Danny Palumbo
Jordan Myrick
Ariana Losch
This list of the best mayonnaise will certainly be divisive; mayonnaise always is. Folks down South swear Duke’s makes the best mayo, while people in the Northeast love Hellmann’s. Meanwhile, the West Coast goes to bat for Best Foods (which is allegedly the same product as Hellmann’s, but we’re not so sure about that). The point is this: Not all mayonnaise is the same. From the best spicy mayo to creamy Kewpie mayo, this fatty, gloppy, tangy condiment varies from state to state and country to country, and some people think it’s gross. (They’re wrong.)
As we continue to update our best mayonnaise ranking, we check for new products (you know, like Kraft’s Dill Pickle Mayo), flavors we haven’t had the chance to try, brands we’ve missed, and of course, any suggestions we receive from you, the reader. As it turns out, people have a lot of passion for this fairly basic but (truly essential) condiment. We totally get it—we won’t name names, but some of us on the Sporked team put the best mayonnaise brands above all other condiments.
So, what do we look for in the best tasting mayo? We’re glad you asked. For the most part, we think it should have a nice, custardy texture. It shouldn’t seem too oily (yes, we’re fully aware that mayonnaise is an emulsion of egg yolks, oil, and acid, but it should taste like oil). The texture of a mayonnaise is paramount. It should be viscous but not gelatinous. Moreover, mayonnaise should have great flavor. We looked for salt, acidity, and a little umami. Lastly, mayonnaise shouldn’t be too sweet. And before you ask, yeah, we tasted Miracle Whip.
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- Truff Black Truffle Infused Mayonnaise
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This is one to savor. The intense, earthy truffle flavor vaults this mayonnaise into fancy territory, but it’s subtle enough that you can use it for just about anything. Put it in potato salad or chicken salad, slather it on a sandwich, or, hell, use it as a dip for chips. People love to hate on truffle oil, but you know what? The flavor just works in mayo; this stuff is pungent and rich with truffle flavor. Plus, this splurge isn’t too splurge-y. It’s nice without totally breaking the bank. Needless to say this is the best truffle mayo we tried, but it deserves to be named among the best mayonnaise regardless. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- McCormick Mayo with Lime Juice
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This lime-infused mayo from McCormick combines a thicker, Kewpie-esque texture with a bright lime juice flavor. The lime is zingy without being too acidic or sour—it’s very balanced and, thanks to the hint of red pepper, pretty nuanced, too. If you want to experiment with different condiments for New American or Tex Mex dishes, this is one of the best mayos you can buy. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise
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I recently got turned on to Blue Plate, and it absolutely rules. It has a sharp, tart bite like Duke’s (which you’ll find in the #3 spot) and it’s a bit more eggy. To us, this is a happy marriage of Hellmann’s and Duke’s. It’s not the best mayonnaise, but it’s definitely up there! Blue Plate is a stellar mayo that’s great to keep around. I like to combine it with Hunt’s ketchup to make a tangy and savory special sauce for burgers or fries. Man, the South just does mayo right. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Kraft Pickle Mayonnaise Dressing
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Love it or hate it, the pickle-flavored-foods trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. And if that means we get more products like Kraft Pickle Mayo, well, we’re all for it. Sporked writer Jessica Block calls this tangy, garlicky mayo the “the perfect blend of burger sauce and tzatziki,” and as the current owner of this condiment (I took this bad boy home from work), I wholeheartedly agree. It has a fresh cucumber finish, bits of dill pickle, and a great balance of flavors that doesn’t overdo anything. In my opinion, it’s the best mayonnaise for a tuna melt—but I’m very open to other suggestions, too. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Kraft Light Mayo
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If you’d asked me a few days ago what I thought about Kraft mayo, I would’ve had literally nothing to say. I forgot Kraft even made mayonnaise. And while their regular mayo is good, their light mayo is one of the best mayos on the market. It has the exact same texture as regular, full-fat mayo, and I don’t know how they do it. The flavor is rich and super tangy. We were all huge fans of this mayo in the Sporked office, and I will be purchasing this again in the future. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Original Vegenaise
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Follow Your Heart rarely misses. Most of the products we’ve tried from this vegan brand, from cheeses to salad dressings, have been sensational. When it comes to the very best Follow Your Heart products, their Original Vegenaise is at the top of that list. It’s creamy, rich, and has a slight twang. This plant-based mayo is nearly indistinguishable from egg-based mayo. If you follow a plant-based diet or have an egg allergy, this is the best vegan mayo you can buy. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- McCormick Chipotle Mayo
