How Long Does Homemade Mayo Last? [Find Out Here] - Cheffist (2024)

For me, homemade mayo is so much more delicious than store-bought. But how long does homemade mayo last? That’s a question I get asked a lot. The short answer is that homemade mayonnaise has a pretty long shelf life, but it goes bad much faster than commercial mayonnaise.

If refrigerated properly, homemade mayo can last for 2 weeks. In other words, you have to put it in the fridge the right way for it to last that long.

However, there’s more to the shelf life of homemade mayonnaise and that’s what this article is all about. I will discuss how you can make mayo at home, how to preserve it, what you can use it for, and when to know your mayo is not good anymore.

So if you’re interested in learning about homemade mayo, then sit back and read on.

Table of Contents show

How Long Does Homemade Mayo Last Before it Goes Bad?

While homemade mayo can last for two (2) weeks, it has to be refrigerated properly. Such long shelf life can only be achieved if you put your homemade mayo in the fridge. Otherwise, it will become rancid quickly due to exposure to heat and light.

It is best to keep the homemade mayo in the original container, as it will keep its freshness longer and maintain its original taste. Moreover, it’s always good to transfer homemade mayo from one container to another only when it has cooled down.

If you do not want to store your homemade mayo at room temperature or in the fridge, then it is advisable that you freeze it for later use. I will discuss how to preserve your mayo in detail later.

SEE: How Long Does Coleslaw Last?

What Do You Need to Make Homemade Mayo?

Ingredients required for homemade mayo

  • Eggs
  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice (or vinegar)
  • Neutral flavored oil
  • Good quality fine grain sea salt

Equipment required for homemade mayo

  • Sturdy wire whisk
  • Bowl (with high sides to prevent splashes)

SEE: How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce to Make It Tastier

How Do You Make Homemade Mayo?

While there are many recipes people use to make homemade mayo, the method and recipe you’re about to learn is the easiest. No matter the quantity, making homemade mayo is a no-brainer and you can do it.

Simply follow the five steps below, and you will be done making a delicious quality homemade mayo in a few minutes.

Step 1:

Take 2 large raw eggs that are at room temperature and separate their yolks from the whites into separate bowls.

Step 2:

Add 2 teaspoons of your freshly squeezed lemon juice or vinegar(depending on which one is available) to the bowl where you have the egg yolks.

Step 3:

Now, it’s time to add your neutral-flavored oil. Your oil can be walnut sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, or light olive oil. Take 1 cup of the oil and add it to the same yolk bowl you added your lemon juice or vinegar slowly while whisking constantly.

This is an important part of your homemade mayo production. You must make sure the oil mix well with the egg yolks and lemon juice. That’s why I recommend you whisk as you’re pouring the oil slowly, a few drops at a time.

Step 4:

Once you notice your mayo coming together and becoming thick, simply add water to thin it to the texture you want. The best way to add the water is to pour a teaspoon at a time. That way, you can avoid adding too much water which will spoil your homemade mayonnaise.

Step 5:

By now you should have your 1 cup of oil mixed in, making your homemade mayonnaise thick and fluffy. And with the whisking which should have formed ribbons through the mixture.

The last thing to complete the making of your homemade mayo is to season it carefully with fine grain sea salt. Perhaps if you would love it to be thinner, you can add a small splash of water.

SEE: How to Make Chicken Softer – Simple Tricks

What Next?

Enjoy your homemade mayo any way you choose to use it or put it in the fridge in a covered container.

How Can You Tell If Mayo is Bad?

Mayo is made from eggs, and as such, has a very distinct flavor. If you’re making mayo at home, keeping an eye out for signs that it’s starting to go bad will help ensure you get the most out of your ingredients.

If you want to know if your mayo is bad, here are a few things you will want to look for:

1. Change in texture

When you open a jar of mayonnaise, you’re likely to experience a range of sensory cues. The most obvious is the change in texture caused by the oil and water separation. When mayonnaise is bad, it separates into two distinct layers: one with oil and the other with water.

2. Change in color

Another way to know when your mayo is not good anymore is by paying attention to the color of your mayonnaise. If the mayonnaise turns brown or greenish-yellow, especially around the edges of the jar, there’s something wrong with it. It’s time to toss it away.

4. Sour taste

As a result of not storing your mayo properly in the fridge or exposure to air during production, a sour taste can come into action over time naturally. Therefore, there may be an issue with the batch of mayo you have in front of you if you find that it tastes sour.

3. Strange smell

As with every other food, a bad smell can also indicate that your mayo is bad and needs to be tossed out immediately. Therefore, if you perceive a bad smell coming from your jar of mayo, you need to toss it out immediately because it could make you sick.

