This may be rated amongst the least important and world-shattering topics posted this week. In fact, having just finished reading the WTO thread, I’m almost ashamed to bring up such a lowly question as this–but it’s got both me and my wife stumped.
What–really–is the difference between Miracle Whip and Mayonnaise? I’ve always been more of a mustard or horseraddish kinda guy for my sandwich needs, so I’ve never taste-tested and don’t even know if a true difference exists? When we buy one, we always go with Mayo (why? why not?). I ask because despite our ambivalence towards the topic (in terms of taste, not in the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge), I’ve known several friends and former roommates who’ve taken a strong stand on the issue, although the pro-mayo-osas are the more adamant and non-compromising (Miraclewhippers tend to be more like: “well, I prefer MW, but if you want Mayo, then…”).
Physically, what is the difference? Taste-wise, are they that much a like? Is MW the “white bread” of that consummate “white-bread” product, Mayonnaise?
Mayonanaise by law has to meet certain standards – percent of fat especially (that’s why before they discovered the adjective “light,” manufacturers used to call it imitation mayonnaise). Miracle Whip is a trademarked product owned by Kraft. They are similar, but since Miracle Whip isn’t worried about government regulations, they can use any recipe they want.
In practical terms, Miracle Whip has a “tangier” taste than mayonnaise. I can’t really describe what that means – maybe more vinegar – but the difference is quite noticeable.
Hellmann’s mayonnaise’s slogan, by the way is a clever pun: “Bring out the Hellmann’s and bring out the best.” They aren’t claiming to be the best mayonnaise; it’s just that Hellmann’s is identical with Best Foods mayonnaise (same company makes both). (Best Foods is what they call (or called – things may have changed) Hellmann’s in the western U.S.)
“East is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does.” – Marx
Nice to see a thread I started referenced… Once again, in my own little way, I have made a difference!
I too have wondered about the OP, as for what the difference really is.
I would assume that Mayo is a fairly generic term for… something. As for if you have to meet certain standards for beiing mayo or not, I do not know.
Whereas Miracle Whip is the trademarked brand name of “salad dressing.” Kraft owns this and puts it out now, but alo, just as you’ll see Hellman’s and various other brands of mayo, I see (far less) other brands of “salad dressing.”
I have not tried anything other than Miracle Whip, however, so I cannot vouch for the other brands (and store-brand stuff in my local stores included) as far as how close they are to Miracle Whip.
I still wonder though, whenever Miracle Whip was invented, why couldn’t (or wasn’t) it have been called “Kraft Brand Mayo,” since we all know different brands of anything simply taste differently?
I’ve heard rumors that the difference involved eggs, but is this true? If so why?
I think there’s a definite difference. I was raised on Miracle Whip, now I use only Mayonnaise. Miracle Whip is sweeter and tangier than Mayonnaise. Mayo is subtle, MW is pronounced. I like Mayo MUCH more now, but it used to be the other way around.
Am I the only one that’s ever looked at the Miracle Whip jar, seen the words “salad dressing”, and thought “Eww, GROSS!”?
I cannot even BEGIN to imagine spooning plain unadorned Miracle Whip onto a salad. Well, I guess I can begin, but I have to stop because otherwise I start getting ill.
I know that it’s probably basically the same thing as Thousand Island dressing, but at least Thousand Island dressing has a FLAVOR.
Depends on when it was invented, but there are government regulations about what can legally be called mayonnaise. Miracle Whip did not meet the standards, so Kraft couldn’t call it mayonnaise.
“East is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does.” – Marx
For what it’s worth, I was raised on Miracle Whip…thought I didn’t like mayonnaise at all. Then, I got a sandwich with mayonnaise on it. What IS this wonderful stuff?
For what it’s worth, Miracle Whip belongs in Waldorf Salad…if you have to use it somewhere. Mayonnaise belongs on bread.
Miracle Whip may not be technically salad dressing, but it definitely contains eggs as the primary emulsifier. Consistency-wise, Miracle Whip is smoother; Taste-wise, Miracle Whip is sweeter. Both products are basically composed of the same ingredients, just in slightly different proportions. In the UK there are a number od Miracle Whip-like products, though Miracle Whip itself is hard to find. They call them “salad dressings”. They generally have a bit more mustard than Miracle Whip and yes, it’s not uncommon to find a “salad dressing” with your salad, fortunately ususally on the side. BTW, if you ever order French dressing in the UK, don’t be surprised if they bring you something that looks like Italian. They have no equivalent to the familiar tomato-based French dressing that we have come to know and love in the US.
