These Vegan Mayos Will Help You Make Next-Level Sandwiches

Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni is a James Beard Award-winning food writer, editor, recipe developer, and cookbook author based in Portland, Oregon. Her latest cookbook is "Fried Rice: 50 Ways to Stir Up The World's Favorite Grain."
updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: The Kitchn)

There are those inexplicable individuals who abhor mayonnaise, and then there are the rest of us who say mayonnaise deserves a lot more credit. It’s a classic French “mother” sauce, after all. It’s almost pure fat, and any chef will tell you that fat is the best vehicle for flavor, and it’s super-versatile, able to mix into dressings, lubricate sandwiches, and help create crispy breaded crusts.

But if you’re vegan, or just looking to cut down on saturated fat and cholesterol, you’re probably looking for an alternative to traditional mayonnaise, which is made with eggs. Turns out there’s a lot to choose from. Although you might find some in the condiment aisle, most of the eggless options can be found in the refrigerated section (near the tofu) at stores like Whole Foods.

We gathered up the most popular brands and pitted them in a side-by-side tasting to see which ones were the best. None were awful, but there were some big differences. Some were bright white, while others were tan. Some were thick and whipped, while others were loose and kind of runny. So which one tasted the closest to traditional mayonnaise?

Here are our three favorite brands.

(Image credit: Jet)

1. Follow Your Heart Veganaise, $6.50 for 16 ounces at Jet

This one looked and tasted almost identical to traditional mayo: bright white, thick, and spreadable, with a rich flavor and luscious texture balanced by a citrusy brightness.

(Image credit: Amazon)

2. JUST Mayo, $13 for two, 12-ounce bottles

This was similarly spreadable, but it had a deeply savory flavor that tasted overwhelmingly of onions. That could be a great thing depending on what you’re making — or not.

(Image credit: Chosen Foods)

With really pronounced acidity, this stuff would be great for citrus-lovers. But its tan color was oddly akin to tahini and its very soft, almost runny texture could make it hard to use. (Just two things to keep in mind!)

Do you have a favorite brand of vegan mayo? Tell us about it in the comments below!