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This McCormick Chipotle Mayonnaise tastes homemade. There’s not a weird chemical or citric acid taste. The flavor is pure mayonnaise, garlic, and smoky chipotle peppers in adobo. If you made tuna, chicken, or egg salad with this, your head would explode, but this would also be delicious on a turkey avocado sandwich. I brought this home from work because I plan to put it on everything. I absolutely adore this chipotle mayo. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Kewpie Mayonnaise
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The taste of Kewpie is certainly striking. This classic Japanese mayonnaise tastes like cold hollandaise sauce because of the strong egg flavor. There’s also a hint of sweetness and a slight tang. Kewpie is like a smooth, spreadable egg salad. We would eat it all by itself on some white bread—how many condiments can you do that with? As far as I know, it’s the only mayonnaise to add MSG. I applaud that. Kewpie is great with sandwiches, french fries, sushi, salads, and so much more. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Amazon
- Acid League Spicy Serrano Mayo
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Acid League’s Spicy Serrano Mayo even surpassed Sporked’s beloved Mayoracha in our spicy mayo ranking—and let me tell you, that’s no easy feat. But this carefully crafted spicy mayo carries the distinct flavor of serrano pepper. It’s tangy, citrusy, and extra creamy. The acidity, zest, and medium heat leaves a special impression that’s also versatile to use, without alienating those more sensitive to spice. We really recommend this for sushi, tacos, and fried fish sandwiches. (Perhaps… a fried sushi sandwich?) It’s pricey, but the best mayo is worth it. —Ariana Losch
Credit: Liv Averett / Acid League
- Duke’s Real Mayonnaise
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I freaking love Duke’s. Duke’s is what homemade mayo should taste like. It’s just got such a lovely, sharp, citrusy bite. Duke’s actually tastes like citrus was used to make it, much like a homemade mayonnaise. Plus, it’s got a touch of paprika. It tastes like a fresh aioli. The only downside is that the texture is a bit too slick. It feels kind of oily, whereas Hellmann’s (our number one pick, spoiler) has that nice eggy consistency. The way I see it: Hellmann’s has better texture, whereas Duke’s has better flavor. Still, it’s among the best mayo on the market. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Heinz Mayoracha
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I wouldn’t normally buy something like this and I certainly didn’t expect for it to rank so high on our list of the best mayonnaise. The name is corny, and why do I need a company to premix mayo and sriracha for me? Realistically, I don’t. However, this tastes awesome. It’s great quality mayo mixed with the most delicious sriracha to give you a product that is creamy, spicy, garlicky, and just plain wonderful. I’d never bought this before, but I will buy this in the future to put on sandwiches, sushi, rice bowls, and more. I love it! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise
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This was tough, but I stick by the choice. Hellmann’s (not Best Foods) is the best mayonnaise. It is triumphantly decadent—eggy, rich, and flavorful. Mythical Chef and town madman Josh Scherer described it as “eggy pudding.” That’s because it’s the mayonnaise that most resembles a custard, and it’s jam-packed with flavorful fat. This savory mayo has less acidic bite than say, Duke’s, but the texture is indisputably excellent. Hellmann’s is less citrusy than some other mayos, but it’s still perfectly tart, with an accessible flavor to please the masses. That means you can use it for just about everything (see: cupcakes). Most of all, it feels like a human being made this mayonnaise in a kitchen with a whisk, not a robot in a factory. To us, that’s incredible. Hellmann’s reigns supreme as the best mayonnaise you can buy. —Danny Palumbo
Credit: Merc / Walmart
Best Splurge
Best for Tex Mex
Best for Everything
Best for Pickle Lovers
Best Light Mayonnaise
Best Vegan
Best Chipotle Mayo
Best Umami
Best Spicy Mayo
Best Flavor
Best Sriracha Mayo
Best of The Best
Other Products We Tried: Best Foods Real Mayonnaise, Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayonnaise, Great Value Mayo, Kraft Real Mayo, Primal Kitchen Chipotle Lime Mayonnaise, Miracle Whip, First Street Real Mayonnaise, Sir Kensington’s Avocado Oil Mayonnaise, Sprouts Organic Mayonnaise, Boar’s Head Real Mayonnaise, Trader Joe’s Organic Mayonnaise, Stokes Real Mayonnaise, Nando’s Perinaise, Light Great Value, Best Foods Light, Sir Kensington Chipotle, Hellman’s Spicy, Sir Kensington Sriracha Mayo, Kikoman Sriracha Mayo, Lee Kum Kee Sriracha Mayo, Hellman’s Light, Best Foods Tajin Chili Lime Mayonnaise Dressing
Griffin Parker
Justine Sterling
Jessica Block
Ngl Primal Kitchen is superior to Hellman’s
JFG is the best mayo
I love JFG mayo too! I don’t often buy real (non-vegan) mayo, but when I do it’s usually JFG
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Hellmann’s better than Dukes? Pshhhh…Not in THIS house, thank you very much.
