Can mayonnaise be frozen? - The Ultimate Guide

Most of us have an open can of mayonnaise in the fridge, and another full can hidden in the cupboard. In most homes, mayonnaise is considered an essential item.

But what if you’re not going to finish that open jar before it goes bad? You might start to wonder what would happen if you froze your mayonnaise.

So can mayonnaise be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze mayonnaise, and thawed frozen mayonnaise is perfectly safe to eat. However, frozen mayonnaise will change in texture and palatability, as the emulsified ingredients will split up and become watery.

Freezing is not the best way to preserve mayonnaise, but it can be used if no other options are available. If you think you may need to freeze your mayonnaise, read on to find out the best way to do it.

What is mayonnaise?

Thick, creamy, flavorful, and indulgent - there aren’t many people who don’t enjoy a tablespoon or two of mayonnaise!

This popular dressing works perfectly as a condiment, enhancing salads, sandwiches and French fries. It can also be used as a thickener and binder in the kitchen.

But what exactly is mayonnaise? If you’ve never tried making it yourself, you may wonder what miracles go into creating this deliciously creamy sauce.

The basic ingredients of mayonnaise are eggs, oil and an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar.

If you envision putting these ingredients in a bowl, it might be hard to imagine how to turn this into mayonnaise! But this is where the magic happens… the emulsion !

Emulsifying is the process of suspending fat in water , turning two ingredients that don’t normally mix together into a delicious blend. In mayonnaise, the egg yolk acts as an emulsifier, mixing the oil with the acid and water.

However, this emulsification process can cause problems when we want to freeze the mayonnaise.

The delicate mixture of egg, oil, water and vinegar can easily “split”, causing the mayonnaise to lose its lovely creamy consistency. The divided mayonnaise will separate and curdle, with white clumps floating in a watery liquid. Gross!

Can mayonnaise be frozen?

In theory, yes, mayonnaise can be frozen, but when thawed it may not be as tasty as the original product. Mayonnaise that has been frozen is perfectly edible; however, the texture may have changed so much that it tastes horrible.

Since mayonnaise is an emulsion, the freezing and thawing process will cause the ingredients to break down and separate. The result is a sauce that looks much less appetizing!

If you choose to freeze the mayonnaise, chances are the oil, eggs, and vinegar or lemon juice will separate during the thawing process. You will see a layer of liquid on top of your mayonnaise.

Homemade mayonnaise is more at risk of separating than store-bought. This is because commercial mayonnaise contains added preservatives and stabilizers.

However, it is possible to bring frozen mayonnaise back to life, creating a tasty and edible condiment, even if it is not a patch on the original sauce!

Freezing is a convenient way to keep food safe to eat and extend its shelf life.

You may need to freeze the mayonnaise if you have more than one jar open at a time, or if you’re going on vacation and don’t want to let it spoil in the fridge.

Read on to learn how to freeze mayonnaise, and the best way to keep it as creamy as possible when you thaw it.

How to freeze mayonnaise

If you have to freeze mayonnaise, try to do it when it’s as fresh as possible. Store-bought mayonnaise that has been open for a while will have started to go bad, and is more likely to separate than fresh mayonnaise.

Good hygiene is vital when freezing mayonnaise. Any contamination will cause the mayonnaise to go bad, so no double dipping.

Here’s our step-by-step guide to freezing mayonnaise:

1. Use freezer-safe glass jars . This is the best option to keep your mayonnaise in perfect condition. Don’t be tempted to use glass jars that aren’t freezer-safe, as they may break!
2. Sterilize mason jars to reduce the risk of contamination . Place the jars in a saucepan with water and bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Carefully remove them with tongs and place them on a clean rack to cool and dry.
3. With a clean spoon, pour the mayonnaise into the jars . Try to avoid any air pockets in the mayonnaise, and fill the jars to within a centimeter of the top. Mayonnaise expands when frozen, so this space at the top is essential.
4. Seal the jars and label them with the contents and the date.
5. Chill the jars in the fridge for several hours before putting them in the freezer.

How long can you freeze mayonnaise?

If you’ve made delicious homemade mayonnaise, give yourself a big pat on the back! The delicate process of creating the perfect blend of this creamy seasoning is something many cooks strive to master.

However, homemade mayonnaise does not keep very long, even when frozen. This is because it does not contain the stabilizers and preservatives found in its store-bought counterpart.

Frozen homemade mayonnaise should keep for 5-6 days.

Store-bought mayonnaise keeps longer in the freezer, although the sooner you eat it, the better.

Commercial mayonnaise keeps well in the fridge for several months , so there isn’t much point in freezing it unless you absolutely have to.

Can you eat frozen mayonnaise?

Mayonnaise can be stored in the freezer to prevent spoilage. Mayonnaise is perfectly fine to eat after it has been frozen, but the texture may become unpleasant and inedible.

Can you freeze mayonnaise based sauces and sauces?

Have you made a large batch of French onion dip for a barbecue? Or maybe you’ve gone a little too far with the spicy mayonnaise sauce for burgers?

If you have an excess of mayonnaise-based sauces and dips, you may be tempted to stick them in the freezer.

Mayonnaise-based dips and sauces can be frozen, but separation of ingredients can occur during the thawing process, regardless of how the mayonnaise is mixed with other ingredients.

This means that your mayonnaise-based sauce or dip will most likely not look like it originally was in the freezer. However, you may be able to salvage it, so if you have excess sauce on your hands, try freezing it.

The process for freezing, thawing, and re-emulsifying mayonnaise-based sauces and dips is exactly the same as that described for mayonnaise.

How to thaw frozen mayonnaise

The trick to thawing frozen mayonnaise is patience. It is not a sauce that can be taken out of the freezer and defrosted quickly.  Give your mayonnaise time to thaw slowly and it will be much less likely to crack and separate.

