Posted on 05/21/2026 9:38:04 PM PDT by Red Badger
Mayonnaise is one of those pantry staples we can't seem to live without, whether we're slathering it on sandwiches or using it in deviled eggs. But with so many brands on the market—and just as many opinions about them—it begs the question: Is there truly a noticeable difference between mayo brands?
For many celebrity chefs and home cooks, the answer is a resounding "yes." In our blind taste test of eight store-bought mayo brands, four stood out: Hellmann's, Duke's, Kewpie, and Sir Kensington's. Among these, Hellmann's and Duke's emerged as favorites for home cooks.
When we asked five professional chefs about their preferred mayo, the response was unanimous. They all chose Duke's, calling it "luxuriously creamy, pleasantly tangy, and more or less bulletproof."
The preferences of celebrity chefs, however, aren't as unanimous.
The incomparable Julia Child favored Hellmann's, often using it to make a comforting tuna salad sandwich. Ina Garten splits her loyalty between Hellmann's and Duke's, praising both as "good quality store-bought brands."
Alton Brown opts for Duke's, citing its distinctive "zing." And while Stephen Colbert might not immediately come to mind as a celebrity chef, the "Late Show" host and his wife recently published "Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves." Turns out, Colbert is a Duke's man.
Martha Stewart's Mayo of Choice So, where does Martha Stewart stand? Does she side with Julia and Ina or with Alton and Stephen?
Like many chefs, Martha often makes mayonnaise from scratch. It's a straightforward process involving just a few common pantry staples and no cooking—simply whisk the ingredients together or emulsify them in a blender.
When she's not making her own, Martha aligns with Julia and Ina as a Hellmann's fan. In her (100th!) book, "Martha: The Cookbook," she lists Hellmann's as a pantry essential she always keeps on hand.
It seems Martha has spoken. If it's good enough for her, it might be time to reassess your mayo loyalties.
Besides the salads and deviled eggs: Put it on hamburgers, dip fries in it, make a peanut butter and mayo sandwich!
Hellman’s is my favorite
Cain’s is a New England regional brand.........
From BRAVE AI:
The Manufacturer: Bama Mayonnaise is owned and produced by Sauer Brands, Inc., the same Richmond, Virginia-based company that manufactures the wildly popular Duke’s Mayonnaise.
I never even heard of it before this article.............
BRAVE AI:
Kewpie Mayonnaise is manufactured by the Kewpie Corporation (originally founded as Shokuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd.), a Tokyo-based food corporate giant that introduced the iconic condiment to Japan in 1925.
Depending on which version you buy in the United States, it is made by two different divisions of the same parent company:
The Two Versions of Kewpie
The Japanese Import:
Manufactured at domestic facilities in Japan, this version is packaged in a soft, pliable plastic squeeze tube wrapped in a clear plastic bag featuring the full-body red cartoon baby logo. It is famous for containing MSG (monosodium glutamate) to provide its legendary savory punch.
The American-Made Version:
Manufactured stateside by Q&B Foods, Inc.—the official U.S. production division of the Kewpie USA Shop. This version comes in a rigid, standalone plastic squeeze bottle. Instead of artificial MSG, it utilizes yeast extract to achieve its signature umami flavor.
Manufacturing Facilities
To keep up with exploding international demand, the company operates production bases across multiple continents:
California, USA:
Q&B Foods handles heavy production out of its primary West Coast facility in Irwindale, California.
Tennessee, USA:
To vastly increase North American supply lines, the company expanded by opening a major condiments plant in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Japan:
The Official Kewpie Global Site oversees multiple legacy high-tech factories across Japan that handle domestic distribution and direct exports to global Asian markets.
BRAVE AI:
Cains Mayonnaise is a beloved, New England-based condiment that has been made since 1914. Famous for its creamy texture and unique blend of distilled and apple cider vinegars, it is gluten-free and uses high-quality, all-natural ingredients with no artificial preservatives.
Highlights
Flavor Profile:
Features a perfectly balanced savory flavor with a slight cider tang, making it the local go-to for potato salads, deli sandwiches, and coastal seafood like New England lobster rolls.
Varieties:
Available in Original (All Natural) and an Extra Heavy version that provides a thicker, richer texture often favored for commercial kitchens and heavy-duty dipping.
Ingredients:
Soybean oil, egg yolks, water, distilled vinegar, sugar, salt, apple cider vinegar, and mustard flour.
Availability & Pricing
Because Cains is deeply rooted in the Northeast, finding it on West Coast grocery shelves can be tricky. However, you can easily purchase and ship it directly to your home using online retailers......
Cains Mayonnaise is manufactured by TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a major food production corporation based in the Chicago area.
Ownership & Production HistoryThe Acquisition: TreeHouse Foods acquired TreeHouse Foods Inc. the Massachusetts-based Cains Foods L.P. company for $35 million in cash.
The Factory Move:
Originally, Cains was a locally-run family company that manufactured its items out of a processing plant in Ayer, Massachusetts. In 2017, TreeHouse Foods closed the historic 44-year-old Ayer factory to streamline its supply chain, moving production to its other manufacturing facilities across the United States.
The Brand Status:
Despite the factory closure and corporate buyout, Cains Official Website confirms the brand remains an active regional staple. TreeHouse Foods continues to manufacture and distribute the mayonnaise using Cains’ original, century-old recipe.
Yes, I have, but I seem to only use it on certain Japanese style foods. It is slightly different than other mayonnaises, with a certain flavor that I can’t quite put my finger on. I guess that’s what they call “umami”.
It would probably be good in potato salad or chicken salad, but I’m not sure I’d want it on a sandwich. Decent substitute if you didn’t have any real mayonnaise.
Store brand or whatever is cheapest on sale. ;)
“ My friend told me I have to stop losing weight.”
That is REALLY important as we age. My mom lost all appetite and interest in food when she was about 83. She just wasted away. It was hard to see. No matter how much we told her to eat, she’d just shrivel up her nose and say “yuck.” Listen to your friend!
I was raised and spent most of my life in the northeast so Hellman’s was the mayo of choice. I spent time in the south when I was in the navy and now live in Florida so I can get both Hellman’s and Duke’s. They are both very good but slightly different.
Duke’s is slightly more tart than Hellman’s. It works better with fatty and/or foods with strong flavor. Hellman’s is more mild and I wouldn’t use anything else on a lobster roll.
So... Both good. Miracle Whip is not an option for anything but canned tuna with a squirt of Sriracha.
Thank you, that explains it.
My mother-in-law is 85 and is the same way. She feeds all her food to her two dos and cat..............
I prefer one made from Avacado Oil that is organic.
Hellman’s has a version...................
If you think Martha does her own cooking, I have a bridge to sell you at the mouth of Tampa Bay and I'll throw in a bridge in Brooklyn, too.
I always figured Martha Stewart might cook things from time to time, if she wants to. I’d bet she doesn’t do a whole lot of cleaning up, though.
Dukes
From BRAVE AI:
The Manufacturer: Bama Mayonnaise is owned and produced by Sauer Brands, Inc., the same Richmond, Virginia-based company that manufactures the wildly popular Duke’s Mayonnaise.
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