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.
Emily R
I really detest sweetness in savory food. NO SUGAR PLEASE! Mayo all the way. MW should be banned.
Emily R
Oh, and I hate ketchup for the same reason. Too sweet!
Maura
Mayo!
Carrie
Grew up with Miracle whip. My dad was a fan. Haven't had it in over 25 years and I can still taste the sweetness. Ick!
When I had my own place I switched over to Mayo and all was right in the world!😁 Also love how easy it is to make.
But, to each his own!
Debbie
I am a MW hater! Blech! However, I am not a mayo lover either. I prefer mustard. Now that (mustard) is a spread but only the good stuff (aka NOT French's). If I have to do Mayo, homemade is the best but I now prefer Sir Kensington's. BTW, Kensington's classic ketchup is amazing! Very rich and tomato-ee. Delicious and will never go back to the "other" classic.
BTW, I prefer Jack Daniel's whole grain mustard with Jack Daniel's in it. Unfortunately, you can't get it where I live anymore. However, you can order Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce off of Amazon. Great stuff and something I prefer over ketchup.
Debbie
BTW, I still prefer homemade and it is so easy in a food processor (that is what that hole is for in the top of a Cuisinart lid--for the oil to pour at the perfect rate for easy mayo). However if I am too lazy, then Sir Kensington is great.
Wendy
Miracle Whip makes me gag a at the first bite
Gail
In NC only Dukes mayonnaise will do.
Kathy
Mayo! I can’t stand MW...and I’m a Texas girl.
TucsonPatty
I grew up in western Kansas with only MW. Potato salad with sweet pickles and MW. Sandwiches with MW. Cole slaw dressing of MW and sugar, vinegar and evaporated milk. (We always had that for making baby formula). My mom's mother made a disgusting macoroni salad with Mayo and I (obviously) hated it. Dad must have converted her to MW after marriage. I also was converted after marriage, to - Best Foods Mayo. Hellman's and Best Foods are the same, I've been told, just different parts of the country. I just made the best potato salad in the world with Mayo, mustard, dill pickle relish (cooking show trick) eggs, and ground cayenne pepper. Yum. First time eating mayo when I really liked it was served over steamed broccoli. It was delicious.
Toilet paper comes over the top.
Jen Topp
Best ending ever!
Bobbie
Oh, Hellman's for sure!!
Teri
All mayo, all the time. Grew up with MW because it was cheaper than mayo. My mother's kitchen was ruled by price and the fact she apparently had no taste buds.
Didn’t discover mayo until my ex-mother-in-law actually taught me how to cook. I’ve never looked back. MW is to mayo as margarine is to butter and both should be illegal. Like processed cheese slices they should have to be labelled 'Food' because a chemical analysis wouldn’t reveal that fact.
And just to head the next survey off at the pass, Ann Landers was right about toilet paper.
Keep on keeping on Karen, my middle of the night wake cycle wouldn’t be the same if you weren’t there a couple of times a week.
Teri on the Wet Coast
Karen
Glad to be there for ya. And ... I already did the "under" or "over" thing. In 2011. :) https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/just-for-fun-fridaythe-great-debate/ ~ karen!
Lillemor Sköld
All in with the real mayo crowd but as Hellmans is concerned you might be interested to know that over here in Europe with more severe laws about declaration of i gredients one of those natural aromas is WHEAT wich sent me to the doctors as I an both gluten intolerant and allergic to Wheat , just because I couln't in my wildest dreams think about the need to read the ingridiens list of mayo from the gluten intolerant perspective - I mean whyyyy would there be WHEAT in Mayo ???? But there is in Hellmans so all you gluten or wheat alleric people out there bevare 😘
Alena
Hi Lillemor,
Guessing by your name that you must live in beautiful Sweden.
You would be actually surprised where wheat and gluten hide - in the most unexpected places, like ice cream. Who would expect gluten to be in ice cream? Or in candy, chewing gum, shampoo, instant coffee, etc. I am not gluten-intolerant (at least on the most basic level, in the sense that it does not cause any digestive issues) but it's best to avoided altogether.
Alena
Lillemor Sköld
Hi Alena
Yupp North of Sweden born and staying 😊 Yes you are right ,Wheat and gluten hides in the most unlikely places - Black currant marmelade is my most surprising discovery. And yes I did those mistakes when newly diagnosed - now I also have learned to read on everythiiiiiiing before I eat it 👍🏻 Nice talking to ya and all the best 😊
Jenny W
Hellman's Mayo, for the Win :)
Ali
Homemade mayo.....Miracle Whip was in the fridge when I grew up....for months...yucky
Susan Barley
Not just mayo, Hellman's mayo!
Heidi Ruckriegel
What's Miracle Whip? That must be some strange sugary American concoction. Never seen it here in Australia.
Penley
Not even sugar - high fructose corn syrup!
Heidi Ruckriegel
Well no to that then. Too much fructose and my tummy goes nuts. I'd rather 'spend' my limited allowance on fruit!
Jo Foster
Definitely Mayo! French's Ketchup Only! ... using Leamington Ontario tomatoes in all its ketchup
Ev Wilcox
Born in Northeast Ohio and still there. Mayo mayo mayo! We are a divided family, though. My husband would not touch either of them, I and my oldest son are mayo, my youngest son is for "the other stuff", my daughter does not care! I keep a small jar of "the other stuff" for when my youngest visits, and I do add a dollop to my homemade coleslaw, with a bigger dollop of mayo, and other stuff. My mom was the coleslaw maker for all gatherings and I am proud to say that now I do it. She would be proud, also! Though I tried red cabbage once-pink slaw, anyone? Anyway, the other stuff is not spoken here, mostly! And, though I am not as big on brand names as some people, Heinz Ketchup is the way to fly here-and we do all agree on that anyway! You are a woman of good taste Karen!
twyla harkey
Mayo
...and Im from Oklahoma!! Love Hellmans...
Jen
Ha! Must comment. Grew up in a Miracle Whip household. Married a fella who’s fully in the mayo camp. After 10 years of making sandwiches together, we’ve come to a bit of an agreement (because I make said sandwiches): Egg salad and tuna salad are mostly MW. Chicken salad can be either, depending on add-ins. Burgers, ham and Swiss sammies, hotdogs, etc are mostly mayo. Non-negotiable items on either side - potato salad and deviled eggs must be MW (it’s how my grandma made them, so clearly my love of the fake stuff began early!) and French fries are always mayo!
Bonnie G.
Mayo camp. Love Duke's and homemade! Miracle Whip is like comparing Coolwhip to real whipped cream.