Take the jar of mayonnaise out of the freezer and place it in the fridge, ideally on the back of the lowest shelf. Leave it in the fridge to thaw for several hours, or ideally overnight.

Once thawed, you may notice a layer of liquid on top of the mayonnaise. This means that your mayonnaise has started to split and separate. We do not advise you to eat it in this state, it will not have a pleasant texture!

Read on to find out how to turn your separate mayonnaise into something much tastier.

How to re-emulsify thawed mayonnaise

Now, it’s time to get a little geeky: here’s the science part! Regular mayonnaise will keep its original shape while frozen, so it will look completely normal in the jar.

However, when the mayonnaise thaws, it will break and separate. Remember the emulsion process we talked about earlier? This process is reversed, so the oil separates from the liquid.

Your precious creamy mayonnaise may now look like watery, curdled cottage cheese, but don’t despair: we’ve got a few tips to help you rescue your sad-looking condiment.

There are several ways to try to “fix” your separated mayonnaise, and even if none of them work, you will have had a chance to play around with some fun science experiments.

Different methods to re-emulsify the separated mayonnaise:

Pour off excess liquid

If your mayonnaise hasn’t separated too much, it may be enough to shake off the excess liquid from the top of the jar. Gently pour this liquid in and carefully stir in the mayonnaise.

Mix the mayonnaise

Mayonnaise can be re-emulsified by blending it. Pour the contents of the jar into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer on high speed for several seconds.

If this doesn’t work, try adding a tablespoon of water to help bind the ingredients together.

egg yolk method

Using an egg yolk is a clever trick to help the separated mayonnaise re-emulsify. Add one egg yolk to a clean bowl and pour in some of the separated mayonnaise.

Stir gently until it resembles a cream, then gradually add more mayonnaise.

So should you freeze the mayonnaise?

Now that we’ve taken a hard look at how to freeze, thaw, and salvage separated mayonnaise, there’s an important question to ask:

Should you freeze mayonnaise?

This is one of those situations where just because you can doesn’t mean you should!  Store-bought mayonnaise will last a long time in the fridge, and homemade mayonnaise is always best eaten fresh.

So it would have to be some pretty unusual circumstances for you to need to freeze the mayonnaise.

But if you feel the need to freeze the mayonnaise, feel free to do so!

Related questions

Now that we’ve covered whether or not you should freeze mayonnaise, let’s take a look at some related questions!

How do you preserve mayonnaise?

We all like to have a jar of mayonnaise in the cupboard or fridge – this delicious condiment is considered by some to be one of life’s essentials!

However, mayonnaise contains fresh, raw eggs, and it is essential to store it correctly to prevent it from spoiling or going bad.

Here are some tips to keep your mayonnaise at its best:

• Store unopened mayonnaise jars in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources.
• Once opened, store the jar of mayonnaise in the fridge.
• Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines: Most commercial mayonnaises will keep for up to two months in the refrigerator. Be sure to consume it before the expiration date.
• Do not expose mayonnaise to high temperatures. Do not expose it to direct sunlight: be careful with barbecues and summer parties!
• When making homemade mayonnaise, use pasteurized eggs if possible. Homemade mayonnaise should last about a week in the fridge.

How do you know if the mayonnaise has gone bad?

Have you ever found a jar of mayonnaise hidden in the back of the fridge and wondered how long it has been there? If it hasn’t been opened, it can be eaten, but once opened, the mayonnaise starts to deteriorate.

Check the expiration date of the mayonnaise: if this date has passed, it must be discarded.

If not, the next step is to carefully check the mayonnaise for signs that it has gone bad:

Smell

First of all, open the jar and smell it. The mayonnaise should not have a strong odor if it is suitable for consumption.

Any unusual odor, such as a sour or putrid smell, means that your mayonnaise has gone bad and should be thrown away.

Color

The mayonnaise should be a creamy white color . If your mayonnaise has started to turn yellow or even slightly brown, then it has started to go bad or has become contaminated.

Texture

Your mayonnaise should be a thick, creamy sauce . If you see any clear liquid or separate layers, your mayonnaise has started to go bad and should not be eaten.

Bacterial growth can cause this separation, so don’t risk it if you see this in your mayo.

Mold

Luckily, it goes without saying that if you see mold on your mayonnaise, it’s unfit to eat!  Check the inside of the lid and the neck of the jar well, since that is where mold usually appears.

Mold can cause serious health problems, so it is essential to discard any mayonnaise that shows signs of mold spores.

Test

If, and only if, the mayonnaise has passed all other tests, give it a taste. If it tastes like anything other than regular mayonnaise, throw it away immediately!

Mayonnaise that has gone bad can cause some very nasty and serious health problems, so don’t take any chances with that long-forgotten jar in the fridge.

Expired mayonnaise can cause digestive upset such as vomiting and diarrhea, and may contain toxic bacteria such as salmonella.

Can the mayonnaise sandwiches be frozen?

Freezing sandwiches is one of life’s great hacks - mornings can be a lot less stressful if the sandwiches in the lunch box just have to be pulled out of the freezer!

Many of us like mayonnaise on our sandwiches. This deliciously creamy condiment can transform the dullest sandwich, and some fillings just aren’t the same without it.

Unfortunately, sandwiches made with mayonnaise do not freeze well. The mayonnaise makes the bread soggy and unappetizing. Also, mayonnaise tends to split when it thaws, so your sandwich will be an oily mess!

Freezing mayonnaise sandwiches doesn’t make them unsafe to eat , but they won’t come out of the freezer the same state they came in.

We suggest you freeze your sandwiches without mayonnaise , and add the dressing just before eating.