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You are here: Home » Food Preparation » Recipes » Condiments, Dips, & Spreads » Lacto-Fermented Mayonnaise

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Lacto-Fermented Mayonnaise

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Lacto-Fermented & Homemade Mayonnaise | Make your own mayonnaise! Homemade mayo gives you valuable enzymes, avoids GMO additives and tastes great. Lacto-ferment it for extra nutrition and a longer 'shelf' life. You can use a stick blender or food processor to whip some up today! | TraditionalCookingSchool.com

Today, I’m sharing my lacto-fermented mayonnaise. I combined two recipes to create a mayo that worked with what I already had in my pantry. Sometimes the pantry determines what one can do, wouldn’t you agree? 😉

The recipe contenders were: Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s LF Mayo (she says it tastes just like Hellmans) and the LF mayonnaise in Nourishing Traditions on page 137.

You might wonder why a lacto-fermented mayonnaise? Nourishing Traditions has the answer:

“Homemade mayonnaise imparts valuable enzymes, particularly lipase, to sandwiches, tuna salad, chicken salad, and many other dishes and is very easy to make in a food processor. The addition of whey [for lacto-fermentation] will help your mayonnaise last longer, adds enzymes and increases nutrient content.”

I have read where people don’t like the mayo in Nourishing Traditions that much. We hadn’t had mayonnaise for many years (due to my son’s previous egg allergy), so I figured we might not have any mayo-taste memories for comparison. The Nourishing Traditions mayo uses olive oil for the oil, which is admittedly a pronounced flavor, but we liked it (and it was amazing in our egg salad). If I’d had some sesame oil (as called for in Kelly’s recipe), I would have used some sesame oil (or another mild oil) in place of the olive oil for balancing. So feel free to do that.

Want more fermented condiments? Also see lacto-fermented ketchup and honey-dill mustard.

3.72 from 38 votes
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Lacto-Fermented Mayonnaise

You might wonder why a lacto-fermented mayonnaise? Well, plain mayonnaise brings a lot to the table, but lacto-fermented mayonnaise ups the ante with more enzymes, better nutrition, and a longer 'shelf' life!
Course Condiment
Author Wardee Harmon

Ingredients

  • 3 organic or pastured egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or Erin’s lacto-fermented mustard
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon whey or use about 1/32 to 1/16 teaspoon of a veggie starter culture like this
  • sea salt to taste (about 8 pinches for me)
  • 1 cup extra virgin olive oil extra virgin, or any combination of oils you’d like*

Instructions

With a food processor...

  1. Combine egg yolks, mustard, vinegar, whey, and salt in a food processor bowl.
  2. Blend well, about 30 seconds.
  3. With the food processor running, add the olive oil in as slow a drizzle as possible. It will emulsify into mayonnaise. It took me about 5 minutes, at least, to slowly pour in the 1 cup of olive oil and complete the emulsification.
  4. Adjust salt to taste.
  5. To lacto-ferment and help the mayonnaise last longer, leave it out in an air-tight jar or container at room temperature for 7 hours.
  6. Refrigerate.

With a stick blender...

  1. Put all ingredients but oil in a quart jar.
  2. Blend briefly with the stick blender.
  3. Then run the stick blender while adding a little oil.
  4. Stop adding oil and keep blending to make sure it emulsifies.
  5. Repeat with more oil until all the oil is in and emulsified into mayonnaise.
  6. Adjust salt to taste.
  7. To lacto-ferment and help the mayonnaise last longer, leave it out in an air-tight jar or container at room temperature for 7 hours.
  8. Refrigerate.

 *Update 3/5/2014 — Recently, I made mayo with a combination of grapeseed and avocado (more info here) — both expeller pressed. It was delicious!

Want more info on fermenting? See the cheat sheet below (my gift to you) or check out more lacto-fermented recipes on this Traditional Cooking School blog, including raw cheese recipes, naturally pickled turnips and beets, Kombucha, water kefir, and more!

This post was featured in 43 Fermented & Probiotic-Filled Condiments.

We only recommend products and services we wholeheartedly endorse. This post may contain special links through which we earn a small commission if you make a purchase (though your price is the same).

Posted in: Condiments, Dips, & Spreads Condiments, Dips, & Spreads (Gluten-Free) Fermented Condiments Fermenting & Culturing Food Preparation Recipes Sauces Sauces (Gluten Free) Trim Healthy Mama Recipes

About Wardee Harmon

Wardee lives in the Boise area of Idaho with her dear family. She's the lead teacher and founder of the Eat God's Way online cooking program as well as the author of Fermenting, Sourdough A to Z, and other traditional cooking books. Eat God's Way helps families get healthier and happier using cooking methods and ingredients from Bible Times like sourdough, culturing, and ancient grains.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sustainable Eats says

    April 2, 2010 at 9:37 am

    Wardee thanks so much for the post! We go through a lot of mayo in the summer for potato salad and I make aioli too but I’ve struggled with the coconut vs olive oil flavors. We aren’t really happy with either taste. Did you make Kelly’s and found it to really taste like Hellman’s? And did you find that yours tasted like olive oil? I do sometimes buy the Wilderness Family Naturals brand but we don’t like the way that tastes. Who knew mayo would be such a sticking point? But then it’s all because I don’t want to use vegetable oils. I really should research sunflower oil more since I can grow lots of those but the olives just don’t produce in Seattle.
    .-= Sustainable Eats´s last blog post… Makin’ Bacon =-.

