For many Brits, salad cream and mayonnaise will be a staple in their fridge. But it turns out the two sauces are very different – despite being made with nearly identical ingredients
We Brits do have a fondness for a good condiment – but have you ever pondered the difference between salad cream and mayonnaise? While many might not spare it a second thought as they slather it onto their meals, there’s a significant distinction between these two sauces.
They can be easily mistaken for each other due to their similar appearance, but the taste clearly sets them apart, despite being crafted from nearly identical ingredients. So whether you’re a mayo enthusiast or a salad cream devotee – here’s a glimpse into two of the nation’s most beloved sauces and how they diverge.
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In terms of ingredients, they are strikingly similar. However, salad cream contains a higher proportion of vinegar than oil, while mayonnaise is predominantly oil with less vinegar. Heinz Salad Cream comprises 22 per cent Rapeseed Oil, whereas Heinz mayonnaise consists of approximately 68 per cent.
Salad cream, on the other hand, has significantly less fat compared to mayonnaise, and the quantity of egg yolk used in the recipes also influences the flavours. Mayo contains more egg components than salad cream – and this too affects the taste.
Additionally, mayonnaise has a thicker consistency and is typically spread on sandwiches, burgers, salads or even served alongside a portion of chips.
Salad cream, a concoction of vinegar and water, boasts a runnier consistency than its counterparts, yet both it and other sauces share common ingredients such as sugar, mustard, salt, thickener, spices, flavouring and colouring.
The origins of mayonnaise are shrouded in mystery, with its creation dated back to 1806 and contested claims between France and Spain; nonetheless, it has remained a culinary mainstay.
The British-born salad cream first made its appearance in 1914, quickly becoming a favoured sandwich spread and salad dressing. In the past, according to the Daily Star, it was crafted from “hard-boiled eggs puréed with cream, mustard, salt and vinegar”.
Heinz Salad Cream holds the distinction of being the first brand tailored specifically for the UK market, with jars traditionally packed in straw-lined barrels – each containing 12 dozen – and an impressive 180 dozen jars dispatched daily.