I tried 7 different mayonnaises to find the best one, and I'm shocked the cheapest beat my usual favorite
I compared different mayonnaises — Miracle Whip and mayo from Kraft, Kewpie, Duke's, Hellmann's — on their own and in chicken salad to find the best.
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Kristen Kwiatkowski
- I tried seven varieties of mayonnaise from the grocery store to see which one I liked best.
- Hellmann's is usually my go-to mayo, but it ended up in the middle of the ranking for me.
- I liked Giant's store-brand mayo, Kraft Real Mayo, and Miracle Whip most of all.
Mayonnaise is a popular condiment that can add flavor to a range of bites, from a deli sandwich to a potato salad.
Some mayo lovers have their favorite brand and rarely deviate from their product of choice, while others like to experiment with a range of varieties of the condiment. My preference falls in the former category.
I'm a creature of habit when it comes to buying mayonnaise and condiments in general. Hellmann's mayo is a staple in my refrigerator, and I put it on everything from BLTs to chicken-salad sandwiches.
However, I was curious if there may be a new favorite mayonnaise for me out there just waiting to be found. So, I grabbed seven different varieties of mayo and tried each on its own and in homemade chicken salad.
Here's how I'd rank them, from my least favorite to my top pick.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I know Kewpie mayonnaise is a popular product from Japan, but I hadn't tried it prior to this taste test.
The 12-ounce bottle I purchased cost $4.59, or 38 cents an ounce, making it the most expensive mayo on the list.
It's made with egg yolks, whereas many American mayonnaises are made with whole eggs. Many describe it as having a tangy, sweet, and umami-rich flavor.
When I tasted this mayonnaise on its own, the strong vinegar and savory taste surprised me. Overall, the condiment had a stronger flavor than I expected.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I hoped maybe adding this mayo to the chicken-salad mixture would temper the taste a bit.
I think it did — the chicken slightly calmed the vinegar punch. However, Kewpie was still a bit zesty for my personal preference.
That said, I could see this being ideal for easily punching up a potato salad or egg salad.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
The name of Mike's Amazing mayonnaise seemed promising. The 15-ounce jar I got cost $3.29, or 22 cents an ounce.
The mayo had a really smooth consistency but a flavor that was a bit too bitter for my personal taste when I tried it on its own.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
When mixed with the chicken salad, Mike's Amazing mayonnaise's vinegar taste weakened, and it seemed sweeter.
The creamy texture was nice, but I still thought that this mayo overpowered the chicken salad.
I could see this being good for making nice and creamy deviled eggs, though.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I've had Duke's mayo in a restaurant sandwich before, but this was my first time trying it at home and on its own. The 16-ounce jar cost me $4.99, or 32 cents an ounce.
On its own, Duke's mayonnaise tasted a little bitter to me. I think it could've benefited from more sweetness.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
When combined with the chicken-salad ingredients, the mayo didn't taste as bitter but had a strong egg-yolk taste that wasn't quite for me.
Still, it was pleasantly creamy, and I appreciated that it had a distinct flavor.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I usually use Hellmann's mayonnaise at home and buy it on repeat without a second thought, so I wanted to see how it ranked in the taste test.
The 15-ounce jar cost me $5.49, or 37 cents an ounce.
On its own, the mayo tasted sweet and smooth, with a stronger egg flavor than most of the other mayonnaises on this list.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
The chicken salad made with Hellman's tasted nicely familiar and nostalgic, as I use this brand often. It wasn't too sweet or overly tangy.
However, this chicken salad didn't stand out or blow me away once I compared it to the ones made with three mayo varieties I ranked above it.
I'd still purchase this classic, but I found some new favorites in this taste test.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I grabbed a 15-ounce jar of grocery store Giant's store-brand mayonnaise for $2.99, or 20 cents an ounce. This was the cheapest mayo I tried.
I was really pleasantly surprised by this mayo, especially since it is the most affordable one I tried. It had a nice, balanced flavor that was eggy but not too sweet, similar to Hellmann's.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
This mayonnaise was even more balanced when mixed with the chicken salad — it felt both sweet and a little savory.
I'm surprised such an affordable option landed higher on the list than my go-to mayo.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I've had Kraft Real Mayo in the past, but it's been a while, so I wanted to try it once more. The 15-ounce jar cost me $5.19, or 35 cents an ounce.
On its own, the mayonnaise had a really good taste with a smooth texture and a perfectly moderate sweetness level.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
This mayonnaise made my chicken salad really flavorful.
The subtle sweetness and creaminess of the mayo brought all of the ingredients together perfectly without overpowering them.
Although this mayo wasn't my top pick on its own, it definitely created the best chicken salad I tried.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I was hesitant to try the Kraft Miracle Whip, especially since some mayonnaise lovers really dislike it.
Miracle Whip typically has less fat and calories than mayonnaise but also contains a mix of seasonings that can make it extra tangy and flavorful. The 15-ounce jar cost me $5.19, or 35 cents an ounce.
Overall, I can't believe I waited so long to try it. It was delicious.
In terms of taste, the Miracle Whip had a perfect amount of sweetness and even had a slight vinegary garlic punch that reminded me of pickles.
Kristen Kwiatkowski
I was also blown away by the chicken salad I made with Miracle Whip.
The tangy mayo added so much punch to my classic recipe, which resulted in an incredible blend of sweet and savory flavors.
I could see the Miracle Whip working well on most sandwiches, in deviled eggs, and in just about any recipe that benefits from an extra dose of flavor.