    Reply
    • Anja says

      January 5, 2014 at 5:00 am

      lovely recipe! i’ve always struggled with the correct ratio of egg yolks to oil. this looks perfect. for flavor, i use equal parts extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. best of both worlds. not coconutty or to fruity. 🙂

      Reply
    • Rosa says

      April 18, 2015 at 8:44 am

      Mafia controls all of the olive oil exports and to increase their profits they are mixing in other cheaper oils. Italians know this and in Italy horde their pure stocks for themselves. I’ve switched to organic avocado oil.

      Reply
      • Eleanor Hines says

        June 24, 2016 at 12:00 pm

        Kirkland lakes olive oil is pure their actually are 5 that I heard of Verbena is another….but yes the rest are not truthful about what is in them

        Reply
    • Wanda says

      May 3, 2017 at 7:42 am

      Try Avocado Oil. I don’t find it has a specific taste when making mayonnaise.

      Reply
  2. Wardee says

    April 2, 2010 at 9:50 am

    Annette – I’d say you have more gourmet tastes than we do. 😉 We haven’t had mayo for so long and we really liked this, but didn’t compare it to anything else. I think I’d like using some sesame instead of olive to tone that flavor down, but even so, it was really good. The ACV and mustard were great additions. I’d like not to use vegetable oils also and stick with oils I usually have on hand.

    I didn’t make Kelly’s as is. She says it tastes like Hellman’s; I edited the post to make that more clear.

    Reply
    • Diane says

      January 17, 2015 at 6:17 am

      What do you think about using avocado oil?

      Reply
      • Dae says

        March 12, 2015 at 6:36 pm

        I used to use coconut oil exclusively, but it was a pain to deal with in the winter. I tried avocado oil—BEST EVER! So mild in flavor! I use a stick blender and the container that came with it–it has measurement lines on it. I dump ALL the ingredients in there and let them all get to the same/room temperature. This ensures that the mayo is thick and creamy and not runny. I put the stick blender in the container and make sure it is sitting on the bottom of the container and start to run it. You will see the mayo start to form, then start slowly moving the blender up and down working the rest of the oil into the mayo. Takes maybe 2 minutes to blend with no slow drizzling in of the oil. Before I started using this method I got runny mayo about 50% of the time–drove me nuts. Now it is always creamy and WONDERFUL! I did use whey when I had it, but when I didn’t I just used kombucha instead of the whey and ACV. The kombucha kept it from spoiling every bit as well as the whey.

        Reply
  3. Amy says

    April 2, 2010 at 10:16 am

    This is really a new concept for me – lacto fermented mayo! Who knew? I think I’ll give it a try in the near future, but I’m a bit leery of egg being out for 7 hours. I know… the good bacteria will grow during this time, but getting old beliefs out of one’s head takes some time. But I’ve gained confidence as I have tried new things realizing that some of these “rules” we’ve been told are more “myth” than truth when you do it the NT way.
    .-= Amy @ Homestead Revival´s last blog post… Good Friday =-.

    Reply
  4. Jami says

    April 2, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Wardee, what do you think about using organic grape seed oil? I like how it doesn’t have a ‘taste’ really. I don’t really like the taste of olive oil much, but next time I’m shopping I can try to pick up some sesame oil.

    I’m a mayonnaise lover, and can’t wait to give this a try.

    Are you going to do ketchup next….?

    Reply
  5. Diana says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:25 pm

    Wardee, I loved this post. I make my own mayo using pretty much the same recipe. In Spain this is how one eats mayo no bottles and so I LOVE the olive oil taste, lol!! My ensaladilla rusa wouldn’t be the same 😉 However, I have yet to try to ferment it and like the idea of it lasting longer. I usually only make enough for whatever I’m using it for. Generally salads or aioli. Will give this a try. How long do you think it lasts when fermenting? Thanks Wardee!!
    .-= Diana@Spain in Iowa´s last blog post… Lacto-Fermentation – A traditional and natural way to preserve natures bounty =-.

    Reply
  6. Satsuki says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Hi,

    I recently started reading your blog. I was wondering if you can use regular apple cider vinegar if you don’t have raw, if that will alter the recipes. I’ve started to switch to more raw foods but I still have a large amount of regular apple cider vinegar to use up.
    .-= Satsuki´s last blog post… D & D is the devil!!! =-.

    Reply
  7. Wardee says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Amy – With the whey, leaving the eggs out is totally safe. You already know this and once you do it, you’ll see! 🙂 Enjoy!

    Jami – Grapeseed oil is controversial. Some people claim it is highly processed. However, I do use it occasionally and am comfortable with my source (Napa Valley Naturals) in raising natural grapes and using a no-heat, no-chemical expeller-pressed process to extract the oil. I think it would make a good, mild oil to use here. In general we should use fewer of the omega-6 vegetable oils as we can.

    Diana – Ha! I’m so glad to hear that. I love the flavor of olive oil, too. That’s my Middle Eastern heritage, just like your Spanish heritage. 😀 NT says this will last for several months and become firmer with time. If unfermented, it only lasts about 2 weeks.

