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.
Kristin S.
As a lifelong Michigander in my 30's, and we've always used mayonnaise in my family, and bitched about "miracle wimp" as my uncle calls it. I think the divide is more porous than you think! I tolerate it in tuna salad or on a BLT, but personally, looking into a jar of mayonnaise is the most disgusting thing as it looks like I'm staring into a jar of liposuction results. I find it viscerally upsetting to see, but it's fine on a sandwich. I'm weird.
Centi
Mayonnaise!
I bought Miracle Whip back when I was 19. Never again!
Sam King
Really don't think we have miracle whip (UK here) and I wouldn't be able to eat it anyway as I'm intolerant to corn! (Amongst other things) I thought miracle whip was dessert anyway? Lol xx
Hazel
Me too! I always assumed it was like our Dream Topping. Which we used to eat on top of a packet trifle in the 70's and 80's because my mum made everything from a packet as did pretty much everybody else in Britain at that time.
So mayonnaise for me on the grounds I've never tried Miracle Whip and I make my own mayo anyway :-)
Leslie MacPherson
Sam, no offense, but I'd eat the UK's frightening Vegemite before I'd touch Miracle Whip. It's hideous, trust me.
Leslie MacPherson
Sam, no offense, but I'd eat the UK's frightening Vegemite before I'd touch Miracle Whip. It's hideous, test me.
Hazel
Hey, don’t blame the UK for vegemite! That’s the fault of the Australians- we have delicious marmite.
Gayle M
I keep both on hand, and don't use them interchangeably. Depends on whether the recipe needs a little twang of spicy or the milder taste of mayo. I'll have to look for your recipe/method send make my own sometime. (Raised in Detroit MI area, solely MW. Never saw real mayo til my hubby from Grand Rapids MI wanted it on hand--raised on a farm as a young'un, he was.)
Kathy Hartzell
Never tried MW. I mix my mayo 1/2 and 1/2 with plain yogurt for tuna or egg salad. Never use it on s’witches, just mustard. Dip fries in Dijon or catsup, since you’re asking.
Rick Bradley
PC mayo because we use very little and home made has too short a shelf life..
Lee
My dad was a wonderful cook and I grew up in a house that did not allow Miracle Whip (near Detroit). To this day, I just can’t buy it or use it.
gloria
I'm from the so-called Miracle Whip-eating south. But I grew up slathering my mater sammiches with Mayo.
Bonnie Gutierrez
I'm in the mayo camp and I formerly would use only Hellmann's until I experienced Jake's.
You are so correct that homemade is the bomb but I am usually too lazy! IMO, Miracle Whip is like comparing Coolwhip to real whipped cream.
Bonnie Gutierrez
Sorry, I meant to say Duke's!
Valerie
Raised on Miracle Whip. When I grew up and started buying my own groceries I always purchased Mayonnaise and prefer it. Miracle Whip always tasted sour to me.
I think those born during the 20s preferred Miracle Whip as a 'new fangled' spread, second only to that stuff you referred to as Sandwich Spread - groaner, another yucky thing my Mother loved.
SuZieQ1
Miracle Whip!! except for a chicken or tomato sandwich...
Julie Cavallaro
I hate Miracle Whip!
brenda
HAHA - let the flying sandwiches and expletives begin
Tina
Definitely Mayo! I grew up in a household (Oregon) where we had both but I tasted MW once and never again. So I don’t know who used or ate the MW but someone did!
Tina
And I’ll add my own reply. My dad grew up in the dust country of Central Washington State. While he was still wet behind the ears, he joined the army. He got to Basic Training and went to the mess and got his lunch. They had 2 bowls of white stuff, Dad figured they were vanilla pudding so he took a big scoop out of each bowl. They were Mayo and MW. And he was made to clean his plate...eat every smear of both!
