Spread, as the name implies is a type of food that you spread onto your food usually by using a knife. A sandwich spread is a type of food that you spread onto your sandwich alongside other solid ingredients. Typical sandwich spreads include butter, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard.
Mayonnaise is a dressing that is used in sandwiches, composed salads or while consuming French fries. It is also the base of various other types of sauces like cream of tartar, fry sauce, salsa sauce and many others. The first known recipe of mayonnaise dates back to the nineteenth century, and to be precise the year 1815.
Sandwich Spread vs Mayonnaise
The main difference between Sandwich Spread and Mayonnaise is that while the latter is made out of a combination of oil, acid and egg the former itself is either made out of mayonnaise or butter or usually used condiments. While sandwich spread can be made vegan using plant-based products only, mayonnaise can’t be vegan.
Sandwich Spread is a type of condiment you spread on your sandwiches as a filling. It can be of various flavours and usually, the base is made either of butter or mayonnaise. The oil content is really low and it is really easy to make homemade sandwich spreads.
On the other hand, mayonnaise is a type of condiment with an oil base that is also used as a filling in sandwiches. It is also used as a sauce to cook various dishes and can be used to make a sandwich spread. It has an oil and acid base. Making homemade mayonnaise is rather difficult.
Comparison Table Between Sandwich Spread and Mayonnaise
| Perimeter of Comparison | Sandwich Spread | Mayonnaise |
| Components | Water, Chopped Pickles, Vinegar, Salt, Calcium, Chloride, Oil, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Modified Food Starch, Eggs, Natural Flavour, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate and Calcium Disodium EDTA. | Oil, Emulsifier or Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Spices, Flavours, Water and in some cases Stabilizers. |
| Shelf Life | Even though it looks like mayonnaise will last longer, a jar of mayonnaise only lasts two months after opening. | The shelf life of a refrigerated sandwich spread is 5 months while that of an opened one is only one month. |
| Fat Content | 75g in 100 g. | 83g in 100g. |
| Preferred For | Making various types of sandwiches or meals such as salmon or grilled chicken | Only for making sandwiches and can also be used as a salad dressing. |
| Can it be plant-based? | No, can only be fat-free. | Yes, can be plant-based or vegan. |
What is Sandwich Spread?
Sandwich spread, by its name itself one can infer that it is a spread which is mostly used in sandwiches. Typical sandwich spreads include butter, mayonnaise, ketchup while the less commonly used sandwich spreads are salad dressing and Tartar sauce.
Often along with mayonnaise or various salad dressings, various vegetables, chicken and eggs are mixed together. They are added in preserved form to make the spread more healthy and appetizing in nature. There are some diary-based spreads, some yeast-based spreads and some meat-based spreads.
Due to the rise of veganism, the markets have seen a boom in the production of plant-based spreads. You can also try to make some varieties of sandwich spread at your home to suit your taste. You can try veggie cream cheese spread with your bagel. It is full of vegetables, green onion, garlic and herbs like dill.
You can also try the same with a turkey sandwich, dishes like smoked salmon or grilled chicken. In countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, instead of the popular sandwich spread they use a kind of peanut butter-based sandwich spread which is made with whole peanuts that are ground later to attain a creamy consistency. Fruits such as avocado can also be included in the sandwich spread.
What is Mayonnaise?
Mayonnaise, even though the name is Spanish, by origin is French cuisine and is commonly addressed as “Mayo” is thick and creamy in consistency and is usually used as a sauce or dressing on sandwiches, hamburgers and French fries. It is usually described as a mixture of oil, egg yolk and an acid, usually lemon juice or vinegar. Sometimes, mayonnaise can be found in different variants and the colours mostly range from white to pale yellow.
Besides non-vegetarian mayonnaise, vegan mayonnaise can also be found in the market and it usually caters to people with egg allergies or who suffer from various diseases such as the presence of extra cholesterol. It doesn’t have any milk in it, so it means that it is a dairy-free product. However, some mayonnaise which is marketed as egg-free use condensed milk, so if you’ve any allergies don’t forget to check the product label before buying.
Commercial mayonnaise is usually made of soybean oil, eggs, salt and sugar in proportionate amounts, concentrated lemon juice distilled vinegar and spices and herbs to add flavour and colour alongside preservatives and food additives. You can easily get low-fast or free-free mayonnaise if you are concerned that consumption of the same will increase your cholesterol.
Main Differences Between Sandwich Spread and Mayonnaise
- Doctors will recommend you to consume more mayonnaise instead of sandwich spread because of the higher quantity of fat and the presence of more additives.
- Sandwich spread is richer in salt and might increase your blood pressure, unlike mayonnaise which you can make at home with only acid and no salt.
- You can make a sandwich spread with mayonnaise but not mayonnaise with a sandwich spread.
- Sandwich spread can also be vegan or plant-based but mayonnaise can only be low-fat varieties and neither vegan nor plant-based.
- Sandwich spread can only be used to make sandwiches while mayonnaise can be used to cook a variety of dishes or as a sauce.
Conclusion
Even though the differences between them are quite slim, the food products are quite different in real life but you can combine them together to make a Mayonnaise Sandwich Spread that combines the best of both worlds. However, it should be always kept in mind that these food products due to their high-fat content have a tendency to increase the amount of cholesterol present in the blood so if you are someone suffering from heart disease, refrain from consuming them or contact your physician before indulging in them.
Over-consumption may also result in obesity so opt for low-fat mayonnaise or plant-based sandwich spreads that have more water content. So, always read the label and then decide what is fit for your meal and if you are really apprehensive about buying products from the market, you can always make them at your place.
It is a bit hard to make homemade mayonnaise but you can always substitute that for a homemade sandwich spread. Make it over the weekend so that it saves your time during rush hours on weekdays.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002083710312
- https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/2817/