Mayonnaise is really easy to make at home and only takes one minute with an immersion blender! Trust me, you’ll never go back to store-bought versions again.
Mayonnaise is one of those condiments we often grab at the store, but itโs so darn easy to make at home! And once you do, youโll never go back to store-bought versions because fresh just tastes better.
The beauty of homemade mayonnaise is that it doesn’t have any questionable ingredients lurking inside. Many store-bought mayonnaise options are made from less than stellar ingredients like canola oil or soybean oil and contain added sugar (yes, thereโs added sugar in your mayo). Not to mention that there may be preservatives and โnatural flavorsโ – whatever those may be.
So the next time you need mayonnaise for a chicken salad, tuna salad, coleslaw recipe, or simply to have on hand, make your own batch!
Homemade Mayonnaise Ingredients
Homemade mayonnaise is an emulsion of 6 simple and fresh ingredients. I typically buy organic products, though the choice is yours. Hereโs whatโs in it:
- Avocado oil: The key here is to use high-quality, neutral-flavored oil. I like to use avocado oil, but be aware that some brands are stronger flavored than others. You could also use light-flavored olive oil. Just donโt use extra-virgin olive oil as it has too strong a flavor.
- Egg: Some recipes use just the egg yolk (similar to hollandaise sauce). But for this recipe, Iโm using the whole egg for a slightly lighter consistency.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon is the optimal choice. But if you have bottled lemon juice, that works too.
- White wine vinegar: You could substitute white wine vinegar with any light-colored, high-quality vinegar. Yes, apple cider vinegar works as well!
- Dijon mustard: I prefer Dijon mustard for the best results in terms of flavor.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
How To Make Mayonnaise
The key to this foolproof mayonnaise recipe is the equipment used โ a stick blender (otherwise known as an immersion blender). And if you use the container that came with the stick blender, youโre good to go. Hereโs how you make it in 3 easy steps:
Add all of the ingredients to the jar that came with your stick blender, and let the ingredients settle for a minute or two.
Place the stick blender inside the container (firmly on the bottom) while covering the egg yolk. Then turn the stick blender on and donโt move it for 10 to 15 seconds – this is key!
As the mayonnaise starts to emulsify you can move the stick blender up and down to combine the ingredients.
Continue blending and moving the stick blender up and down until all of the oil is fully combined. That’s it – you’ve just made mayonnaise!
Homemade Mayonnaise Tips
I make this recipe nearly every week or two and Iโve never had the emulsification break (not once!). But after hundreds of comments from readers, I do want to share a few tips.
- Donโt use a larger/wider jar. This recipe works so well because the jar that comes with your stick blender fits the width of the head tightly. That allows the egg and oil to emulsify slowly. If you use a larger or wider jar, you could run into problems.
- Donโt try this recipe in a food processor or blender. This recipe was written specifically for a stick or immersion blender. If you add all of the ingredients to a blender and turn it on, it will fail.
- Make sure your immersion blender is on high. Right from the start, begin blending on the highest setting to emulsify the egg into the oil. If you start on low, it may not emulsify.
- Choose a high-quality oil. The main ingredient in mayonnaise is oil, so choose a high-quality one. This is my favorite avocado oil and the one I personally use. It has a very neutral flavor, compared to other avocado oils. Just steer clear of extra-virgin olive oil which has a very strong flavor or low-quality, industrial seed oil like canola, grapeseed, safflower, and peanut oil.
- Is the raw egg a concern? Iโm personally not concerned about the raw egg in this mayonnaise (just as this author isnโt concerned), but itโs a personal choice. If youโre concerned about salmonella you can certainly use a pasteurized egg.
How To Fix Broken Mayonnaise
If your mayonnaise doesnโt emulsify for some reason, you can easily fix it with either of these methods.
- Boiling Water: Just add 1 tablespoon of boiling hot water to your container and quickly blend again (this also works if youโre making hollandaise sauce). It might be a little bit thinner, but it should be properly emulsified.
- Egg Yolk: Add one more egg yolk to your container and blend it up. The extra yolk should recombine all of the ingredients, and it makes for a thicker mayonnaise.
Helpful tip: Donโt try to freeze the mayonnaise as the emulsion will break!
Storage Tips
Once youโve made the mayonnaise, transfer it to an airtight storage container and store it in the fridge for up to one week. Itโs great to have on hand to make some of the delicious recipes Iโve listed in the section below.