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 6, 2014 at 10:13 am

      I don’t use whey in any of my vegetable ferments. Mostly because we have a dairy sensitivity in the house… but also, simplest is good for me. The vegetables always ferment fine with just salt. I do make my own mayo, but haven’t tried it lacto fermented. Would it be unsafe to try it without whey?

      Reply
      • Chaney says

        February 22, 2014 at 4:03 pm

        You could use sauerkraut juice if you have some.

        Reply
        • M. J. says

          August 22, 2015 at 9:39 am

          Kraut juice! Would give it a nice flavor, I think. I’m wondering about the ACV: I thought vinegar killed fermentation.

          Reply
          • Crisieda says

            November 30, 2017 at 1:35 am

            How much sauerkraut juice (as alternative to whey) should I put in above recipe?

          • Danielle says

            November 30, 2017 at 5:55 am

            Hi Crisieda,

            You can use an equal amount of kraut juice to replace the whey. 🙂

            ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

  8. Wardee says

    April 2, 2010 at 1:39 pm

    Satsuki – With this recipe, you may substitute non-raw apple cider vinegar. Actually, you can do it for most any use of ACV, with a few exceptions.

    That’s not to say that it will be just as beneficial. For instance, if using to soak grains or beans, the raw part of the ACV (live cultures) will aid in the soaking beyond what the acidic part of the ACV does.

    So… to boil it down, sometimes ACV provides acid and/or flavor (like in this recipe), and sometimes it provides more, like cultures to help in soaking or to improve digestion.

    I hope that makes sense!

    Reply
    • Victoria O'Meara says

      June 19, 2024 at 4:08 am

      Hi.
      I’ve made mayo pretty much the same as your recipe, with the exception of eggs. I’ve only used 1 room temp whole egg (whites included). Can you share with me what adding only holes in 3 does? Also, I will try making it now with whey. Thank you.

      Reply
      • Peggy says

        June 20, 2024 at 11:58 am

        Hi, Victoria,
        Egg yolks are nutritious and a great emulsifier. We have had success making mayonnaise using whole eggs as well. 🙂
        ~Peggy, TCS Success Team

        Reply
  9. Lori says

    April 2, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Where do I obtain “whey”? We do not have a raw milk resource here, is “whey” something you can purchase at the grocery store?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Wardee says

    April 2, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Lori –

    You can make your own whey by letting it drip out of plain yogurt or kefir (with active cultures). Follow the instructions in this recipe:

    https://traditionalcookingschool.com/2009/07/29/probiotic-potato-salad/

    You’ll be saving the whey from the first step, making kefir cheese.

    Reply
  11. lisa says

    April 2, 2010 at 6:34 pm

    Olive oil varies a lot….If you prefer a milder less olive oil taste – try a lighter olive oil that is really fresh – this oil can go rancid quickly – I just bought a different variety locally that was pressed in March – light and kinda of fruity – it made some great mayo…you could also try weaning yourself to like the more robust flavor of oil oil by trying half sunflower and half olive – or the same with the sesame….we did that for a while until I could find a fresher lighter source of extra virgin olive oil…

    Reply
  12. Lori says

    April 2, 2010 at 6:35 pm

    Ohhhhh!! Thank you so much!! I have made “yogurt cheese” before, which is wonderful, btw! I just didn’t understand that I could save & use the other part! Thank you so very much. This is MOST helpful!! (I’m new at all of this… obviously!)

    Reply
  13. miichelle says

    April 3, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Hi Wardee, I want to leave a comment about the fat controversy. I have always used butter, because I didn’t like the taste or feel of margarine. Plus my chiropractor told me years ago that hydrogenated oil was destructive to our joints so that was out. My doctor(MD) told me years ago that I have high cholesterol and was so mad at me when I wouldn’t take his prescription for meds. I really believe the Lord was guiding me because I didn’t “know” what I was doing. But I am still confused because I am about fifty pounds over weight. I don’t eat chips or bread, sweets excessevly. I can go for weeks without them or other processed foods as I usually make all my own treats. I usually eat salads, fish, chicken. Last night I ate two small potatoes, some cauliflower, green beans, tomato steamed… with butter, olive oil and nutritional yeast, and some baby greens…..yummy. Not alot, just one plate and no seconds, all organic. This is how I usually eat….and I am still over weight. The other night I had a chicken leg, no skin, cooked in a little chichen broth to steam and some salad with…cottage cheese, yogurt and Vegenaise grapeseed mayo mixed for dressing, so delicious….I love it. As you can see I eat very healthly but I am still gaining weight, very slowly. I also walk for an hour at the mall in the mornings before it opens. What am I doing wrong? I love your website and know you aren’t a ‘diet doctor” but you can imagine my confusion. Oh, I eat eggs too, about six a week, organic, in omlets or soft boiled.

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      April 3, 2010 at 6:27 pm

      Michelle – I will email you privately about your weight issues. Not immediately, as we are about to have an 11th birthday party for my daughter B., but sometime soon in the coming days.

      Reply
      • A.D. says

        June 16, 2021 at 3:33 pm

        She’s 22 now!

        Reply
    • Kate says

      March 29, 2015 at 6:10 pm

      Check out ‘The Hormone Cure’ by Dr. Sara Gottfreid. She has a follow-up book called ‘The Hormone Reset Diet’.

