Food & Recipes

Best-Tasting Light Mayonnaise

Taste Test: Best Light Mayonnaise

Here's how six light mayonnaise products fared in our WebMD taste test.

1. Best Foods/Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

This mayonnaise tasted a bit more like regular mayonnaise to me than some of the other light mayos. This might be because, other than water, the rest of the top four ingredients are the same usually found in homemade mayonnaise (oil, vinegar, eggs). This was the crowd favorite for many of the taste testers.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 50 calories, 5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 2.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 1.5 grams monounsaturated fat, 5 mg cholesterol, and 120 mg sodium. The first 5 ingredients are water, oils (soybean, extra virgin olive oil), vinegar, whole eggs and egg yolks, and modified cornstarch.

2. Best Foods/Hellmann’s Canola Cholesterol Free Mayonnaise

Best Foods canola mayonnaise does the job on a sandwich or in potato salad. The texture and taste was in the ballpark of what you would expect from a light mayonnaise, but it wasn’t the top favorite of the taste testers.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 45 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 1.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 2.5 grams monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, canola oil, vinegar, modified cornstarch, whole eggs and egg yolks.

3. Duke’s Light Mayonnaise

Duke's light has a salty, vinegary flavor that is a little reminiscent of ranch dressing – and it's not at all sweet. Duke’s Light Mayonnaise might be preferable for those like a bit of kick in their salad or sandwich.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 50 calories, 5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 3 grams polyunsaturated fat, 1 gram monounsaturated fat, 10 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, soybean oil, modified food starch, eggs, distilled and cider vinegar.

4. Kraft Mayonnaise with Olive Oil

Opinions were mixed on this brand. A more discerning mayonnaise lover might not like the way this product tastes; others might not mind it at all. The look and taste is similar to other "light" mayonnaise.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 45 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 gram saturated fat, 1 gram polyunsaturated fat, 2 grams monounsaturated fat, less than 5 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, olive oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and vinegar

5. Miracle Whip Light Mayonnaise

If Miracle Whip is your mayonnaise of choice, this light mayonnaise might suit you. It has the winning combination (for some) of a slight sweet taste contrasted with the bite of vinegar that Miracle Whip lovers have come to count on.

Nutrition information: 1 tablespoon has 20 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 1 gram polyunsaturated fat, 0 gram monounsaturated fat, less than 5 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium. First 5 ingredients: Water, vinegar, soybean oil, modified food starch, high fructose corn syrup.