Tasty Recipes That Use Mayonnaise
This fresh and creamy mayonnaise is perfect for sauces, dips, sandwiches, salads, and so much more! Here are a few ideas to make the most of it.
I hope you enjoy this homemade mayonnaise recipe! Once you make it, let me know your thoughts and how you used it in the comment box below.
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 whole egg
- ยฝ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- ยผ tsp Dijon mustard
- ยผ tsp sea salt
- 1 cup avocado oil, or light-flavored olive oil
Instructions
- Add the egg, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and salt to the jar that came with your immersion blender. Slowly pour the oil on top and let it settle for a minute.
- Place your stick blender in the jar and press it firmly to the bottom, making sure it's covering the egg yolk. Turn it on and keep it pressed against the bottom of the jar for at least 10 to 15 seconds, without moving it.
- Once the mayonnaise starts to emulsify and thicken, slowly move the stick blender up and down to fully combine the ingredients.
- Stir the mayonnaise and place in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator.
Lisa’s Tips
- Make sure to watch the video and read all my notes and tips above, including this avocado oil brand I personally use and recommend.
Nutrition
ยฉDownshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
This recipe was originally posted August 2016, but updated to include new photos and information.
This is a great base mayo. I made a couple of modifications after making it a few times to suit my tastes. I only used the yolk and I used 2. I substituted the vinegar for pickle juice and added a tad extra. I also only used about 2/3 cup of oil.
Glad you were able to tweak this to your liking, Lisa!
Just made some mayonnaise, came out perfect.
Will never buy mayonnaise again, bought mayo is full of chemicals & additives
Glad your mayonnaise turned out great, Maureen!
Consistency came out good but the taste or flavor I guess is very strong with olive oil. I decided to use olive oil because it was an option but it is not edible and it tastes horrible.
This is my go to for great mayo!
Glad you’re loving this mayonnaise recipe!
Delicious ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
Thank you!!!
This Mayo was extremely delicious!!! I donโt think I could ever go back to buying expensive Mayo again. This tastes so much better. Iโm so glad I found your recipe,
The only change I made was add apple cider vinegar and added a bit more salt. I added all the ingredients, except for the oil to my vitamix and blended it on the low setting adding the oil slowly. Great recipe!
So glad you enjoyed it, Diana!
Perfect every time!
Great recipe and very easy to make, I added extra lemon juice and Dijon mustard, I donโt think Iโll bother buying store bought mayo again. Thank you very much
I’m happy to hear this homemade mayo worked out for you, Dianne!
This is absolutely amazing!! So easy and so delicious!! I will never buy mayo again. Thank you!!!!!
Hi Michelle – Glad this worked out perfectly!
This is my favorite paleo mayo recipe! It tastes like the real thing and the consistency is perfect. Thank you for the video and tips!
Glad the video was helpful, Roni!
This was so easy and so delicious!
I started to read about your recipes today 04/12/3025 especially for the mayonnaise. I’m very excited I can’t wait to start making my own fresh home made mayonnaise.Thank you so much for your input to our healthy life
Let us know how your mayonnaise turns out!
First time ever making homemade mayonnaise. I had to gather all the items to make it so the initial cost was more . I will not need to buy mayonnaise any more . This will be what I use ,cost per batch homemade is about a $1.00 maybe. Pre-made store bought almost $6.00 and the flavor has a lot to be desired. The store bought always seems too sour ,borderline rancid. This recipe is definitely a better tasting mayonnaise with no unwanted ingredients. I did see another recipe that will allow the mayo to keep longer through some kind of fermentation but I’m not brave enough to try it yet.
Glad you found the perfect homemade mayonnaise recipe, Jonothan! Now you can always make it at home :)
Can you make mayo without blender for example shake in a jar maybe?
Works!
I think I would prefer yellow mustard and a little more salt, but thatโs up to the individual.
My blender did not come with a cup to fit it so I used a tall drinking glass thatโs fairly narrow and it worked fine
TY
Glad you were able to find a glass perfect for your blender, Inga!
Why why why did it not thicken? It did emulsify, I followed all the instructions, with the correct ingredients amounts. I donโt understand, and I see others have had the same result. Any explanation?
Hi Les – did you watch my video above? Maybe you can see where things may have differed for you.
The first time I tried mayonnaise it didn’t thicken. Thought I would try another recipe and this one turned out perfect and thick first time.
Thank you for a great recipe and instructions. I will definitely be using it often
Love this recipe
I cannot believe how easy and delicious this is.
Wonderful! Healthy mayo. Thank you for sharing your recipie.
