Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (2024)

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (1)

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Fresh free range eggs, olive oil, lemon juice or white vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, a little energy and a dash of patience...

These are the ingredients for the homemade version of one of the best-loved and well-known sauces in the world: mayonnaise.

Mayonnaise is a sauce made from simple ingredients that must be dosed in accurate proportions. The base for homemade mayonnaise is an emulsion of olive oil and a watery solution (lemon juice or vinegar), with the addition of egg yolk for flavor and consistency, while ensuring all the ingredients "stick" together. Egg yolk is rich in surfactants, molecules with one end that is water-soluble and the other end that binds with oil.

Preparing homemade mayonnaise is simple... almost as simple as ending up with broken mayonnaise.

How do you make mayonnaise?

To make a perfect mayonnaise all you need are a few quality ingredients, a little attention to details and particular care during the most delicate steps.

Prepare the ingredients: 2 egg yolks, 200 g of our Olive Oil Tradizionale, two spoons of lemon juice (preferably filtered) or white vinegar, and a pinch of salt.

Dissolve the salt in the lemon juice or vinegar, separate the egg whites from the yolks, add two or three drops of lemon juice or vinegar to the yolks and start whisking by hand (you can also use an electric whisk or blender, whatever works best for you). Continue whisking the emulsion and gradually add half of the Olive Oil. Now add the remaining lemon juice or vinegar and finish by gradually adding the remaining olive oil. Your mayonnaise will be ready in a few minutes. Easy, right?

Thanks to its delicateness and balance, our Olive Oil Tradizionale is excellent for making a mayonnaise that is light, characterized by unmistakable notes and suitable for use in all kinds of recipes.

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (2)

Tips for avoiding broken mayonnaise

Making this sauce is simple but it's just as simple to get it wrong. It is crucial you abide by certain steps in the process to avoid making broken or runny mayonnaise. Here are a few tips you can follow to make the perfect mayonnaise:

  • use ingredients at room temperature;
  • whisk the mixture vigorously and continuously: never stop whisking or blending and never change direction;
  • always add the oil and (filtered) lemon juice or vinegar gradually and in the same part of the bowl.
To make the perfect mayonnaise that satisfies even the most demanding palates, the secret lies in the attention to details and in meticulously following each step of the process.

What causes broken mayonnaise?

Broken mayonnaise is all too common and happens when ingredients fail to bind. Usually the reason for this set-back lies either in the ingredients or their incorrect dosing.

In fact, if your mayonnaise is broken, you have probably made one of these mistakes:

  • the eggs aren't fresh: not many ingredients are needed to make mayonnaise but they must be in good shape for use in the recipe;
  • the various ingredients used to make the mayonnaise are not room temperature;
  • the ingredients have not been dosed correctly; perhaps you have added too much oil or lemon juice;
  • the ingredients (oil and lemon juice) were not added gradually to the mix.

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (3)

How to fix broken mayonnaise

To sum up, if mayonnaise doesn't set or is too runny, there are two main reasons: the ingredients haven't been properly dosed or cold ingredients have been used.

Either way, no need to worry: it's not too late to save your sauce.

To achieve the correct balance between ingredients, simply add more liquid to your broken mayonnaise. So, if you have added too much oil, the remedy is simple: place a small amount of your broken mayonnaise in a clean bowl and add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. As the mixture improves, gradually add the rest of the broken mayonnaise and alternate with a few drops of liquid, until your mayonnaise looks better.

On the contrary, if your mayonnaise is too runny or doesn't set because you've added cold ingredients, simply add another egg yolk, strictly at room temperature. In this case too, the process for fixing your mayonnaise is linear. In fact, after whisking the egg in a separate bowl, gradually add the broken mayonnaise, one spoon at a time, until it becomes dense enough.

Once you have corrected your mayonnaise, you can use it as an ingredient for countless recipes, ranging from traditional to more original ones.

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (4)

Forest wreath

In all its simplicity, this recipe has given even top chefs a run for their money, at least once. If you don't have time to prepare it or if you prefer to avoid the risk of broken mayonnaise, you can opt for a ready-made mayonnaise, as delicious as a homemade one, like our very own Olive Oil Mayonnaise, which you can buy on our website or at all our Stores.

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli (2024)

FAQs

Broken or Runny Mayonnaise: How to Fix it? – Fratelli Carli? ›

So, if you have added too much oil, the remedy is simple: place a small amount of your broken mayonnaise in a clean bowl and add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. As the mixture improves, gradually add the rest of the broken mayonnaise and alternate with a few drops of liquid, until your mayonnaise looks better.