5. Visible molds

Another way to tell if your homemade mayonnaise is bad is by looking out for molds. Seeing any moldy bits floating on top of its surface can give you some clues that you need a new batch of mayo.

SEE: How Long Can Cake Sit Out Before It Goes Bad?

Which is Better, Homemade or Store-bought Mayo?

Homemade mayo is better for a few reasons: it’s cheaper, you can use your own ingredients, and you know exactly what’s going into it. The only negative side of homemade mayo is that it takes time to make and doesn’t last long even if refrigerated. So I wouldn’t recommend making more than you need for two sandwiches.

On the other hand, store-bought mayo tastes fresher and won’t require any time from your own side other than the one it takes you to buy from the store. Also, there’s less waste when using store-bought mayo since you’re not making it yourself.

However, if you’re concerned about eating healthy foods that are free of chemicals, homemade mayo is far better than store-bought mayo as you don’t need to add any form of preservatives that are chemicals.

SEE: Organic Foods Facts – Interesting Facts You Don’t Know

What is the Best Way to Preserve Homemade Mayonnaise?

The best way to preserve homemade mayonnaise is by freezing it in an airtight container. If you do not have an airtight container, use a freezer bag or other container with a sealable lid. Freezing the homemade mayonnaise will keep it safe longer than freezing it in glass jars or other containers.

However, to make it stay fresh, I will recommend you put your homemade mayo in the fridge instead of freezing it. Because, while mayonnaise canbefrozen, it may not be as palatable as a fresh mayo when you defrost it.

But you must know that refrigerating your homemade mayo won’t make it last long as when you put it in the freezer. In my opinion, it’s best to only make a small quantity of mayo you can finish using within a week.

SEE: Find Out if Nutella Goes Bad and How You Can Preserve It

FAQs

Is there any health benefits of mayonnaise?

Yes, some of the health benefits of eating mayo includes promotion of nail health, improvement of the skin and also contain some vitamins and minerals.

Are there natural preservatives for mayo?

Organic acids are the most natural preservative used in extending the shelf life of mayonnaise.

Does mayonnaise have preservatives?

If it’s a store-bought, yes. However, if it’s homemade mayo you make yourself, there are no preservatives unless you want to purposely add one.

Conclusion

Homemade mayonnaise is a great thing, but it doesn’t last forever. If you’re not using it quickly, it’s best to preserve your homemade (and even store-bought) mayo in the fridge. The mayonnaise will stay fresh for two (2) weeks if you refrigerate it properly.

The longer the shelf life of your homemade mayo, the more savings you get on your food budget and the more money you can save for other things. However, as long as you may want to preserve your homemade mayo, it should be used as soon as possible.

I hope you found this article helpful. You should also check out theCheffist Food Preservationcategory. There are plenty of easy yet effective methods to preserve your foods andavoid spoilage.

Thanks for reading.

You may also like:

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How Long Does Homemade Mayo Last? [Find Out Here] - Cheffist (2024)

FAQs

How long does a homemade mayonnaise last? ›

Mayonnaise made from-scratch can be fairly life altering. Nothing against the shelf-stable, store-bought version, but homemade is truly in a league of it's own when it comes to rich flavor and incredible texture. It's super simple to whip up in the food processor and will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

How long can homemade mayonnaise sit out? ›

The perishable nature of mayonnaise is also why you should throw out mayo that's been left out unrefrigerated overnight. It could be totally fine—until you get food poisoning. And, in general, the FDA recommends tossing perishable foods, including mayo, that have been left out at room temperature for two or more hours.

How long does homemade egg mayo last in fridge? ›

How long does egg mayo last? Tightly covered in the fridge, egg mayo will comfortably last up to 3 days.

How long does mayo really last? ›

Before it's opened, a jar of mayo will last in the pantry for about three months. If you just opened a jar, know that it should be stored in the refrigerator and used within two months. However, if you make homemade mayonnaise, it will last only up to a week in the fridge—so make plans to use it all up before then.

How do you preserve homemade mayonnaise? ›

The liquid that drains is the the whey and filled with lactic acid which will preserve the mayonnaise. 2. Add 1 tablespoon of whey to your mayonnaise, mix thoroughly and allow to sit out at room temperature for 6 hours. After 6 hours, place in the refrigerator and it should keep for 2 months.

Does homemade mayo go bad? ›

If you keep your homemade mayo in the refrigerator, it will last 3-4 days. You can extend the shelf life of your homemade mayonnaise by fermenting it. After fermenting your mayo for 5-6 hours, it can last up to 2 months in the fridge.

At what temperature does mayonnaise go bad? ›

Once you open the jar with mayo, the best place to store it is in the refrigerator below 40 F (4.5 C). That way, it will stay well about two months before its quality starts changing. On the other hand, this product quickly goes bad when stored in the pantry and room temperature.