      Reply
  14. Tina M says

    April 3, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Thank you Wardee for this post! I just had to try this today and it came out great! It came together easier than any of the other recipes I’ve tried for homemade mayo 🙂 I can’t do the olive oil (flavor) but I tried 1/2 and 1/2 Grape Seed and Sesame oils. So good! Will go great in tomorrow’s deviled eggs.

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      April 3, 2010 at 6:26 pm

      Tina – Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear this! Happy Easter. 🙂

      Reply
  15. michelle says

    April 3, 2010 at 7:33 pm

    Thank you Wardee, I will be looking forward to hearing from you. But guess what, I just had a fantastic read at the kitchen kops site, all about eating grass fed beef and how good it is for us. Plus I have been rereading your emails over this last year, I have them all saved as they never cease to inform me. All about how you render the fat from your beef to use in cooking. So I went out and got some grass fed burger at Whole Foods and Oh my goodness, how delicious……and expensive. But I do realize the benefit of it. Happy Birthday to your daughter.
    Michelle

    Reply
  16. Holly Michele says

    April 7, 2010 at 9:44 am

    After 6 failed attempts at making homemade mayo with recipes from various blogs over the years, I finally gave up. Each new batch got the thumbs down from my family. I figured out it was the olive oil in all its variations. The closest I got to that ‘Hellmans’ taste was by using Bertolli Extra Light olive oil. I figured with the amount of ingredients I wasted, it just wasn’t worth it to me anymore. So we stayed with Hellmans Real Mayo from the store until soy and canola oils got the boot in my family. I discovered WAPF and Mary Enig’s teachings. I then began a desperate search for mayo without the soy and and canola. Where one door closes another one opens and bingo! I found it. This mayo is based on the writings of Dr. Mary Enig’s teachings. It is somewhat pricey, but I did the math and would be spending far more money if I had to make this from scratch. My family goes bonkers over this stuff and it goes into anything and everything we eat that needs mayo. It is without a doubt, one of the best investments I’ve ever made for my family. Just wanted to share my find in case anyone out there has also had trouble making the mayo thing from scratch and so would just rather buy something instead.

    http://www.wildernessfamilynaturals.com/category/dressings-condiments-mayo.php

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000XH8T8U/ref=s9_simh_gw_p325_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0XQN72VP3N408SBHE2HR&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      April 7, 2010 at 9:49 am

      Holly – I’m really glad you shared your source! I’m sure it will be helpful to many. Thank you for sharing your experience.

      Reply
  17. Salihah says

    April 8, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    Ooooh! This is great! About how much longer will this mayonnaise last compared to regular homemade, which is only good for a week or two?

    I make our own salad dressings and sometimes like to use homemade mayo in them for creamier dressing variations, however, the yolks in the mayo mean the dressing won’t stay good for very long and needs to be used up quickly. So I’m excited to use this mayo instead!
    .-= Salihah´s last blog post… The Little Sultan Has Arrived =-.

    Reply
  18. Wardee says

    April 8, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Salihah –

    NT says this will last for several months and become firmer with time. If unfermented, it only lasts about 2 weeks.

    Enjoy!

    Reply
  19. Leah says

    April 9, 2010 at 10:16 am

    Wardee, I read somewhere (I don’t think it was on this thread, but I haven’t had time to go back and re-read all of the comments to make sure!) that “Eat Fat, Lose Fat” recommends Haines safflower mayo. So would maybe 1/2 safflower and 1/2 olive oil be ok? I’ve made mayo with all olive oil and it just isn’t going to fly with my family. My hubby is a Kraft man all the way.:) He eats a ton of mayonnaise in the summertime and I am desperately looking for a soy-free alternative that he will eat.

    I know that safflower oil has no omega-3s so it should be used sparingly. But since it’s basically tasteless, maybe it would cut that olive oil flavor if I used a blend.

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      April 9, 2010 at 3:10 pm

      Leah – In NT, Sally Fallon Morell says you can also use sunflower oil. I think that would make a more mild taste. I think safflower oil would be good, too.

      Thanks for the tip to add olive oil to the boiling! My eggs are never more than a week old and they all are horrible to peel!

      Reply
      • Kate says

        March 29, 2015 at 6:13 pm

        Eggs being hard to peel is a sign of freshness.

        Reply
  20. Jami says

    April 9, 2010 at 4:41 pm

    If adding olive oil to the boiling eggs doesn’t help – steaming your eggs instead of boiling is another way to achieve easy peel no matter their age.

    Reply
  21. Amy says

    April 20, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    Sounds really interesting. Is this safe to eat while I’m pregnant?

    Reply
  22. Shyla says

    April 22, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    This mayonnaise looks DIVINE, Wardee! I can’t wait to whip some up for egg salad. Mmmmmmm…….
    .-= Shyla´s last blog post… The Power Behind Praying Hands =-.

    Reply
  23. Wardee says

    April 22, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    Jami – I must have missed your comment. How do you steam eggs?

    Shyla – Enjoy! It is wonderful with egg salad. The mustard and apple cider vinegar go really well!

    Amy – Yes on eating while pregnant. I’m not a doctor, so please take my advice as kindly meant, but you should make your own choices. It is my opinion that when pregnant or nursing, women should eat MORE probiotic rich foods and egg yolks, as they provide rich nutrition to keep mom and baby healthy! Here’s more info on a good diet for pregnancy: http://www.westonaprice.org/Diet-for-Pregnant-and-Nursing-Mothers.html

    Reply
  24. Jami says

    April 22, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Yes, steaming is the trick for getting egg shells off of fresh eggs.

