Never Mess Up Mayonnaise Again: Master This Simple Trick Now!

If your mayonnaise turned out runny, slimy, or curdled, there’s no denying it: your attempt at homemade mayonnaise didn’t go as planned. Even though you picked a “foolproof” recipe, it seems it wasn’t foolproof enough. Admittedly, aside from gathering the ingredients and measuring them out, you didn’t really pay close attention to the instructions. Now, you find yourself in a pickle: you can’t possibly serve those shrimp to your guests with store-bought mayo! Don’t worry, help is on the way. Roll up your sleeves and grab your whisk; we’re about to bring that failed mayonnaise back to life.

Often, when mayonnaise flops, the instinct is to double down. You might keep adding oil and whipping more vigorously in hopes of achieving the perfect emulsion. This is not the way to go. “If your mayonnaise has failed, you need to start over,” advises Constance Régnier, a food engineer and dietitian who runs the popular culinary account Au Nom du Goût, which earned her the title of top culinary influencer of 2023. Régnier, who is no stranger to making mayonnaise thanks to her chicken farm, shared her secret trick for salvaging it in just a few steps. She starts the recipe anew, as if beginning from scratch: in a mixing bowl, she adds one egg yolk, a teaspoon of mustard, and a dash of lemon juice, but instead of using fresh oil, she gradually whisks in the failed mayonnaise using an electric mixer. Just like that, in no time at all, she achieves a perfectly creamy texture. Mission accomplished!

Extra Tip: To ensure your mayonnaise turns out flawlessly every time, pour the oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking vigorously or using an electric mixer. This is a critical step, the expert explains. If you add too much oil at once, the mayonnaise won’t emulsify properly!