Miracle Whip Vs. Mayo: A Comprehensive Comparison

Are Miracle Whip and mayonnaise the same thing?

Some may argue that there is no more versatile an ingredient than mayonnaise. From sandwiches to dips, mayonnaise seems to be a recipe staple in nearly every Southern household—and not just for savory recipes, either.  The creamy ingredient adds just the right moisture for baking, too.

But any condiment connoisseur will tell you, it’s easy to confuse some mayonnaise brand's signature blue-and-white packaging with another shelf staple: Miracle Whip.

Miracle Whip, manufactured by Kraft Heinz, is marketed as a "mayo-like dressing," and the two products look nearly identical. That said, when it comes to consumers, people generally favor one product over the other.

So what is the difference between mayonnaise and Miracle Whip? And why do some people like one over the other, sometimes quite passionately? The answer might be a mixture of ingredients and personal preference.

To understand why some people prefer Miracle Whip, while others consume mayonnaise only, even though both products are so similar, it’s important to look at the ingredients.

Meet the Expert

Chelsea Edwards is a Registered Dietitian and the owner of Huntsville Nutrition Collective in Huntsville, Alabama.

What Is Mayonnaise?

Mayonnaise is a multi-purpose condiment or sauce that can be used to top sandwiches or hamburgers. It can also be integrated into recipes, such as creamy egg salads and cakes.

Mayonnaise is made from eggs, oil, and vinegar, and can be made at home relatively easily.

Related: Homemade Mayonnaise

What Is Miracle Whip?

Launched in 1933 at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Miracle Whip was lauded as a cheaper alternative to mayonnaise during the Depression.

Miracle Whip is made with eggs, oil, vinegar, spices, sugar, and water. Because Miracle Whip is less than 65 percent vegetable oil, it must be labeled as a dressing, not a condiment, according to USDA regulations.

Are Mayo and Miracle Whip the Same Thing?

So, are mayonnaise and Miracle Whip the same product? To get to the bottom of this condiment confusion, we reached out to registered dietitian, Chelsea Edwards, owner of Huntsville Nutrition Collective in Huntsville, Alabama.

The short answer is that while the products are similar, they are not the same.

“Miracle Whip is lower in fat and calories than mayonnaise,” Edwards explains.

Edwards notes that while you can "almost always" use mayonnaise and Miracle Whip interchangeably, you might notice a difference in flavor of the finished product.

“Baking is the one exception where you should opt for mayonnaise rather than Miracle Whip, as the full-fat content is needed there,” Edwards says. “Miracle Whip will make your finished product a little sweeter than mayonnaise would."

Which Is Healthier: Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?

For health-conscious consumers, figuring out which is healthier may be a priority when determining which product to buy.

So, which one is best? Edwards says it all depends on the individual.

"It's hard to say if mayonnaise or Miracle Whip is healthier, because nutrition is individualized and our needs vary so much," she explains. "Mayonnaise is less refined and less processed, which might be more desirable to some people, whereas the lower fat of Miracle Whip may be more important to someone else's nutritional needs."

Related: 40 Recipes For People Who Really Love Mayonnaise—And We Mean Really Love It

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