Should eggs be at room temperature for mayonnaise? ›

The 2 most important tips for making homemade mayonnaise

Here are the two things you MUST do to make sure your mayo emulsifies: Use a room temperature egg. Whatever you do, don't pull an egg out of your refrigerator and try to make mayo with it. You might get lucky and it will work, but chances are it won't.

How long does homemade mayo last Reddit? ›

Google results suggest between 3 days to 2 weeks.

How long do hard-boiled eggs last? ›

Once they are cooked, they'll last for about one week regardless of the storage method. The best way to store hard-boiled eggs is to keep them in a covered container, such as Glad Entrée Food Containers in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze homemade mayonnaise? ›

The short answer is yes. Mayonnaise can be frozen, but don't expect the texture to be the same after it thaws. Mayonnaise is an emulsion—combining ingredients that don't typically mix well together—to create a thick, creamy sauce that you can spread on sandwiches, make ranch dressing or onion dip.

How long do homemade sauces last? ›

Generally, homemade tomato sauce will last for three to five days; however, as long as it doesn't contain cream or cheese, you can easily freeze it in airtight quart containers. "You can freeze any unused sauce in an airtight container, using within six months for the best quality experience," says Birmingham.

Can you can homemade mayonnaise? ›

Nope. The only way you can really preserve things at home for room temperature storage is by canning in a boiling water bath or pressure cooker, and the heat from that will break the emulsion of your mayonnaise, completely ruining it.

How long do homemade sauces last in the fridge? ›

How Long Pasta and Sauce Will Last in the Fridge. If you've ever wondered how long does pasta sauce last in the fridge, you're not alone. Homemade pasta sauce can be kept in the fridge for three to four days and store-bought sauce can last for up to four days.

Does vinegar preserve mayo? ›

You're going to need to add vinegar (or lemon juice, or something acidic). After making mayo with vinegar, just leave it out for a few hours before putting it in the fridge, so the acid has a chance to kill the bacteria in the egg. You can keep it for a week after that, 2 weeks is at your own risk though.

Which oil is best for mayonnaise? ›

Safflower, canola, grapeseed and peanut oil all do nicely. Just make sure the oil is at the same temperature as the egg. You can use cold oil and cold eggs, but I found room temperature eggs and oil to be the easiest to work with.

Which preservative is used in mayonnaise? ›

Annatto is another preservative which holds antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and is used in mayonnaise. Annatto is basically used as a coloring agent in foodstuffs.

Is homemade mayonnaise better than store bought? ›

Homemade mayo is better than anything you can find at the grocery store. Fresh lemon and salt are two of the four simple ingredients required to make homemade mayonnaise. Fresh eggs from pastured hens yield healthy, tasty, homemade mayo.

What does bad mayonnaise smell like? ›

Smell the mayo

If you give your mayo a whiff and it smells off, then that is a good sign that it is not good. If it has a rotten egg odor or a strong smell of vinegar then it is safe to say that you need to get some new spread.

Can you eat mayo past expiration date? ›

As long as the product has been stored properly, your mayonnaise should be good for three to four months after the best before date.

Why does my mayo taste like fish? ›

Other tasters liked its strong egginess—it's the only brand made solely with egg yolks rather than whole eggs—while some claimed it had a "fishy" flavor, most likely due to the monosodium glutamate and vegetable oil in the recipe.

Will mayonnaise go bad if not refrigerated? ›

Mayonnaise: You may buy mayonnaise off a non-refrigerated shelf, but the second you open it, you must keep it in the refrigerator. In fact, the USDA recommends opened mayo be tossed in the trash if its temperature reaches 50 degrees or higher for more than eight hours.

Why is my mayo yellow? ›

Real mayonnaise is yellow, because of the egg yolks.

Can eating warm mayo make you sick? ›

Microwaving mayonnaise is not dangerous. It might split, and you have to be careful not to overheat the oil. But it is safe to do. It's not the mayonnaise or the heat that causes salmonella, it's the bacteria.

Is it OK to eat warm mayonnaise? ›

The point here is that mayonnaise can be served hot or cold. It can be warmed through baking or the microwave and in the end, it is perfectly safe either way.

How long does mayonnaise last in the refrigerator? ›

MAYONNAISE, COMMERCIALLY PACKAGED - OPENED

How long does opened mayonnaise last in the refrigerator? Mayonnaise that has been continuously refrigerated will generally stay at best quality for about 2 to 3 months after the "Best By" date on the package.

Why is my homemade mayo runny? ›

To sum up, if mayonnaise doesn't set or is too runny, there are two main reasons: the ingredients haven't been properly dosed or cold ingredients have been used. Either way, no need to worry: it's not too late to save your sauce.