    I have used my pot, water and steam basket, for about 10 minutes after the water starts to produce steam. But here is another suggested method –

    I steamed them for 12 minutes in my electric pressure cooker with the weight removed. I put 1 qt of water in the bottom and 10 eggs in the basket. the water was just below the basket. I kept the temp set at about 300*. and started the timing when there was a steady stream of steam coming out the top where the weight usually goes. the little button that pops up to indicate there is pressure did pop up despite the weight being removed indicating that there was some pressure in the cooker, so that might or might not contribute to a difference in timing when steaming with another method. that little button is pretty sensitive though and I can’t imagine there was much pressure.

    This is a good way to get cooked eggs, easy to peel and clean egg shells for your kefir :~)

    Reply
  25. Denise says

    May 28, 2010 at 2:43 pm

    I love homemade mayo!! The olive oil taste was hard for us too so I use safflower oil. I figure it is much better for us than the soy or canola alternatives. My friend is taking your ecourse…so I’m happy to finally stumble onto your blog (via “Homespun Oasis” blog). Have a great holiday weekend!
    .-= Denise @ Creative Kitchen´s last blog post… Time for grilling and the BEST sauce ever! =-.

    Reply
  26. Peg says

    June 10, 2010 at 4:52 am

    Wardee, thanks so much for this … I have also tried several types of homemade mayo that my family didn’t like (dh is strictly a Hellman’s man), so I had given up. I’ll try this one, and Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s recipe, and see how it goes!

    Hey Denise! 🙂

    Reply
  27. Teri says

    June 20, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    This is amazing! I never new about lacto fermenting before and I am loving learning al these new things and folding them into what we already do. I would love a kosher pickle recipe!

    About the eggs, if you can get used to thinking ahead about meals as much of us has to do to make things work with our ferments and wild yeasts and things, then you may be able to appreciate this.

    The reason the eggs are hard to peel is because the air bubble inside is small. When they are stored by the bird in a cool please or in your fridge where it is cool then that air bubble stays small so that the embryo will be viable. if the air bubble is bigger the egg will start to float. Older eggs from the store start to float for example and you can tell just how old they are by this! isn’t that amazing?

    However since we know leaving eggs out doesn’t hurt them I am of a mind to share that a day on the counter at a moderate room temperature is worth a week in the fridge to that air pocket. Most people who’s eggs are never more then a week old never refrigerate there eggs at all. especially if cold storage space is at a premium.

    I wanted to be able to share something! thanks for your notes as well!

    Reply
  28. Meagan says

    July 25, 2010 at 9:04 am

    I just made this! I used coconut vinegar, dijon mustard, 1/4 cup each coconut + sesame oil, 3/4 cup olive oil. I added extra spices to balance out the flavor as well: extra tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt, pinch smoked paprika, dash black pepper, 1 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp garlic powder. It’s fermenting on my counter now!

    Reply
  29. Andrea says

    July 30, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Meagan – yours looks like a whey free version? Am I right? I can’t have whey…

    Wardee is there another option to use instead of whey?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  30. Joanna says

    October 7, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Hello Wardee,
    I would like to try this with my current mayo that I make. Would you be so kind as I take a look at it and see how much whey I will need to add to it? Your recipe is very close to mine with just some differences.
    1 whole egg
    1 Tbs. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
    1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
    1/8 tsp. salt
    1c grapeseed oil

    Thanks so much!
    Joanna 🙂

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      October 7, 2010 at 1:47 pm

      Joanna, the amount of whey is flexible. Since your overall oil amount is the same, I’d use the same amount of whey — 1 tablespoon. Enjoy!

      Reply
      • Joanna says

        October 8, 2010 at 7:29 am

        Thank you!!!! 😀

        Reply
  31. Rachel Olson says

    February 21, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    Thank you. I just tried this and was wishing to eat something with it right away. I guess I will wait for the salmon melts we are going to have tomorrow.

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      February 22, 2011 at 11:46 am

      Rachel — You can eat some right away, and leave the rest to lacto-ferment. 🙂

      Reply
  32. Kristin says

    June 13, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I know this is a very old post, but I love this idea! Do you know if it’s safe to substitute lemon juice for the vinegar. That is what I normally use when I make mayo. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      June 16, 2011 at 7:54 am

      Sure — either vinegar or lemon juice will work. They’re for flavor and acidity, but the fermentation is done by the cultures in the whey.

      Reply
  33. Rebekah says

    July 10, 2011 at 5:46 pm

    I’m going to give this a shot! I do make my own mayonnaise (using “light” olive oil), but I would love to add more nutrients.

    You know, I’ve never had success with an all-yolk recipe. It just doesn’t firm up for me! For some reason I need a white in there too. So I use 1 whole egg and 2 yolks in my mayo. 🙂

    Reply
  34. Kristen says

    August 8, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    This last time I made this mayo I accidentally left it out overnight, making the room temperature rest time about 15 hours…. do you think this is safe to eat? I’m pregnant, so I feel a little bit more tentative. Also, I followed the recipe and made sure to use whey. Thanks for the feedback, Wardee!