How do you fix homemade mayonnaise that is too runny? ›

If this happens to you, don't throw the mixture out quite yet -- there is a simple solution: egg yolk. Adding another raw egg yolk and whisking the mixture once again may be all you need to fix your homemade mayonnaise.

How do you fix broken mayonnaise in a food processor? ›

Whisking a portion of a broken or failed mayonnaise mixture with a little water until it's emulsified and then transferring it to the food processor with the remaining broken mixture will make things right.

What happens when mayonnaise splits? ›

Mayo separates typically if there is too much liquid added in the beginning or the oil is poured too quickly. It is especially in the beginning that it happens. It will keep for a week in the fridge.

Is it OK if mayonnaise separated? ›

Separated mayonnaise isn't harmful to eat, but it's not too pleasant either.

How do you thicken split mayonnaise? ›

If this fails, place an egg yolk into a separate clean bowl, and whisk in a teaspoon of cold water and Dijon mustard. Slowly add the split mayonnaise into the egg yolk mixture and whisk until the mayonnaise is smooth and forms a thick sauce.

How do you make mayonnaise more liquid? ›

Solution: Quickly whisk in 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 teaspoons) of water, vinegar or lemon juice. The mayonnaise will thin out a bit and lose it's oily appareance.

Can you eat watery mayonnaise? ›

Sometimes when jars or bottles have not been used for a while there may be some liquid that appears on the surface of the product. If this does happen, please shake your bottle well, or stir your mayonnaise well before using. As long as your product is still within its open shelf life your product is still good to eat.

How to tell if mayonnaise is bad? ›

First, if the mayonnaise has begun to discolor and change into a darker shade of white or a brownish-yellow, that may be a sign that the mayo has gone bad. If the oil has separated, that is also a sign that the condiment is no longer good to eat.

What to do if you run out of mayonnaise? ›

Greek yogurt can bring a thick, creamy texture to recipes like egg salad, chicken salad, or tuna salad. You can also use it in place of mayonnaise to boost the nutritional value and flavor of your favorite homemade salad dressing recipes.

Can you over blend homemade mayonnaise? ›

When blended too long, the emulsion that brought the spread together is more likely to break, either from overprocessing or overheating. Follow this tip: To keep the emulsion from breaking and the mayo from separating, process just until the ingredients are combined and emulsified.

How to fix watery mayonnaise? ›

On the contrary, if your mayonnaise is too runny or doesn't set because you've added cold ingredients, simply add another egg yolk, strictly at room temperature.

What causes broken mayonnaise? ›

Why Mayo Breaks:
  1. Too much oil was added at once. A lot of the time, if you add all of the oil at once, it is too much for the egg to take and it won't emulsify.
  2. Blender / immersion blender isn't strong enough for all the oil at once.
  3. Adding oil too fast.
Mar 13, 2023

How do you rectify mayonnaise? ›

To rescue a curdled mayonnaise, try one of the following remedies: Put 1 teaspoon of mustard in a large bowl and beat in the curdled mixture a little at a time. Put a drop of vinegar in a clean bowl and beat in the curdled mixture a little at a time. Put ¼ teaspoon of cold water in a clean bowl.

What to do if mayonnaise curdles? ›

To rescue a curdled mayonnaise, try one of the following remedies: Put 1 teaspoon of mustard in a large bowl and beat in the curdled mixture a little at a time. Put a drop of vinegar in a clean bowl and beat in the curdled mixture a little at a time. Put ¼ teaspoon of cold water in a clean bowl.

How to fix broken vegan mayo? ›

Important: If mayonnaise doesn't thicken: 1- Start the process by using a small amount of the thin or broken mayonnaise and emulsify with the remaining oil. 2- Add alternately the remaining mixture that has not thicken and oil. 3- Use more oil than the recipe calls for if necessary.

How do you neutralize mayonnaise? ›

Spices like lemon pepper, curry powder, and powdered mustard may do the trick, or you can try upping the heat with hot sauce, jalapenos, or cayenne pepper. Or, go for a little sour flavor in the form of lemon juice or zest, pickle juice, or lime juice.

How do you fix sour mayonnaise? ›

To balance acidity, add sugar. It's how most mayonnaise manages to be acidic enough to prevent bacteria growth (pH 4.6 or lower), while still having a balanced and edible flavor. You might get an edible result with honey, but sugar is more of a neutral flavor, so I would use that first.

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