Is mayonnaise good for health? ›

Is Mayonnaise Healthy? Mayonnaise has health promoting properties such as the nutrients vitamin E, which improves heart health, and vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting. 2 It can also be made with healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids which keep your brain, heart, and skin healthy.

How do you thicken mayonnaise? ›

If you want your spread to have a thicker consistency, put a fresh egg yolk into a clean bowl, then slowly whisk the thin or broken batch into the new yolk. The extra yolk will re-emulsify the ingredients, making it smooth and light once again.

Is it safe to make mayonnaise with raw eggs? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture does not recommend eating raw shell eggs that are not cooked or undercooked due to the possibility that Salmonella bacteria may be present. However, homemade mayonnaise can be safely made if raw, in-shell pasteurized eggs or pasteurized egg products are used.

Is homemade mayonnaise healthier than store bought? ›

If you start with citrus and oil from conscientious producers, plus fresh eggs from well-tended hens raised on a natural, pasture-based diet, you'd better believe your homemade mayonnaise will contain vital, health-promoting fats, plus more essential vitamins and minerals than the conventional stuff.

How do you know if mayonnaise is expired? ›

How to Tell Mayo is Bad? When you open a jar and see any mold or spore growth inside it, the mayonnaise is bad. A putrid smell, a darker shade of color than usual, and an off taste when you taste it are other signs of expiration in your mayonnaise.

Which oil is best for making mayonnaise? ›

Safflower, canola, grapeseed and peanut oil all do nicely. Just make sure the oil is at the same temperature as the egg. You can use cold oil and cold eggs, but I found room temperature eggs and oil to be the easiest to work with.

Can I freeze homemade mayonnaise? ›

The short answer is yes. Mayonnaise can be frozen, but don't expect the texture to be the same after it thaws. Mayonnaise is an emulsion—combining ingredients that don't typically mix well together—to create a thick, creamy sauce that you can spread on sandwiches, make ranch dressing or onion dip.

Why is my homemade mayonnaise runny? ›

To sum up, if mayonnaise doesn't set or is too runny, there are two main reasons: the ingredients haven't been properly dosed or cold ingredients have been used. Either way, no need to worry: it's not too late to save your sauce.

Is it OK to heat up mayo? ›

Don't let it worry you anymore. Mayonnaise is perfectly safe to microwave. It is prone to splitting, so be careful not to get it too hot because of the high oil content. Prevent this by microwaving in short intervals, and removing when it gets warm.

Is homemade mayo worth the effort? ›

Homemade mayo is a nice idea, but if you're using it on sandwiches as most of us do, it doesn't deliver much of an impact for the extra time commitment. Hellmann's will work just fine.

Why does homemade mayo taste different? ›

It will taste different as you are substituting a major component, the oil. Soybean oil has a neutral flavor, basically no flavor. Olive oil on the other hand has a distinct flavor, fruity, grassy etc depending on the type of olive oil you are using.

Is it cost effective to make your own mayonnaise? ›

DIY mayonnaise is incredibly easy and cheap, not to mention delicious. It requires just a few ingredients that are probably already in most kitchens: egg yolk, salt, mustard, oil and something acidic like vinegar and/or lemon juice.

Can mayonnaise give you food poisoning? ›

Information. People often think mayonnaise is the cause of foodborne illness from chilled foods such as chicken, tuna and egg salad or when spread on bread with luncheon meats in a sandwich. However, because mayonnaise is made with acid (vinegar or lemon juice), it tends to prevent bacterial growth.

What can you do with old mayonnaise? ›

17 Surprisingly Practical Uses For Mayonnaise
  1. Dust Houseplants. If you have any faux plants around your home, you can give them a whole new shine with a clean cloth and a bit of mayo. ...
  2. Remove Rings. ...
  3. Shine Stainless Steel. ...
  4. Squeaky Hinges. ...
  5. Remove Sticker Residue. ...
  6. Kill Head Lice. ...
  7. Manicure Treatment. ...
  8. Clean Up Tar.

How long does homemade mayo last Reddit? ›

Google results suggest between 3 days to 2 weeks.

What oil does Gordon Ramsay use for mayonnaise? ›

How to Make Mayonnaise | Gordon Ramsay - YouTube

What was mayonnaise originally made of? ›

Mayonnaise
A jar of mayonnaise
Alternative namesMayo
Place of originFrance, Spain
Main ingredientsOil, egg yolk, and vinegar or lemon juice
Cookbook: Mayonnaise Media: Mayonnaise
1 more row

How much mayonnaise do you use for one egg? ›

Methods. I used a substitution amount found on Allrecipes: 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise in place of 1 egg.

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