Mayonnaise versus salad dressing for popular summer dishes (2024)

FAQs

Which is better mayonnaise or salad dressing? ›

While they can sometimes be used interchangeably, it's important to consider the specific flavor and texture each brings to a dish. Mayo is thicker and richer, making it ideal for binding ingredients together, while salad dressing can add a tangy or herby flavor to a dish.

Mayonnaise is made of oil, eggs, and vinegar (or lemon juice). Miracle Whip has the same basic ingredients but with less oil, and the addition of water, sugar, and spices like mustard, paprika, and garlic. Even with these additions, Miracle Whip has almost half the calories of mayo and half the fat.

Mayonnaise is a creamy and flavorful condiment that works well in certain salads, such as coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, and egg salad. It provides a rich and creamy texture while adding a slightly tangy and savory flavor.

A high-fat food, mayonnaise is often thought to be unhealthy. It is mostly fat, and as a result, it's calorie-dense, so it's easy for calories and fat to quickly add up when you're not paying attention to portion sizes.

Which one is healthier? Although Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories, mayonnaise is less highly refined and may be the healthier choice. However, you should seek out mayo that's made with healthy oils, such as olive or avocado oil, instead of inflammatory seed oils like soybean, canola, or corn oil.

Use Mayo Like a Pro

We spoke to chefs and culinary professionals who couldn't say enough good things about the versatility of mayonnaise in everything from marinades to baked goods and beyond.

Is mayonnaise healthy yes or no? ›

Mayonnaise's nutritional profile is a mix of both healthy and not-so-healthy aspects. While it contains healthy fats from oil and essential nutrients from egg yolks, it can also be high in calories and saturated fats. Moderation is key when consuming mayonnaise to avoid negative health impacts.

1. Reduced-Fat Greek Yogurt. Reduced-fat Greek yogurt has the thickness needed to hold your ingredients together, without the fat content of oil-based mayo. A cup of reduced-fat plain Greek yogurt contains 4.7 grams of fat — less than half the fat content in a single tablespoon of mayo.

Now a new study of Americans shows that replacing a mere five grams of margarine, butter or mayonnaise with the same amount of olive oil was associated with up to a 7% lower risk of coronary artery disease.

Canola oil, avocado oil and olive oil mayonnaise are available as “healthier” options. Both are higher in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, but the calories are the same. Additionally, olive oil-based versions tend to combine olive oil with other vegetable oils so that the flavor isn't too overpowering.

Hellmann's and Best Foods are American brand names that are used for the same line of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sauce, salad dressing, condiments and other food products. They have been owned by the British multinational company Unilever since 2000.