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      August 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm

      Kristen — I would totally use it. I have left mayo 24 hours. Granted, my house is not very hot and also it smelled and tasted fine. 🙂

      Reply
      • Kristen says

        August 8, 2011 at 6:29 pm

        Great; thanks so much!

        Reply
  35. Ashley says

    August 13, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    You may have already commented about this but I was wondering about how long does the mayo in this recipe stay good for? I just made it for the first time and am in love!! Thank you for sharing such deliciousness!

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      August 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm

      Ashley — It keeps several weeks, at least. 🙂

      Reply
  36. Terah Kubicek says

    August 29, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    Hi Wardee. This is made with raw eggs, right? We buy eggs from the store. Is this recipe going to be okay to make without the freshest of eggs? I know there is much talk about salmonella poisoning with raw eggs, but I guess I don’t understand enough about it. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Wardee says

      August 30, 2011 at 6:58 am

      Terah — In my opinion, you shouldn’t use store-bought eggs raw. The recipe would *work* but I’m not comfortable recommending that anyone eat raw, conventional eggs. 🙁 I’m sorry!

      Reply
      • Geliza says

        June 20, 2012 at 6:58 am

        I know this is a bit late but when using store-bought eggs to make mayo I’ve always added a small piece of chopped garlic to it to kill off any bugs, never had problems with it. Though of course you have to like the taste of garlic!

        Reply
  37. Tom Gibson says

    August 30, 2011 at 7:44 am

    I use whole eggs to make mayonnaise and my favorite eggs for mayonnaise are duck eggs. This does make the mayonnaise less stiff so if I want a real industrial grade mayonnaise that will stay stiff and be less moist then I can leave the white out. Duck eggs are mostly yolk with much less white than a chicken egg.

    Reply
  38. Coyote Vick says

    January 12, 2012 at 10:50 am

    I know this is old, but for anyone coming back to this recipe and not liking their oil choices (for those of us who don’t like the overbearing EVOO taste 😉 ) a great oil choice is avocado oil. It’s a fruit oil, so you don’t have the nasty PUFAs and it has a neutral flavor. It’s an oil that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention, but it’s a wonderful oil. 😀

    Reply
    • M. J. says

      August 22, 2015 at 10:07 am

      Another option to all olive oil is expeller-pressed coconut oil, according to http://www.theheathyhomeeconomist.com. I does not have the coconut flavor. I buy mine here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/expeller-pressed_coconut_oil.htm

      Reply
  39. Alexis says

    August 9, 2012 at 7:08 am

    I accidently forgot to put the mayo in the fridge after 7 hours 🙂 Do you think that spoiled it or messed it up at all? It was about 12-14hrs that it sat out. Thanks!

    Reply
  40. Tom Gibson says

    August 22, 2012 at 9:17 am

    Cuisinart food processors have a hole in the bottom of the pusher for drizzling the oil in. Cheaper processors may not but you can drill a small hole-3/16″ is a good size in your pusher and have a hands free mayonaise that is easy to make without worrying whether you are drizzling too fast.

    Reply
  41. Janine says

    August 22, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    This sounds so simple and wonderful! I have a question about the whey, my son is allergic to whey specifically. At least cow’s whey. He can drink goat milk. This may seem like a dumb question but can you get usable whey from goat’s yogurt? I would still be a little leery since he is so very allergic to it from cows I am afraid of it all together. Can you make this recipe without the whey at all?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  42. Teri Gelseth says

    January 11, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    I am wondering if you can use the whole egg? i have seen that some recipes go for it some don’t.

    Do you think I could do this with a wisk or fork? I can make whip cream with not but a fork… will my arm ‘fall off’ do you think? 5 mins in your counter top mixer… I don’t have a stick mixer anymore or my blender. Maybe a hand blender with the beaters you know? I have an electric one of those… I bet that would work 🙂 any thoughts?

    Teri

    Reply
    • Tom Gibson says

      September 3, 2013 at 10:08 am

      I use whole duck eggs to make mayonnaise and they work really well but if you use whole chicken eggs your mayonnaise will be wetter and runnier. That might be OK if you are using the mayonnaise for a dressing. Duck eggs work to make thick spreadable mayonnaise because they are almost all yolk with very little white. Duck eggs are also richer in minerals than chicken eggs.

      Reply
  43. Janine says

    April 10, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    I started making my own mayo recently and have tried so many recipes! I think your ratio is absolutely my favorite. I have been using lemon juice instead of vinegar though. I read in Nourishing Traditions that you can use expeller pressed sunflower oil if the olive is too strong for you. I was using all Sunflower but recently started using a mix. I use olive till it begins to emulsify then switch to sunflower. Not there yet but I’ll make it! Maybe once I reach all olive oil I can switch to vinegar too!
    I never liked mayo at all but now that I have had it home made and so flavorful I can’t go back! Thanks

    Reply
  44. al says

    April 22, 2013 at 2:36 pm

    Did anyone have any trouble with the olive oil turning bitter? My mother-in-law just warned me not to put olive oil in the food processor, and then i found this: http://summertomato.com/the-bitter-truth-about-olive-oil/ i assume you can do the olive oil part by hand?

