Homemade Mayonnaise Separated? How To Fix It

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSenior Vice President of Content at AT Media
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning, The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
published Mar 1, 2011
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(Image credit: Faith Durand)

Last week we showed you how easy it is to make mayonnaise with nothing more than a whisk, an egg, and some oil. But this homemade mayonnaise sometimes separates in the refrigerator, especially if it wasn’t emulsified very well the first time around. Well, it’s a snap to fix this. Here’s how.

(Image credit: Faith Durand)

To recombine mayonnaise that has separated and become curdled, like the mayo pictured at the top of the post, simply add about a teaspoon of water and whisk. Add an additional teaspoon or two if it doesn’t come right back together.

The water acts helps the oil and egg re-emulsify, and you’ll end up with a thinner yet creamier mayonnaise. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

See how easy that is? One more reason to never buy mayonnaise again.