is the Sprouts one anything like Hellman’s or craft? or sweeter like miracle whip?
I was born and raised in blue plate country, and that’s what I’ve always known. Didn’t try dukes until later in life, and while I do like it, especially the texture, I missed the flavor of blue plate.
Then I discovered the genius technique of mixing the two together. That’s been my go-to ever since.
Never cared for Hellman’s the few times I tried it.
Also, thanks for not putting miracle whip on the list.
Is there a favorite olive oil based mayo? OwO
Yes, I believe Kraft makes it
Where is the McKormick Mayonesa con limón ?
There is one, and to me it’s top three with Duke’s and Hellman’s, that wasn’t even tasted, and that’s Heinz. They may not be the best Ketchup (I know most would fight me there) but their mayo is really, really good.
Follow your heart and Hellmann’s vegan mayo are hands down the best, super rich and have the right amount of egg and vinegar flavor that one expects.
Have you tried the Hellmann’s lately? I just got a jar and it is so runny it ran off the knife when I want to spread it. This used to be my favorite mayonnaise so now I am searching for a new one.
I like most of the factory-made major brands, and I desperately want to try some Polish Winiary mayo because I keep hearing it’s some of the best of that class, but the honest truth is that the best mayo is that you make for yourself, according to your own tastes. It’s also a lot cheaper than buying it from the store, once you learn how to do it properly. Doesn’t even require any special equipment, though food processors, blenders (regular and immersion) can speed things up a bit. I can whip up a week’s worth of my own mayo in about 10 minutes. Best thing about making it yourself is that you can add in whatever herbs, spices and such you might like, as long as they don’t mess with the emulsion.
I suspect that I might not really like mayo itself which is why I always prefer… Miracle Whip. I know, I know, it’s hated even by the people around me. Lots of Hellmans loyalists in my life.
Hellman’s has added sugar. That makes Duke’s the superior product.
Hellmann’s has a “homestyle” mayo which apparently uses more eggs. I wonder if anyone’s tried it here.
I had a lady comment about how Caines mayonnaise here in Maine is the only kind they use. Maybe it’s not available for you to on the West Coast
Kind of hard to believe that you would rank Hellmann’s number one without bringing up the point that in half of the country it’s known as Best Foods.
I mention it in the intro, and in another article entirely.
We found the products to taste differently.
A true New Orleanian only uses Blue Plate. Hellmann’s is heresy around here. Go to any reputable po boy shop and they’ll use only Blue Plate.
that’s good to hear. Blue Plate surprised the hell out of me. It’s the one I’ve been using at home the most since I discovered it. Awesome product.
Yep, can confirm. I grew up near Nawlins and my mama never bought anything but Blue Plate. I’m living further north now and the stores don’t sell it here, so I have to settle for Duke’s. Kewpie is also damn good, but expensive.
Oliver, if you like Blue Plate, I think you would like Best Made Mayo. If you can find it up north.
I hate to eat mayo in any form but I bought Duke’s from Amazon Fresh for someone I know who loves mayo. He loves it so much he won’t go back to Best Foods which he has eaten his whole life and he is over 70 years old.
Heinz real mayo got robbed
What about Cains mayo? Lol
haven’t tried it! what’s the deal with it?
Exactly, I think Cains is the best also.
I was going to just add a comment about Cains!!! So good!! It probably would be closer to Dukes flavor mixed with Hellman’s but is a bit thicker than both. Something uniquely tangy and amazing! I don’t like how yellow it can be but love it. I keep a few different types of mayo in my fridge since some are better for certain things eh