Etta
Years ago a neighbor called asking to borrow some mayonnaise. "Sure, come on over." When she walked in, ( never locked the doors ) I was pouring oil into the blender. " Whatcha' making ?" "Mayonnaise." I replied. She stood stock still, her eyes got big and she said " You can MAKE mayonnaise ?!!!" Still cracks me up.
Karen
Hahahaha! ~ karen
Marjorie Kramer
At the risk of being mocked, here goes: I like 'em both. No preference, I'll eat either on most anything. I'll stir either into most anything, and probably have. I was shocked the first and only time I made mayonnaise at home to discover how awful it is, until you dump in a boatload of salt. However, that shock paled in comparison to the horror I experienced upon tasting it several days, maybe weeks, later. Preservatives, people, preservatives.
Lois
I am so grateful you replied. I thought I was going to be the first to confess that I am "bi" on the subject, although I *can* taste the difference, lol.
Marjorie Kramer
Thanks, Lois! It looks like we are quite unique.
Marjorie Kramer
We are unique!
sara easton
Mayo! More specifically Duke's mayo. I grew up with miracle whip, switched to Hellmann's, and recently discovered the magic of Duke's. Karen, I know you're a doing stuff kind of person, and I'm sure your mayo recipe is lovely, but I'm going to need your mailing address so it's an send you a jar of this stupid good mayo.
Karen
LOL. Yes it seems to be the favourite of many people reading this post. ~ karen!
Peggy
Where do you buy Dukes? Never-mind ... I just search and apparently Walmart has it.
I'll have to do a comparison with Hellmann's. Of course, I think homemade is best, but it doesn't keep that long, so Hellmann's is my staple.
I think it's kind of a situation like with a "Mother" sauce. Plain mayonnaise is so elemental and basic that it is very versatile. But I get why people like MW for potato salad because then you don't need to fuss putting in herbs and stuff. Easy-peasey!
Of course, here in Rochester, MN, home of the world famous Mayo Clinic, we have a statue of the Dr. Mayo brothers who founded the place. One has his arm around his brother's shoulders and my husband refers to it as "the hold the Mayo" statue. ;~)
Jessica
If you're going to buy dukes mayo and it's not popular, make sure you check the date on the package! I just recently bought it (I'm in midwest) and was gonna get a small jar but saw the expiration date was in a few months. Not as popular here!
Jessica
I just recently bought dukes mayo! I always heard people rant and rave about how good it is. I have a bottle of Hellmans in the fridge as well... to be completely honest, I dont taste much of a difference! I enjoy them both! My main takeaway is hellmans seems a little oiler and dukes seems a bit eggier. Or maybe I'm imagining it all and I'm in a mayonnaise predicament. Hard telling. Lol!
Ella
Yanno, the world is not black and white. Each has its place. For dipping frites, only homemade mayonnaise will do. For mixing with mustard to coat the bread of a grilled cheese sandwich, try MW. For devilled eggs, it’s got to be Hellman’s. I love them all .... when used appropriately :)
Jessica
Everyone thinks I'm crazy for using mayo on my cheese toasties... it works so good! I always throw a small pad of butter in the pan too, if we're gonna be unhealthy then we are gonna be REALLY UNHEALTHY!
BessOutWest
Mayonnaise, homemade, all the way.
Liz
I agree! So easy to make and customize too.
Ecoteri
So, will the next post be about which way to hang a toilet paper roll? LOL. I actually remember the explosions that happened when Ann Landers proclaimed that it should hang OUT from the wall. My goodness, months of letters full of outrage or defense of this opinion/decision. Glorious to read in the paper every week.
Sandra D
She was right! So much easier to swat, then dig. :)
Gayle M
LOL. Patent 465,588
Amy Watson
Unless you have a cat!!!! If there is a cat in the house the "swat" method is just what they love to see, it is somewhat the cat treadmill.
Heather
Amy, that was why I never put my toilet paper that way. Too many times I would come into the bathroom to find all of it unrolled on the ground :)
Karen
Already did that one on September 15th, 2011. :) https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/just-for-fun-fridaythe-great-debate/ ~ karen!