Mayo has been around since the 1890s and has become a staple in pretty much every refrigerator, yet it has been said to not contain any gluten. Is gluten really absent from mayonnaise though? There’s more to this condiment than meets the eye and we’re here to dig into the facts!
Mayonnaise is made by mixing two liquids until they become a creamy emulsion
The oil used is typically canola oil or soybean oil, with olive oil sometimes being used as well. In some cases, the oil may be hydrogenated, which means that it has been chemically treated to increase its shelf life and make it less likely to turn rancid.
The acid used in mayonnaise is usually vinegar or lemon juice. These are highly acidic liquids that help to break down the fat droplets in the oil into smaller pieces. This creates a more stable emulsion and makes it easier for you to combine everything together.
As far as gluten goes, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t eat mayo if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). It’s generally made from safe ingredients that don’t contain any gluten.
Mayo contains eggs
Mayonnaise is a condiment made from vegetable oils, egg yolk, and vinegar or lemon juice. It has a distinctive taste that makes it popular on sandwiches and in other dishes. Mayo also helps foods stick together and adds moisture.
Mayonnaise is usually made with egg yolks, oil, and some kind of acid such as lemon juice or vinegar. It’s possible for mayo to contain traces of gluten if the manufacturer uses wheat-based ingredients or the emulsifiers in their production process.
Check the label
Mayo is a delicious condiment that can be used on sandwiches, burgers, and other foods. Mayo is made from eggs, oil, vinegar and lemon juice. The oil can contain gluten, but there are brands of mayo that are safe for you to use.
Check the label of your favorite brand of mayonnaise before you buy it. Some brands have “gluten-free” printed on their labels, while others do not. If you’re unsure about a brand, look for one that contains only egg yolks and oil.
Read ingredient lists carefully before buying any food product that’s not labeled “gluten-free.” Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first ingredient listed is the most prevalent ingredient in the product.
You can make gluten-free mayo at home
You can make gluten-free mayo at home. Here’s a simple recipe that requires just five ingredients:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, mustard and lemon juice until smooth. Add about half of the oil in a thin stream while whisking constantly. Continue to add oil until it is all incorporated and emulsified. Add salt if desired and blend well with a wire whip or immersion blender for one minute until thickened
Mayo is typically gluten free but always check the label to be sure it is safe for you to eat
Mayonnaise and mayonnaise-based dressings are traditionally made with eggs, vinegar and oil. These ingredients are naturally gluten-free, though mayonnaise also contains emulsifiers and stabilizers, which may not be gluten-free.
If you are sensitive to trace amounts of wheat or other grains, avoid any type of mayonnaise that has an unknown source of starch or flour in its ingredients list. It’s best to stick with brands that are certified gluten free by a reputable third party organization such as the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) or National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA).
You can make your own mayo or buy it. Either way, you should check the label for gluten
If you want to make your own mayonnaise, there are several brands available that are made without gluten ingredients. If you don’t have any of these in your pantry, you can try making it yourself with a recipe like this one:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
- Whisk together all ingredients except oil in a small bowl until well blended. Add oil and whisk until thickened.
Conclusion
Mayonnaise is a condiment that we typically think of as simple and safe. And it normally is: most commercial varieties are gluten-free. However, there is potentially one exception to this rule: those containing modified food starch in the ingredient list, which suggests the possibility that they might not be entirely gluten-free. This can make homemade mayo potentially unsafe for people on gluten-free diets if the recipe contains wheat flour instead of cornstarch or arrowroot, even if gluten traces are not listed in the ingredients.