    Reply
    • Tom Gibson says

      September 3, 2013 at 10:12 am

      If your olive oil is bitter it is rancid. I eat rich fruity olive oil by the tablespoon full but it isn’t something that I like in mayonnaise. Try organic high oleic sunflower seed oil or one of the other high oleic oils that have been developed to be a healthier choice. Oils need to be kept in a cool dark place and not exposed to oxygen as much as possible to keep them from going rancid (oxidized). Oxidized oils should never be eaten as they are very unhealthy for you.

      Reply
  45. Krista says

    June 2, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    I added too much salt! Any suggestions on how to fix it?

    Reply
    • Wardee Harmon says

      June 3, 2013 at 11:19 am

      Krista — You could make another batch with no salt and mix them together to dilute the salt.

      Reply
      • Krista says

        June 4, 2013 at 10:29 am

        I was going to make another batch to dilute the salt, but I realized after looking at your whey tutorial that I also used the wrong kind of whey! I heated the milk, then added lemon juice to make it curdle. Would the salt have fermented it? And is there a way to save this batch? It doesn’t taste good.

        Beginners learning curve I guess!

        Reply
  46. Michael says

    September 10, 2013 at 6:04 am

    Dear Wardee,

    Thank you for the great recipe. I have a quick question. For most of my fermented foods I either cover the jar loosely with something like a tea towel (buttermilk for example) or use an airlock seal (as in sauerkraut or kimchee). The fermented mayo recipe here and in most places suggests putting on a tight lid, or as you state use “an air-tight jar.”

    Why is this? Can I simply use the loose tea towel method?

    Thanks so much.

    Sincerely,

    Michael’

    Reply
  47. Amy says

    November 5, 2013 at 8:01 pm

    how long does this mayo last in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Wardee Harmon says

      November 6, 2013 at 5:50 am

      A few weeks, more more sometimes (if not opened much).

      Reply
  48. Jo Anne T says

    February 24, 2014 at 7:26 am

    I’ve made mayo many times, not always with whey in it, and have used a mixture of olive oil and organic sunflower seed oil. Lately have begun using organic avocado oil.

    Reply
  49. Katie says

    May 27, 2014 at 9:18 am

    If I made my mayo the other day without adding the whey can I just take it out of the fridge and add the whey today to ferment it, or is it too late now that it’s been prepared and refrigerated for a couple days?

    Reply
  50. Debbie says

    September 2, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Hi loving your page 🙂 I’ve doing the lemon water for months without stevia I use cayenne pepper and sometimes I throw in some matcha have never put sea salt in put will try it 😉 and the liquimins is on it’s way… speaking of whey that is my question, what do you think of using kefir milk instead of whey… lmk thanks again for all the great tips …

    Debbie

    Reply
  51. Cindy Perez says

    March 11, 2015 at 5:50 am

    QUICK & EASY NO CLEANUP METHOD:
    I use a stick blender (immersion blender) but MUCH faster method! Put all ingredients into a wide-mouth jar, then let them “settle/separate” for about 10-15 minutes.

    Gently lower the stick blender into the jar all the way to the bottom. Begin “pulsing” the blender and watch magic happen! You will see a white cloud of yumminess start to rise from the bottom of the jar – gradually start lifting the blender higher in the jar to emulsify all the oil – when you reach the top, or when all the oil is mixed in, you’re done!

    Reply
  52. Lois says

    March 19, 2015 at 7:39 am

    How long is the mayo good for? i.e. how long can it remain in the fridge?

    Reply
  53. Heather Olsson says

    March 19, 2015 at 6:57 pm

    we did not like the olive or coconut oil taste as well and so I use expeller pressed safflower oil. According to Nourishing Traditions it’s not a best oil but a fine oil if it is not heated. We love the taste of it.
    I am wondering if I can still add all the extra herbs I add like garlic powder, turmeric, pepper, paprika if I ferment the mayo. Anyone have an answer for this?

    Reply
  54. Catherine says

    March 23, 2015 at 10:13 am

    I have tried both olive oil, coconut oil, and a combo of the two for homemade mayo and neither me or my family cared too much for the flavor. I tried making baconnaise once, but I don’t think the bacon fat was at the correct texture and/or temp and it did not emulsify. Any tips on trying to use bacon fat/grease in this? Maybe half OO/half bacon fat?

    Reply
  55. Jana says

    August 10, 2015 at 7:31 am

    Thank you! I was so nervous to make this but imagine my surprise when I opened the food processor and there was mayonnaise! Once I started reading labels there was no way I could eat store bought anymore. Even the stuff in the health food isles was questionable. Now I can feel good about eating mayo because its loaded with good cultures.

    Reply
  56. kathy Johnston says

    October 13, 2015 at 4:37 am

    Where can I get the whey? Can I buy some from? Or buy a yogurt and get it off the top? I do not have access to raw milk. Can I keep whey in the frig or freezer? For future use?

    Reply
  57. srishti says

    October 19, 2015 at 2:58 am

    How much dried mustard powder would replace the dijon mustard?

    Reply
  58. M. J. says

    November 22, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    I’ve been making mayo with great success for several years and got excited about the idea of adding whey. Bomb! I let it sit on the counter for seven hours as directed — and my mayo developed mold in just a couple of weeks. Normally I can keep it longer with no problem except that occasionally the oil starts to partially solidify so I toss it. Next time, I tried adding the whey and refrigerating right away. It seems to be holding up longer than it did without the whey, so I’m wondering if it really needs that time at room temp??

