the advent of the Internet and may have experienced the prevalence of traditional dishes and culinary practices. They will prefer mayonnaise.
- Younger generations (below the age of 40) particularly those belonging to Generation X, Millennials (Generation Y), and Generation Z have grown up in the digital age & have been exposed to a wide range of global cuisines and culinary innovations. ChatGPT theorizes that this makes anyone under 40 more likely to be adventurous with multicultural cuisines and culinary experimentation. They will prefer Miracle Whip.
That's right. If you're part of Generation X (between 43 and 58 years old), like I am, ChatGPT apparently thinks you are both old AND young.
It also has chosen to ignore anyone between the age of 40 and 50, presumably because these people only eat avocado toast.
ChatGPT considers Miracle Whip to be a culinary adventure.
If Miracle Whip is considered a bold culinary risk it's possible that ChatGPT is actually a 5 year old in Wisconsin.
In this favourite foods you've eaten post I confess to eating barnacles and a lot of you confess to eating even weirder things - like cod tongue. And loving it.
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?
Your answer won't affect how I feel about you. Chances are I already thought you were absurd.
Tracey Miller
BLUE PLATE mayonnaise!! And I live in Mississippi, ya’ll!! (which is about as Deep South as you can get)
Karen
You're in Wickles world!! Lucky you. ~ karen!
kddomingue
Grew up in Alabama and live in coastal Louisiana and nobody that I knew/know ever used/uses anything but Deep South or Blue Plate mayonnaise! I'm curious as to where in the deep South this Miracle Whip obsession is common. Miracle Whip is an abomination (in my opinion, of course)! Had my husband admitted to a fondness for the stuff before we were married.....well, we wouldn't be married today as our values would clearly have been out of alignment, lol!
brenda
I like cole slaw dressing (it might be a little like miracle whip) I don't know because I only tried MW once and swore I'd never again...
Karen Noltee
Miracle Whip makes potato salad awesome. Mayo makes potato salad extremely bland and boring.
brenda
that's why you add sour cream I think though
Sandra D
It's still today for me, lol. 10:40 on Nov 9. I never liked mayo growing up - like I tasted it, lol (mustard for me), but mom used Miracle Whip, which is what I used when I grew up, and tasted potato salad, and devilled eggs. I agree it makes the BEST potato salad. I use it AND add sour cream to macaroni salad. I've just tasted Hellman's because of the hype about it (and it was the same price). Didn't notice a difference; don't shoot me. I don't use mayo on sandwiches, unless it's devilled so maybe that's why.
brenda
smearing you in mayo - gonna eat you now
Martina
Haha
Sandra D
Okay, shoot me instead then - please! :)
(Dr.) Jan in Waterdown
Can't taste the diff?!? Ok, it's official, you have NO taste buds. I know cuz I'm a doctor. Or something. :-/
Sandra D
Okay, Doc. I'll 'splain. Because I don't use them by themselves, I didn't think I noticed a difference. I was wrong. Today, I was at the legion for Remembrance Day and I ate a deviled egg that I DID NOT make and it was bland and crappy. One bite, and that was it; I didn't finish it. Obviously, it wasn't used with yummy, tangy MW. That's the reason I won't buy a deviled egg sandwich at a store. It just doesn't taste right.
When I make coleslaw, I always add sugar and vinegar - even with MW. I have a couple of jars of Hellman's in my pantry, but I'll try some homemade coleslaw and test it out (with the sugar and vinegar, of course). Will report back!
I'll also try the homemade MW recipe given to me on this thread. Oh - using the Hellman's, cos I don't know a homemade mayo recipe.
Christina Contri
Solid Midwesterner here and it's mayo all the way! I hate going to a picnic, bbq, what-have-you and biting into a deviled egg, only to find out that it's been made with MW. It's an abomination!!
Beth Kowalski
I've already informed my friend that I will be bringing the deviled eggs to (American) Thanksgiving in a couple weeks. Precisely to avoid that situation.
Kate
I can’t begin to imagine how awful a deviled egg with mw would be!
Abbot of Unreason
Do we have to pick one or the other? They’re both gross.
Nicole
Hear! Hear! I was reading through wondering if everyone liked one or the other and it's reassuring to know that I'm not the only one wondering why people would put white gunk on their sandwiches.