God bless you
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Ann!
Excellent!
I have never had a runny result, but I also always use an egg that has reached room tempture, which I know helps ween getting baked goods to rise, so I am passing that along, in case it is what will help with your next try too.
Thanks for sharing your tips, Gina!
Iโve made this recipe before but today I had trouble with it thickening so I added two more eggs because I assumed the eggs I put was too small, and after it did thicken but the after taste is horrible how do I fix my mess and I donโt want to throw it out. Itโs still edible but just the after taste is not great.
I have made this recipe several times now and I got to say I will never buy store-bought mayonnaise again. It is so easy and delicious.
Wonderful! I’m glad you loved it, Christine!
Just a quick note….if ulyou haven’t tried Apple slaw, DO. This homemade mayo is the crown jewel of this salad!
Not sure what went wrong. Very runny even after adding another egg yolk. Very dissatisfied with the results. Just wasted an entire cup of oil.
Game changer!! I rarely buy shop mayo anymore. This recipe has never failed……and I totally mess with the ingredients….sometime more oil (I use a less expensive Olive blend), sometimes more vinegar and, if I’m feeling brave, a tsp of chilli flakes. The important detail is this: just let the oil sit on top of the egg mix for a bit…..then blitz….
I’m happy to hear you love this recipe as much as I do, Tom!
I plan to prepare this mayo today. I love mayonnaise and have always thought it must be hard to make. So thanks to Lisa for giving me and others the exact recipe and tips for making easy, delicious mayonnaise. ๐
Mine came out a little watery. I was hoping for a fluffier thicker result. However, the taste is good. Honestly I’m going to try my next batch with an extra egg yolk. Might as well experiment.
Hopefully your next try comes out even better!
Excellent and easy recipe!! And most importantly, itโs made with healthy ingredients! So much more tasty and better for you than the store bought mayonnaise that contain many additives and seed oils.
Hi Janice – Yes, homemade mayo is the best as you can control the ingredients. So glad you enjoyed it!
just made this and it took about 1 minute and came out perfectly! So much easier than the previous recipe I was using. Thank you!
Hi Sarah – so happy it turned out perfectly for you!
Hi Lisa
Re: EASY HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE
Is this product you have created Gluten and Dairy Free?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Carmel Murphy
Hi Carmel – yes, it’s both gluten and dairy-free. Enjoy!
How much does this make, could you halve the ingredients (except egg) for a smaller amount. Iโm on my own and wouldnโt want to waste any if it expires.
What would you recommend for someone who is sensitive to mustard? ๐ซ
Hi Angela – you could leave it out, or for a more spicy twist you could add a little bit of horseradish.
I couldn’t believe it, but it absolutely works!!!
If there is the slightest trace of any grease in the utensils before you start then I’m absolutely sure it won’t work.
Thrilled this mayonnaise worked out perfectly with you, John!
What is the shelf life in the fridge for this mayo?
Hi Karen – you can store this for about a week in the fridge. Enjoy!
This is the best Mayo recipe ever. No one will know you have made it, as it tastes like real mayonnaise. Love it!
I’m so glad you’re loving this mayonnaise recipe, Liz!
Can you use balsamic vinegar in the mayonsise
Hi Corinne – yes, you can if you’d like.
Yes, I cannot eat sodium or salt at 87 and now I can have a wonderful mayonnaise ! This is the perfect recipe as well as your catsup and chocolate syrup. Thank you
I’m glad you found a homemade mayonnaise that fits the bill, Dawn!
Thank you for the vote of confidence this is precisely why I looked up their recipe Me Too :) Chrissy in Tennessee!
This is my go to recipe for mayonnaise now. So easy and minimal ingredients. Thanks for this one!
Glad you found a new go-to homemade mayonnaise recipe, Jean!
Made this for the first time. Amazing. Thanks Lisa for your great recipes.
Glad your first attempt at mayonnaise was a success, Karen!
Very easy to make! Light and has a wonderful taste I have made this twice now. It is a keeper!
I love making my own because there is no bad ingredients that bother our stomachs!โค๏ธ
The beauty of making your own condiments at home! Glad you’re loving this recipe, Debbie.
I have made this recipe often and it is a success every time. Actually I have made many of your recipes and none disappoint. Your style of living is an inspiration. Having had to make changes as weโll, I appreciate the options you provide. Cheers to you! A Canadian that misses Californiaโฆ
Hi Julie – Thanks for all your feedback! Happy to hear you’re loving this mayonnaise recipe, along with many others.