By Kevin Williams
In The Amish Cook column we try to avoid using brand names. I’m not sure why. I think that’s a holdover of old journalism where you just didn’t do that to avoid offending some suit’s sensibilities somewhere in the advertising department. I don’t know that it much matters anymore in this age of advertising everywhere and shrinking newspapers. And sometimes, with something like Jello, it is just unavoidable.
Another ingredient that can cause confusion is if we list an ingredient as simply salad dressing. In most recipes it is quite obvious that Miracle Whip should be listed and not bleu cheese dressing or something like that.
This is an example….Gloria’s wedding salad recipe calls for “2 cups of salad dressing.” That means Miracle whip. Click here for the recipe.
Growing up, we always had Miracle Whip in the house. Dad would spread it on sandwiches and, as far as my little kid brain new, that was mayonnaise. Although my grandmother held fast to Hellman’s and over the years I just sort of used them interchangeably. But now that I am older, I do know there is a difference between the two but I still kind of use them interchangably and my wife looks at me as if I am from the moon.
So, is there anyone else who just sort of uses them for the same things? And, if not, what should mayo be used for and what should Miracle Whip be used for?
12 Comments
dynnamae
I grew up eating Miracle Whip. Then later in my middle adult years, I was a home health aide and took care of a lady that only used Hellman’s mayo.
I switched to Hellman’s and never looked back. My adult sons didn’t appreciate that change but to each their own. They taste totally different and are not interchangeable in my mind or mouth. ☺
Kathy Barnes
Hi,
I use Miracle Whip if I’m making something my husband is going to eat. I personally like the taste of Hellmans the best.
Kathy
Laura
I think they can generally be used interchangeably, but it DOES certainly alter the flavor. I always prefer the extra “zip” of Miracle Whip. (Sounds like a commercial, eh? lol). In a salad like this, similar to my “Seven-Layer Salad”, I think the flavor of Miracle Whip is critical.
Dorothy
I’ve been a Hellman’s girl my whole life. In my opinion, MW tastes like mayonnaise that’s gone bad. But I know people who won’t eat any mayo but love MW.
To each his own, I guess!
Sharon Hess
Just an FYI, if your recipe calls for mayonnaise, use mayonnaise. Miracle Whip is NOT mayonnaise, it is a salad dressing, same as Blue Cheese, French, Thousand Islands, Italian. It has many added ingredients that mayo does not have. I’ve been cooking over 65 years, many of my recipes are from Amish beginnings since that’s my ancestry. None of them say 1 cup of Miracle Whip. They say 1 cup of mayonnaise. Miracle Whip came along at a later date, I like it myself but it has a sweet taste that doesn’t go with some recipes. That info came from my grandmother.
Jessica
I grew up on Miracle Whip but as an adult I only use Hellmans mayo for everything because it tastes awesome. My fridge usually has at least 2 jars because we use it on sandwiches, in dips, in salads, etc. The only exception I have is 7 layer salad. I will buy a small jar of Miracle Whip to mix with sugar for the dressing layer of this salad, but that’s it. If I’m somewhere that only offers Miracle Whip, I’ll just use mustard. 🙂
Kevin
Carolyn, this is what you can use the small jar for…and now you have me hungry for seven layer salad, Jess!
Gladys Springer
When I first got married, we used only miracle whip. Now, we use mayonnaise, which is better for you.
Carolyn
My mother also used miracle whip. I guess I really didn’t like it, because when I left home and married I bought mayonnaise. lately I have been thinking on buying a small jar of miracle whip. Maybe I am just getting a little sentimental about the good ol days. Ya think ?
Kevin
Carolyn, I think you’re right…sentimentality may have me reaching for a jar – a small one – of Miracle Whip sometime soon…
Lisa Suit
We always had Miracle Whip growing up and I never really knew there was a difference between Mayonnaise and Miracle Whip and pretty much used them interchangeably until I got married. My husband is a staunch mayonnaise lover and wouldn’t even think of eating Miracle Whip!
Joe
My mother only used Miracle Whip when I was a kid in the 1960s, and I never saw a jar of mayonnaise in the house. I think that I tasted mayonnaise for the first time in college, in the mid 1970s. Nowadays, I always have mayonnaise on hand but will purchase Miracle Whip if a recipe calls for it – or for when I am in a sentimental mood and want to taste the zip in tuna salad from my youth.