Although mayonnaise was considered a luxury foodwhen it was first created, today this creamy sweet emulsion is thought of as a simple but important everyday condiment. In fact, mayonnaise is one of the most versatile condiments out there, and can be a great addition to salads, sandwiches, and even baked goods. But despite being so engrained in our daily lives, if you've ever tried making mayo at home, you know that it can be more complicated than it appears.
This is because mayonnaise is an emulsion that requires a specific balance of ingredients for it to work. If you don't get your measurements right, or add an ingredient too quickly, your mayo may end up 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. This works because egg yolk is the ingredient that acts as the glue and helps the whipped oil stay in that light and creamy mayo state.
The first thing you can do to avoid oily and runny mayo is to start with a good homemade mayonnaise recipe. However, even if you follow the measurements of the recipe to a tee, if you accidentally add the oil too quickly while whisking the emulsion won't form properly and you'll end up with an oily clear liquid instead of a thick white cream.
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To fix this, add in another raw egg yolk and start whisking the mixture together. If the mixture starts to thicken after adding the yolk, that means it is working. Once this happens, you should start slowly adding more oil while continuously whisking. You will likely need to add quite a bit more oil and more seasonings because adding another egg yolk is essentially doubling the recipe. Although it sounds counterintuitive, adding more oil can also help thicken the mayonnaise. Also, if you end up with mayo that is too thick, you can always add a little water to thin it down.
However, if you add another egg yolk and the mixture still isn't thickening, then the problem with the mayonnaise was probably nothing to do with the emulsion. It was likely the balance of other ingredients. If that's the case, you can try some thickening methods that don't involve eggs.
Eggless Ways To Thicken Mayonnaise
If the egg didn't work to thicken your mayonnaise -- or you are all out of eggs -- don't worry. There are a few other methods you can use to thicken up mayo that isn't cooperating. One option is to use a classic thickener like cornstarch. To do this, combine a little bit of cornstarch with water until it forms a paste and then add it into your runny mayo. Then, whisk the cornstarch together with the mayonnaise to combine and thicken. You can also use arrowroot powder in the same way.
Another option is to add other ingredients that contain natural emulsifiers such as mustard or lemon juice. Add these two ingredients one teaspoon at a time and then keep whisking. Of course, you want to make sure to not add too much lemon juice or mustard as it will change the flavor of your mayonnaise.
Once your delicious homemade mayo is ready, make sure to put it in the fridge where it will thicken up a bit further and stay preserved. Homemade mayo doesn't have the added preservatives that the store-bought version has, so it is important to keep it in the fridge as much as possible.
One option is to use a classic thickener like cornstarch. To do this, combine a little bit of cornstarch with water until it forms a paste and then add it into your runny mayo. Then, whisk the cornstarch together with the mayonnaise to combine and thicken. You can also use arrowroot powder in the same way.
A common way to thicken homemade mayonnaise is to gradually add more oil while continuously whisking the mixture. Another method is to add a small amount of dijon mustard, which can help to emulsify the ingredients and give the mayonnaise a thicker consistency.
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.
Safflower, canola, grapeseed and peanut oil all do nicely. Just make sure the oil is at the same temperature as the egg. You can use cold oil and cold eggs, but I found room temperature eggs and oil to be the easiest to work with.
Although Kewpie uses egg yolks, most brands contain whole eggs, which is why they are thinner. To thicken the mixture without relying on raw egg yolk, stir in a bit of mustard, which is typically used when making mayonnaise from scratch.
A wide range of water-based gelling and thickening agents are used in mayonnaise products with the most common being modified starch, xanthan gum, and combinations of these. Guar gum, locust bean gum, carrageenan, and gelatin are also applied.
The most readily available sauce-thickener is flour. For a too-thin sauce, try adding a slurry (equal parts flour and water, whisked together) or beurre manie (equal parts softened butter and flour, kneaded together to form a paste)—both are ideal thickeners for rich and creamy sauces, such as steak sauce recipes.
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.
Once this happens, you should start slowly adding more oil while continuously whisking. You will likely need to add quite a bit more oil and more seasonings because adding another egg yolk is essentially doubling the recipe. Although it sounds counterintuitive, adding more oil can also help thicken the mayonnaise.
Why Mayo Breaks: 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. Blender / immersion blender isn't strong enough for all the oil at once.
If you add too much oil before it has had a chance to emulsify, the mix will split, with pools of oil forming on top. If this happens, try gently whisking in two teaspoons of boiling water, which can kickstart the emulsification.
That said it is also a method with little to no margin of error for the consistency; it is completely possible to overmix mayonnaise when making it at such a high speed. If that happens thin it out with water while mixing with a wire whisk.
Add to make HERB MAYO: 2 1/2 tbsp chopped herbs(try parsley, chives, dill, tarragon, oregano, thyme, basil). Add to make DILL MAYO: 1/4 cup fresh chopped dill, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp garlic, minced and Salt and pepper, to taste. Add to make BLACK PEPPER MAYO: 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper and 1 tsp lemon juice.
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.
The head of the blender must be firmly planted against the bottom of the jar until the mayonnaise starts to come together. If you can't find a jar the right size, double the recipe in order to increase the starting volume of the egg/lemon mixture. If your mayonnaise is watery, that means it has not emulsified properly.
If the oil has separated, that is also a sign that the condiment is no longer good to eat. Other changes in texture, such as thickness or lumps, are also a sign of bad mayonnaise. Expired mayo additionally tends to have a bad smell, often smelling acidic or putrid.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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