Miracle Whip vs Mayo: Taste, Difference & Nutrition

Which spread do you prefer, Miracle Whip or mayo? Or are you among those who don’t care what creamy white spread you have on your sandwich?

While mayo and Miracle Whip are both made for the same purpose, their similar appearance can be deceiving. If you read the labels, you’ll notice they tell quite a different story.

So let’s talk about the distinctions between these two condiments. Since there is much to cover — or spread — let’s get started.

Difference Between Miracle Whip and Mayo

The flavor is the main thing setting these two condiments apart. Mayonnaise has a tangy kick, whereas Miracle Whip packs a sweeter punch.

Then why the same appearance? The reason lies in the ingredients.

Mayo was first used in French cuisine in 1756. Its recipe includes oil, fresh egg yolks, and an acidic ingredient — vinegar or lemon juice.

Kraft Heinz first produced Miracle Whip in 1933. Its recipe includes less oil and a blend of new additions — corn syrup, mustard, and spices — as well as the traditional ingredients —  egg yolks and vinegar or lemon juice.

Corn syrup is the main reason Miracle Whip is significantly sweeter tasting than conventional mayo. But — Miracle Whip isn’t the only spread with a sugary undertone!

One mayonnaise brand called Hellmann’s features sugar among its ingredients. The amount is minimal and barely noticeable, but it’s undoubtedly a better alternative than the traditional tangy mayo! Although, this also depends on your personal preference – so let’s see what some of the most popular varieties of Miracle Whip and mayo are.

Different Varieties of Miracle Whip and Mayo

You’d be surprised at how many other mayonnaise brands there are! And, to stay ahead of the competition, Kraft Heinz made sure that there are several variations of its Miracle Whip as well!

Miracle Whip is available in five options:

• Miracle Whip Original
• Miracle Whip Light
• Miracle Whip Olive Oil
• Miracle Whip 50% Less Sodium and Cholesterol

Mayo, on the other hand, is offered by the following brands:

• Hellman’s Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
• Kraft Real Mayo
• Trader Joe’s Organic Mayonnaise
• Sir Kensington’s Classic Mayonnaise
• McCormick Mayonesa
• Duke’s Real Mayonnaise
• Cains Mayonnaise
• Kewpie Mayonnaise
• Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise

Miracle Whip Isn’t a Type of Mayonnaise

Technically, Miracle Whip does not qualify as mayonnaise. According to the USDA, mayonnaise must contain at least 65% veggie oil by weight!

While we can’t know for sure how much oil is included in Miracle Whip, oil is essentially 100% fat — so looking at the fat content of Miracle Whip and Mayo is enough to see the difference between the two spreads.

As you can see, Miracle Whip contains much less oil than any other mayo variety. But, if Miracle Whip is not a mayo variety, then what precisely is it?

Well, it’s simply known as a type of dressing sauce!

Miracle Whip vs Mayo Comparison Table

Nutritional Content Breakdown: Which One Is Healthier?

Looking at the nutritional table below, we can see that Miracle Whip has half the calories of mayonnaise. It’s also lower in fat since it uses less oil during production. However, this doesn’t mean Miracle Whip is the healthier of the two.

To begin with, Miracle Whip is heavily processed and has more additives than mayonnaise. Additionally, it’s made with soybean oil which is considered to be inflammatory. In addition, high fructose corn syrup, which has been associated with liver problems, is also used in the production of Miracle Whip.

Overall, both mayonnaise and Miracle Whip are bad choices health-wise. Still, mayonnaise is likely the better option of the two — especially if you pick a healthier brand like Trader Joe’s Organic Mayonnaise.

That being said, if you want to eat healthier, it’s better to replace both with nutritious alternatives like Greek yogurt or hummus.

The best-case scenario is to make your homemade mayo version, which we’ll show you how to do in a bit!

Miracle Whip vs Mayo: Nutritional Profile

Can I Substitute Miracle Whip for Mayo and Vice Versa?

Yes, you can absolutely substitute Miracle Whip for mayo and vice versa! Just remember that Miracle Whip is a bit sweeter.

Therefore, if you substitute mayo for Miracle Whip, pick a brand that includes sugar in their recipe, like Kraft Real Mayo or Hellman’s Best Foods Real Mayonnaise.

All in all, both condiments are used the same way in the kitchen! Any recipe that calls for mayonnaise may be substituted with equal quantities of Miracle Whip and vice versa.

But what if you’re allergic to eggs? Or decided to follow a plant-based diet? Then opt for Greek yogurt, sour cream, plant-based mayo, vinaigrette-based dressing, or hummus. They won’t have the same flavor as Miracle Whip or mayo, but they will have a similar creamy texture, tang, and sweetness.

Recipe Time! Making Homemade Miracle Whip & Mayo

With everything we’ve learned about Miracle Whip and mayo, you should be comfortable using both in recipes. But, let’s learn something that will take you to an expert level: making homemade versions of Miracle Whip and mayo.

Miracle Whip Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 egg yolk
• ¼ tsp dry mustard
• 5 tsp white vinegar
• ¼ tsp lemon juice
• 4 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• A pinch of paprika and garlic powder

The first step in making homemade Miracle Whip is whisking the egg yolk for around 10 seconds.

Meanwhile, in another bowl, combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, and salt and stir until everything is well dissolved. Once done, combine half of the mixture with the egg yolk and whisk for around 20 seconds to blend everything together.

Add the canola oil to the mix while whisking continuously and slowly. You may also make this with a mixer set at low speed. Add only half the oil and continue whisking until the mixture becomes thick. Gradually add the remaining vinegar, mustard, paprika, and garlic powder.

Last but not least, gradually add the remaining half of the oil, and don’t stop whisking for another 10 to 15 seconds until everything is well blended.

That’s it! When done, put your homemade Miracle Whip into a sealed jar and store it in the refrigerator. This sweet and tangy dressing sauce lasts for up to five days!

Mayo Recipe

Ingredients:

• 250ml sunflower oil
• 2 egg yolks
• A pinch of salt and pepper
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp lemon juice or white wine vinegar

Start your homemade mayo by whisking the egg yolks together with the salt pepper for around 10 seconds. Once combined, add Dijon mustard and whisk until everything is well blended.

Next on the list is oil. To prevent a split texture, add the oil gradually and slowly. So continue whisking while adding the oil drop by drop.

By now, the texture should start thickening. If so, it’s time to add the vinegar/ lemon juice. This ingredient is also tricky because if added all at once, it may cause your mayo to curdle. So, as you did with the sunflower oil, incorporate this ingredient one drop at a time.

Whisk the mayo for another 10 to 15 minutes to ensure everything is blended well. And you are done! Your tangy spread will keep for up to five days in a well-sealed jar, so enjoy!

Bonus tip: Swap Dijon mustard with Spicy Brown mustard for a more spicy kick!

Conclusion

Who wins for you, then? Do you prefer the tangy mayo flavor or Miracle Whip’s sweet kick?

Classic mayo is made of oil, egg yolks, and vinegar or lemon juice. On the other hand, Miracle Whip is made with less oil, egg yolks, and vinegar/ lemon juice. But that’s not all, because as we’ve learned, Kraft’s included extra ingredients: cane syrup, spices, and mustard!

Miracle Whip contains less oil than mayonnaise, so the USDA does not classify it as such. Nevertheless, that certainly hasn’t stopped us from spreading it like mayo with grilled cheese, salads, sandwiches, mashed potatoes – the list goes on and on!