12 Facts About Mayonnaise That May Surprise You

Date 2017-12-04

Category ARTICLES

4. About 80 million eggs, or about 1% of the 8 billion produced annually in the U.S., are used to make commercial mayonnaise.

While the majority of eggs produced in the U.S. will be washed, weighed, graded and packed into egg cartons, a third of them will be further processed into products like "liquid eggs," says Serena Schaffner of the American Egg Board. Mayonnaise is made from liquid eggs."For liquid eggs, shell eggs go into machines that break eggs and, if necessary, separate the whites and yolks," Schaffner says. Any eggs sold without their shell must also be pasteurized, or heated, to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. "Most mayonnaise manufacturers," says Schaffner, "use frozen salted egg yolk for their formulations." The gelatinous quality of the frozen yolk along with the salt give it the desired viscosity for use in sauces and dressings.

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While the majority of eggs produced in the U.S. will be washed, weighed, graded and packed into egg cartons, a third of them will be further processed into products like “liquid eggs,” says Serena Schaffner of the American Egg Board. Mayonnaise is made from liquid eggs.

“For liquid eggs, shell eggs go into machines that break eggs and, if necessary, separate the whites and yolks,” Schaffner says. Any eggs sold without their shell must also be pasteurized, or heated, to reduce the risk of food-borne illness.

“Most mayonnaise manufacturers,” says Schaffner, “use frozen salted egg yolk for their formulations.” The gelatinous quality of the frozen yolk along with the salt give it the desired viscosity for use in sauces and dressings.

5. Once the eggs have been collected and liquified, they are sent to be processed. This video shows how tanks of liquid eggs, soybean oil, vinegar, salt and other spices, are turned into mayonnaise.

The relatively simple ingredients go through a high-tech mixing process to turn them into mayonnaise.

sciencechannel.com

The relatively simple ingredients go through a high-tech mixing process to turn them into mayonnaise.

6. Last year, Americans bought approximately 177 million gallons of mayonnaise — enough mayo to fill 268 Olympic size swimming pools or two-thirds of the Empire State Building.

Americans purchased an estimated 1.4 billion pounds of mayo, according to market research company Euromonitor International, coming out to about 4.25 pounds, or just over half a gallon, per person.

Dan Meth for BuzzFeed / Original Photo Flickr: atosorigin

 Americans purchased an estimated 1.4 billion pounds of mayo, according to market research company Euromonitor International, coming out to about 4.25 pounds, or just over half a gallon, per person.

7. In 2013, Americans spent $2 billion on mayo, more than on any other condiment including ketchup.

Yes, more than ketchup, and mayo's growth is outpacing many other condiments. Two big reasons are cited for the growth: One, mayo use has expanded far beyond sandwiches, working its way into everything from pasta salads to sushi. Two, low-fat mayo sales have doubled since 2005, suggesting that health-conscious Americans are starting to get in on mayo-mania.

Flickr: dunstan

Yes, more than ketchup, and mayo’s growth is outpacing many other condiments. Two big reasons are cited for the growth: One, mayo use has expanded far beyond sandwiches, working its way into everything from pasta salads to sushi. Two, low-fat mayo sales have doubled since 2005, suggesting that health-conscious Americans are starting to get in on mayo-mania.

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