Mayonnaise is one of the most popular sauces and condiments. This thick sauce finds its place in sandwiches, salads, burgers, fries, and so many other tasty dishes.
If you are a true mayo lover, you won’t have any issue with storage. Suppose you only use this creamy condiment once in a while. In that case, you might need extra time to finish a jar. So, can you freeze mayonnaise?
Technically, you can freeze most foods with no problems. However, not all of them freeze equally well. Mayonnaise is one of the items that should not be frozen for quality reasons.
If you are curious about how and why mayonnaise should be the last thing to put in the freezer, keep reading. In this article, we share all you need to know about freezing mayo.
Can Mayonnaise Be Frozen Successfully?
Freezing foods is a great money-saving tip. You can buy items in bulk or on sale and preserve them for later. Freezing also salvages leftovers, which otherwise go to waste.
When it comes to mayonnaise, this creamy condiment is notoriously known as the worst candidate for freezing. This precaution is not without reason. (*)
Mayonnaise is typically made of eggs, oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and other added ingredients (such as emulsifier). In other words, this dressing is an emulsion of oil and water bound by egg yolk or an artificial emulsifier.
The emulsion can hold up well during freezing. However, it breaks down as it thaws.
The oil separates from the emulsion and sits on top of the rest. It won’t come near its smooth, creamy, and thick consistency all we want from mayonnaise. Therefore, this flavorful sauce won’t be of similar quality to before freezing.
In short, freezing mayonnaise drastically changes its consistency and texture, making it extremely unappetizing.
Due to these undesirable changes, freezing mayo is not recommended at all. Some major mayo producers such as Hellman’s and Kraft are firmly against freezing their products.
It doesn’t take hours to whip up homemade mayonnaise. Thus, it is best to prepare the sauce just before your meal or up to 1 to 3 days in advance.
Commercially-prepared, store-bought mayonnaise shelf life is remarkably long. Even after opening, it stays fresh for 3 – 4 months when continuously refrigerated.
At this point, we learn that freezing is not ideal for preserving mayonnaise. Although it is strongly discouraged from quality perspectives, freezing this dressing doesn’t necessarily affect its safety.
In case you have no other choice but to freeze it, of course, you can still do it. Just be aware of the result. After all, it is your own choice. See how it turns after thawing and decide if it’s worth doing again.
Can You Freeze Foods Containing Mayo?
Mayonnaise is one of the most versatile sauces. This egg-based sauce goes with almost anything, from sandwiches, chicken salad, potato salad, casserole, etc.
Unfortunately, foods containing mayo do not freeze wonderfully. While other ingredients may stand up well during freezing and thawing, the sauce will separate and cause a messy look.
Of course, you can still freeze them if you have leftovers that you can’t finish within the next couple of days. But, if you want to cook in bulk and preserve for later, freezing is undoubtedly not the way to go.
Instead, you can substitute this creamy sauce with other freezer-friendly ingredients. For example, if you want to prepare sandwiches, try Miracle Whip dressings instead of regular mayo. (*)
Another tip is to exclude mayo before freezing. Add this creamy sauce later when you are ready to serve the dishes.
How To Fix Frozen Mayonnaise
If you decide to take an adventurous path in freezing mayo or have accidentally frozen one, here is a tip to fix separated mayo.
First, let’s start by thawing the condiment safely. You can defrost the frozen sauce by placing it in the fridge and let it soften up slowly.
As it thaws, you’ll see a separation of oil and the rest. To fix this broken mayo, you need to re-emulsify it by vigorously stirring with a whisk or hand blender.
FAQs
Yes, Miracle Whip freezes much better than regular mayonnaise because it contains less fat. You can freeze the Miracle whip in its original container (unopened) or pack it in a freezer bag. If you plan to make ahead sandwiches and freeze them, opt for Miracle whip instead of mayo.
You can find a bunch of alternatives for this creamy sauce from your kitchen, which are both healthier and equally tasty. Some of the best mayo substitutes are avocado, hummus, pesto, olive oil, mustard, and low-fat plain Greek yogurt.
If you have an unopened jar, don’t use mayonnaise if the container is damaged in any way. Some common signs indicating that mayo has gone off are a sour smell, mold growth, and darkened colors.
Yes. However, sour cream will separate after thawing. It won’t be as silky and smooth as the fresh one. Thawed sour cream is less suitable for dips and toppings but works quite well for cooked and baked dishes. You can freeze sour cream in a freezer-safe container or in ice cube trays.
Summary
Freezing is a great way to prolong shelf life. A lot of foods freeze well without showing quality losses as long as they are adequately frozen.
Sadly, that’s not the case with mayonnaise. This thick sauce simply doesn’t belong in the freezer because the emulsion breaks down as it thaws, creating a messy, unappetizing look.
Our best advice is to buy a small jar if you use the sauce occasionally. This way, you have enough time to finish it up before it goes bad.
Up next: What is a substitute for mayonnaise?