Agnes
I'm with you! Homemade mayo is delish compared with any commercial brand, but never on sandwiches. Thick brown Mrs Ball's chutney or maybe apple butter with strong cheese, a touch of mustard with beef, even a lick of brown sauce in a bacon butty, but nothing that would make the bread soggy, please.
Luanne
All mayo all the time. I also grew up in a Miracle Whip household. I didn't like it at all. I didn't try mayo until my 30's. And I finally realize why people want it on their sandwiches.
Annette
Duke's Mayonnaise or homemade (grew up on Hellmann's in Virginia). Miracle Whip is perfectly described by ATTYGREEN13.
Agar
I agree Duke’s is the best but Hellman’s will do.
Annette
@AGAR I stopped with the Hellman's when the price tag became US $7.99 a jar!
Heather
Duke’s mayo is wonderful, but Hellmanns in Canada is just fine. Hubby prefers MW - go figure. However he makes the best Caesar salad dressing using MW & it does not work with mayo.
Lynne burns
Duke's or NOTHIN'
Clearly the best
Kipper
Best Foods/Hellman’s mayo is the best. Miracle Whip is too watery and the flavor is not one my family ever liked(except Mom, but then she likes peanut butter, brown sugar and mustard sandwiches too).
Erin
lol another weirdo! ( see comment above about my dad. He eats green onion & salt sandwiches as well ).
brenda
I agree 100% with you ... poo on Miracle Whip (and good description of that other snot spread and Heinz is the only ketchup FULL STOP!
brenda
the Quebec tomato chutney for tourtiere is very amazing but I don't call it ketchup so it's totally allowed IMHO
Michelle
Ditto.
Alena
Brenda,
I like Heinz ketchup as well but did you that it proved to be the worst in terms of how moldy/mildewy tomatoes it contained?
I still buy it though.
Alena
brenda
oooHHhhh NOOOooOOOoo (I'll still buy it too though) UGH. I also ate a shrimp once after reading that they are practically brought up in toilets ... I wonder if it makes a difference buying the organic Heinz? We can pretend - right.
kddomingue
I buy the organic version....and lie to myself about the non-moldy-ness of said organic tomatoes! But I rarely use ketchup so I'm not too worried about it. As for mayonnaise, well, there's mayonnaise and then there's that other nasty stuff! See my reply to Tracy Miller below!
Kristin Ferguson
I don't think it matters how moldy the tomatoes are. They cook the heck out of them anyway, so there wouldn't be any mold spores alive after that. If you eat Brie or camembert cheese, or any kind of blue cheese, you are eating mold. Some wines, such as Sauternes, are made with grapes that have begun to grow moldy with botrytis (known among vintners as "noble rot", which adds a really beautiful, haunting sort of flavor to the wine.) Heinz ketchup is the only ketchup!
kddomingue
Yep, some moldy stuff is absolutely delish! I'm not terribly germ, mold, etc phobic....when it comes to food, I figure if , for example, Heinz ketchup hasn't killed me after 57 years then I probably don't need to get my panties all in a twist over a study saying that they use moldy tomatoes, amiright? Pesticides, on the other hand, do cause me some concern.
Karen
Yes, but don't forget that's a completely different mold. I wrote about it in this post on cheese. :) ~ karen!
Kristin Ferguson
Okay, I just re-read that post. First, I think penicillin was first grown in the 20's, but I may be wrong. It first made it to market in the 40's. Yes, they are different kinds of mold, but once you cook it, it's safe, right? So my original post stands. And Heinz rules. No cat hair sandals. BTW, I grew up in a mayonnaise-free household (except when my mom made tuna salad, into which she put mayo and sweet pickle relish, which I love in this and only this application), and my dad was so vehemently anti-mayo that my sister still hated it to this day. My lunches were sad affairs. Two peaces of bran bread with a sad slice of bologna in between. I think I probably hadn't developed a taste for mustard yet. And my parents made these sandwiches in bulk with day-old bread (bought from the bargain Van de Kamp day-old store outlet) and then froze them in sandwich bags for more convenient child abuse. On cold days they were still kinda frozen by lunchtime. #firstworldproblems
Kristin Ferguson
*pieces
Kate
Mayonnaise all the way. I’ve never liked the other stuff. Too sweet. For statistical purposes I’ll add that I grew up in Northern California (the part that just burned down!), and lived there the first 40 years of my life. Moved to Idaho in 2011.
Kate
Oops, sorry about the picture. I thought I was adding a profile picture.
