# What's worse? Mustard or Ketchup (water) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111 "2011-08-01T23:54:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/1 "2011-08-01T23:54:35Z")
You know, a not-often-used squirt bottle of either ketchup or mustard and on the first squeeze you get a dribble of water. Which water is worse? Ketchup or Mustard? grey pouponers who knife their mustard stay out. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/2 "2011-08-02T00:11:53Z")
Mustard, because it probably goes onto my hotdog and gets the bun soggy. Ketchup is going on a burger or a plate, where it can be mixed together again with a fry or two. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/3 "2011-08-02T00:25:36Z")
Ketchup; mustard is thicker, so it’s easier to squirt the water out into the sink without wasting condiment. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/4 "2011-08-02T02:12:13Z")
I just shake it up first? ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/5 "2011-08-02T02:24:22Z")
Ugh, both. Of course, it helps that I hate both condiments (not really a big fan of condiments in general, really). Though if you were to put a gun to my head and make me choose, I’d probably pick ketchup as being the worst, if just because I hate it slightly more than mustard. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/6 "2011-08-02T02:32:33Z")
Both, but I’d rather deal with yellow water then red water (that reminds me of certain other things). ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/7 "2011-08-02T05:56:26Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I just shake it up first? Exactly. I learned at a tender age to shake my condiment bottle before dispensing the foodstuff onto my entre. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/8 "2011-08-02T06:15:34Z")
Mustard. My sister and her husband call it “mustard snot.” . ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/9 "2011-08-02T08:14:24Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I just shake it up first? 'Zactly. And since both come in convenient upside-down-stored bottles, it’s even less of an issue. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/10 "2011-08-02T09:05:07Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I just shake it up first? Exactly this. You’re supposed to shake it first. Mustard and ketchup brands I’ve seen list this advice on the container. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/11 "2011-08-02T09:05:11Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Exactly. I learned at a tender age to shake my condiment bottle before dispensing the foodstuff onto my entre. I learned to shake the bottles side to side to avoid the dreaded ketchup or mustard jam at the top of the bottle. (Back in the days of glass ketchup bottles, ketchup jams could easily cause the top of the bottle to pop off, potentially putting your eye out.) Ketchup and mustard water are about equally gross, but even worse is that dried piece of mustard that falls onto your food if you forget to check for it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/12 "2011-08-02T10:40:42Z")
Relish. Who was the idiot who thought putting relish in a squeeze bottle was a good idea? Note that shaking does nothing to relish. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/13 "2011-08-02T16:49:23Z")
I grew up shaking the ketchup and mustard before using. I never have this problem. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/14 "2011-08-02T16:51:58Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Ketchup; mustard is thicker, so it’s easier to squirt the water out into the sink without wasting condiment. Sure, if you remember. I don’t know who first thought up putting relish in a squeeze bottle, but they need to attend a re-education camp. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/15 "2011-08-02T16:55:36Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Exactly this. You’re supposed to shake it first. Mustard and ketchup brands I’ve seen list this advice on the container. Ah, so you’re supposed shake the _bottle_? I always thought “shake well before using” was meant for me personally. No wonder my condiments are always watery. ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/16 "2011-08-02T18:39:33Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > Ketchup and mustard water are about equally gross, but even worse is that dried piece of mustard that falls onto your food if you forget to check for it. Oh man I HATE the mustard booger. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/17 "2011-08-02T21:24:54Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > Oh man I HATE the mustard booger. Ketchup phlegm is pretty gross, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2011, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/18 "2011-08-02T21:49:31Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Relish. Who was the idiot who thought putting relish in a squeeze bottle was a good idea? Note that shaking does nothing to relish. This is a great point. They have these abominations at the ballpark and they never work right. You just get vaguely-pickle-flavored water of, if you’re really lucky, one big glob of relish in the middle of your hot dog. Of the two options offered, I think that mustard water is more disappointing, because mustard is better than ketchup. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/19 "2011-08-03T22:52:12Z")
Okay, even though the dining hall just opened, I no longer want to go down for dinner. (Mustard snot and ketchup phlegm? REALLY?) ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111/20 "2011-08-04T04:21:02Z")
You are aware that in the '30s people would buy a bottle of catsup, order a bowl of hot water, put the catsup in and imagine they were eating tomato soup. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-worse-mustard-or-ketchup-water/591111.md?page=2)