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.
No no no to Lousiana. No Miracle whip. I’m so embarrassed you said that. We are the place with the best food ever. Idaho, you forgot about Idaho. They love MW.
Mayonnaise is my favorite condiment. There is not a day that goes by that Don’t eat mayonnaise.
I turn 60 this year, grew up in the Northwest, traveled as soon as I was able to move.
I grew up on MW and didn't 'discover' mayo until my 20's. Now when I'm making potato salad or whatever salad, even sandwiches I make a mixture of both. MW is too sweet, and straight mayo can be just a bit too mayo-ie. Sadly I have to admit that now and again I will crave a bologna (thank you Oscar Meyer for teaching me to spell) sandwich with American cheese and MW. I know, and I can't help myself.
I was raised on Miracle Whip. Hate it! Love mayonnaise. It’s a Karen thing.
I recently learned that disodium calcium (EDTA) can be harmful to the body.
“EDTA = These chelating agents are cytotoxic and weakly genotoxic, but not carcinogenic. It's purely a chemical, synthesized from ethylenediamine and other agents, and used to stabilize mixtures of fats and oils, for long periods of time and extended shelf life.
Mayo without it would separate the oil from the texture (and while there’s nothing wrong with separation, as you can easily stir it up) it can make the product less appealing to grocery store customers.” I love Hellman’s mayonnaise but grew up with Miracle whip and now have to look for the organic Hellman’s which isn’t as readily available in stores. So annoying! I wish companies would stop adding additives to food saying they’re safe, only to find out years later, they weren’t really safe at all! Sigh….
My husband was a chef. He claimed that Micracle Whip breaks down faster in salads than Hellman's. We were both Hellman's people until our area started selling Duke's. Love that stuff!!!
miracle whip is absolutly discusting it has its place only good for certain salads otherwise mayo is the best thing ever
Would like to leave comment but you’ve got so many ads going on I can’t finish typ
I have to apologize for my free service not being free enough. I feel terrible. ~ karen!
Definitely mayo, and it has to be Duke's!
So funny! I looked below and saw I had already contributed my two cents' worth! Hahahahahaha!
HAHAHAHA! Well. You're consistent. ~ karen!
Definitely a Hellman's mayo girl all the way around. Miracle Whip is old, dried up --- nope, can't say that but it starts with sp and ends with m.
(that was the most horrible thing I could come up with LOL)
And I'm not even sure what it is you're spelling, lol. I imagined a few things, all fairly gross.😆 ~ karen!
I found a tip that said Miracle Whip could take water rings out of a wood table top.
Bought some, tried it, it worked (almost, but not completely on the first time. BUT, I didn't eat any; heaven forfend!
To me Mayonnaise is a food group. My wife thought I was insane when she got home one evening and I was sitting in front of the TV eating small spoonfuls of the stuff. But, of course I'd love mayo, I'm 58. Great article!
We grew up with Miracle Whip however something changed around the taste the time they quit using glass jars. I swear they changed the recipe some how. We only use Hellmann's Mayo.
As an aside, on checking my bottle of Hellman's Mayo it lists 'canola oil' not soybean oil.
I'm going back through some of your posts. I laughed out loud over this one. My Mom thought the moon hung on Miracle Whip. I didn't even know Mayonnaise existed until I moved out on my own. I absolutely detest Miracle Whip. YUCK!
I was born in Indiana, so Miracle Whip formed the base of the dressing for our potato salad and coleslaw. However, Saturday night was burger night and my Dad had to have mayo (and sliced green olives for some reason) on his hamburger. I've become a mayo person, but I still like Miracle Whip. Miracle Whip is actually a commercial version of boiled or cooked dressing. The homemade version doesn't have corn syrup and is more of a sweet and sour dressing which is perfect for potato salad and coleslaw.
I prefer mayo, and it HAS TO BE Duke's. The ONLY thing I use Miracle Whip for is my mother's recipe of macaroni salad. I use the amount in the recipe and the rest of the jar sits and rots in my fridge until I realize I'm not making another batch of macaroni salad and that I need to throw it out!
Mayo in general, but with tuna I prefer Miracle Whip - I was born in Illinois but only lived there until I was 6 - so that might explain it.
I was raised in the Deep South - eating mayonnaise. My daughters were also raised in the Deep South - eating mayonnaise. One traitorous daughter switched to MW when she left home - she is not allowed to bring potluck dishes that should contain mayonnaise into my house.
Sheila
Obviously your daughter went through a shunning period I assume. ~ karen!
Mayonnaise of course!
We don’t even have MW in the UK- but I’m pretty sure I’d hate it!
Btw interesting that the word first appeared in the Oxford dictionary - I thought it was a French word... oh well I still love it!
MAYO hands down. I grew up on mayo and as a kid when I went to a friends house I couldn't figure out why sandwiches tasted so bad. I once had coleslaw as a kid, and I literally got so sick, as it was made with Miracle (sugar) Whip so sweet! I still think of it every time I have coleslaw out anywhere, always have to sample it first in fear of puking 🤢
BUT all that said (I hate to admit this) there is a tiny squeeze tube of MW on my fridge door (usually gets thrown out as the expiry date is always within 6mths of buying it, go figure...) And the reason I have it was once at a work function, what I thought was mayo, I put on my roast beef sandwich and I really liked it! I had to ask what it was and they said Mayo, and someone corrected them and said Miracle Whip (which I quickly realized it was and was utterly in shock!). It is the only way I can have on a regular roast beef sandwich 🤦🏻♀️ and the ONLY thing it gets used for 😂😂
Team Mayo all the way! *I am 56 for reference
You're just trying to get me to eat a roast beef sandwich aren't you? ~ karen!
Miracle Whip all the way!
Makes the best potato salad and Cole slaw. Also best "Russian" dressing. Also the best BLT.
It's the vinegar AND the sweetness.
My Mom was from Illinois so that may explain it. I'm also one of those people for whom cilantro tastes like soap...so maybe that's it! Maybe those of us who dislike cilantro are genetically predisposed to liking MW???
Husband not paying attention while shopping picked up miracle whip dressing … didn’t realize when he inked up or taking it out of cart at cashier. Only realized when he was putting it in fridge, boy did he get upset…. He decided he would give it a try 🫣 well that didn’t go over well at all, mean while i am laughing. We both prefer real Mayonnaise as it enhances what you put it on verses completely destroying what you are putting it on.
I just turned 50. I was born and raised in NJ until I moved down here to SW FLORIDA when I was 23. Mayo 100%!!! I actually have never even tried MW.
Kristine