    Reply
  59. Holly says

    January 14, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    I’ve made this mayo numerous times now with avocado oil. It’s wonderful, and the first and only recipe for mayo that hasn’t failed for me, lol. I use kraut or Bubbie’s pickle juice and half lemon/vinegar. Yum:)

    Reply
  60. judee says

    August 18, 2016 at 12:20 pm

    while not the same health benefits of ACV, I use pickled jalapeno juice in my mayo…. and some times blend a few slices in with my immersion blender. One blended, you do not feel any jalapeno texture. Am going to try adobo peppers soon. You can make your own “gourmet” mayo with other flavor additions.

    Reply
  61. Marcy T says

    October 11, 2016 at 1:46 am

    I use 1/2 light olive oil and 1/2 avocado oit. I put everything in a jar, put my stick blender on the bottom, turn it on and slowly pull up once the bottom emulsifies… no more drizzling oil!!

    Reply
  62. June says

    March 21, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    This is similar to the recipe I use except in different proportions and minus the whey. I’ll have to add some now that I know how to get it thanks to you:) I use one whole egg, 1 TBS mustard, 1 TBS apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp salt, in a pint jar. Then add olive oil to the bottom of the rim (and sometimes half coconut oil). Insert an immersion blender. Mayonnaise in 1 minute or less right in the same jar!

    Reply
  63. Marie says

    April 1, 2017 at 2:45 pm

    I was wondering about the addition of the ACV – in the linked recipe for the lacto fermented honey dill mustard it has an option to use ACV, but then there’s a comment at the end: “*If using apple cider vinegar, this will not be lacto-fermented. Leave it out at room temperature for a few hours or a day, then move it to the refrigerator.”

    Wouldn’t that apply to this mayo? The ACV would inhibit the lacto fermentation? I also found this comment elsewhere, on another mustard recipe: “the acetic acid in it [ACV] blocks the growth of lactic acid, which is what you want in lacto-fermented food. So, as long as there’s vinegar in your recipe, no matter how raw it may be, your mustard isn’t lacto-fermenting.”

    Reply
    • Millie Copper says

      April 3, 2017 at 2:41 pm

      Hi Marie,

      We’ve found that a small amount of ACV is fine. 🙂

      ~Millie, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  64. KimS says

    May 7, 2017 at 11:30 am

    TIP ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR MAYO TASTE LIKE HELLMAN’S… I use red wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar and I add a teaspoon and a half of honey. And I use light tasting olive oil for the oil. The rest of the recipe is the same. It is delicious! I blend it all together in a mason jar with my stick blender. It works everytime. The mayo will thicken in the fridge.

    Reply
  65. Rosalia Hubbard says

    May 7, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    How long should this last in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Millie Copper says

      May 9, 2017 at 6:35 pm

      Hi Rosalia,

      Nourishing Traditions says this will last for several months and become firmer with time. If unfermented, it only lasts about 2 weeks.

      ~Millie, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  66. Billy says

    June 8, 2017 at 2:16 pm

    5 stars
    This is so interesting! How different is the flavor of the mayo after being lacto-fermented? My family is already sort of hit or miss when it comes to mayo so I’m worried that if we alter its state in some way it could negatively impact their likeliness to eat it! Although maybe it will help.. Who knows! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      June 8, 2017 at 3:53 pm

      Hi Billy,

      The flavor is not different if fermented. What more impacts the flavor are the oils you choose. Olive oil has a stronger flavor — if you prefer more mild mayo, make it with grapeseed or avocado oil.

      Enjoy!

      ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  67. Kristine says

    September 28, 2018 at 6:02 am

    I see a lot as recipes using whey. I cannot have dairy. Can I use water kefir in it’s place?

    Reply
    • Vicki Henry says

      September 28, 2018 at 12:19 pm

      Hi Kristine,

      Absolutely you can use water kefir as a non-dairy substitute for whey.

      ~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  68. Richard says

    September 21, 2019 at 7:02 am

    I’ve been whipping up a cup of mayo every week using 6 oz avocado oil and 2oz MCT Oil using this absolutely never fail recipe I found on Serious Eats https://www.seriouseats.com/2016/08/video-food-lab-foolproof-homemade-mayonnaise.html.

    My question goes to using my LF pickle juice in lieu of whey – my wife is allergic to any dairy whatsoever. Equal parts? Can I use any LF brine?

    Reply
    • Vicki Henry says

      September 23, 2019 at 6:00 pm

      Hi Richard,

      You absolutely can use your fermented pickle juice in place of the whey using the same ratio. 🙂

      I would think any fermented brine could be substituted for the whey as long as its flavor would compliment your mayo.

      ~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  69. Debbie says

    April 6, 2021 at 6:09 pm

    Is there a health reason for using just yolks and not the whole egg? I don’t have many recipes that aren’t sweets that use just egg whites.

    Reply
    • Sonya Hemmings says

      April 7, 2021 at 8:31 am

      Hi, Debbie: It’s just Wardee’s preference to use egg yolks in her mayonnaise. If you read back through some of the other comments, you’ll see that some people do use whole eggs, but others say it can make for a less-thick mayonnaise. Feel free to experiment and see what works for you! —Sonya, TCS Customer Success Team

      Reply
  70. Wyatt says

    August 12, 2023 at 1:18 pm

    I helped my mom make this today. It was easy and I like the taste.

    Reply
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