Karen
Hi Kate! You can read this post. It shows you how to add a profile picture that will show up in all blog and online comments. :) ~ karen!
Kate
Thanks Karen! I did it!
Martina
I kinda liked the original pic...;)
Kate
Thanks! I couldn't figure our how to rotate the image as I was on my phone...
Kris
I was just about to look for that post Karen! Thanks.
Raymonde
Mayo all the way.
I also prefer my homemade ketchup but Québec homemade ketchup is completely different from Heinz. It's a Québécois culinary tradition that is more like a chutney. We all have our grandmothers' family recipes but there are perfectly good recipes online.
It's really good with tourtière and pâté chinois!
Now, I'm hungry...
Tracey C
We need to start a debate now about Pâté Chinois vs. what most people in Ontario call Shepherd's Pie! In my opinion adding veggies other than creamed corn is a travesty! Pâté Chinois all the way ;)
Llynnda
Creamed corn? No, no, no! Niblets yes! Pate Chinois! From Quebec.
Tracey C
Oui, je sais, I'm from Quebec and we always, ALWAYS used creamed corn in our Pâté Chinois. Niblets are not the traditional method to make this dish!!
Llynnda
Oh well, I'm English from Quebec, so,that must explain the difference between nutlets or creamed🙂
Erin
I grew up with Miracle Whip ( hated it ) because my dad didn't like Mayo. UNI ( Ryerson ) was the first time I ever tried Mayonnaise. The residence cafeteria ladies were quick to ask you if you wanted it, but never really listened for a response "Meyo Naze?!", lol so I tried it not by choice and loved it and wondered what was wrong with my father ( he also doesn't like Maple syrup :| even though we made it, and didn't eat cheese until he was in his late 30's early 40's. Weirdo! ).
Karen
Definite weirdo. ~ karen!
Barbara H.
I grew up in Michigan. Miracle Whip 'til the end. My siblings might disagree. Go figure.
Kristin
I'm from Michigan, too, and we always used Miracle Whip. I've converted to the mayonnaise camp as an adult, though. Too many bologna, Kraft cheese, Miracle Whip sandwiches on white bread as a kid, I guess!
Lois
I added potato chips to that particular combination for my own bit of flair when I was a kid. lol.
Patty DeMaria
No ink! Also a Michigander and it’s got to be mayonnaise. And not just mayonnaise, Hellman’s Mayonnaise!!
Rachelle
MAY-OH-NAAAIZZE!!!!!!!
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊
Kim
Mayonnaise now but I was also raised on Miracle Whip. Hubby uses Miracle Whip.
I have made mayo using your method, Karen, and it's a thing of beauty!
Karen
It is, isn't it?? It's SOOO good. ~ karen!
Lori Hope
I’m in the mayo camp. My husband says it depends on the intended use: Miracle Whip is better for fruit salad, for instance...
Marianne
Noooo!! To Miracle Whip on fruit salad. Equal parts mayo and whipped cream. As I learned in the salad kitchen one long summer at the Arcadian Court. Heavenly Waldorf.
Lori Hope
Ooo! That sounds like a winner! I'll make that suggestion to him. :)
Terri
Ohh, I thought I was the only one who mixes mayo and whipped cream for my fruit salad. Isn't it lovely?!
Marianne
Heavenly. Probably bad for me but not something I eat every day. I am using real whipping cream and whipped cream more now. Phooey on aerosol creams.
Karo
Miracle Whip all day long. Mayo tastes like oily nothing.
Kim from Milwaukee
I agree totally. When I make homemade mayo I add a little sweetness and spice and it rivals store bought Miracle Whip.
SusanR
Ditto. I'm from Chicago and was raised on Miracle Whip. My husband, raised in Arizona, likes Mayo. So if I'm making something like egg salad or ham salad, I'll use Mayo because my husband dislikes Miracle Whip more than I dislike Mayo. But if I'm making something where we can each have what we like, it's Miracle Whip for me all the way.
Jeannie
Mayo!
Ron R.
Mayo rules
attygreen13
Miracle Whip is the debil’s concoction (said in my best Bobby Boucher voice). Blech
attygreen13
And I grew up in the Deep South and live in Texas now.
Sally Florio
I grew up in Midwest-Chicago, our refrigerator only contained MAYO and that continues
Joe Seamhead
Miracle Whip vs. real mayonnaise? It like the difference between cheese "food" and real cheese.
Barbara
Mayo all the time.