Mayonnaise vs. Butter — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 18, 2024
Mayonnaise is an emulsified condiment made from oil, egg yolks, and vinegar or lemon juice, while butter is a dairy product made by churning cream, primarily used as a spread or for cooking.
Difference Between Mayonnaise and Butter
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Mayonnaise is a creamy, emulsified sauce typically made from a combination of oil, egg yolks, and an acidic component like vinegar or lemon juice. It is commonly used as a condiment, a base for dressings, and in various recipes to add moisture and flavor. Butter, on the other hand, is a solid dairy product created by churning cream to separate the butterfat from the buttermilk. It is widely used as a spread, in baking, and for cooking due to its rich flavor and smooth texture.
Mayonnaise is non-dairy and can be used in cold dishes such as salads and sandwiches, providing a tangy and creamy texture. Butter, being a dairy product, is often used in hot dishes, adding a rich, savory flavor when melted or cooked.
The primary ingredients of mayonnaise include oil and egg yolks, making it a source of fat but also containing some protein from the eggs. Butter is made mainly from milk fat, providing a higher concentration of saturated fats.
Mayonnaise can be made at home or purchased ready-made, with various flavoring options available. Butter can also be made at home by churning cream, but it is commonly bought in different forms such as salted, unsalted, or clarified.
In terms of nutritional content, mayonnaise typically contains more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, depending on the type of oil used, while butter is rich in saturated fats and vitamins like A, D, E, and K due to its dairy origin.
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Mayonnaise can be an ingredient in a wide range of recipes including dressings, dips, and sauces. Butter is versatile in both sweet and savory dishes, enhancing the flavor of baked goods, sautéed vegetables, and grilled meats.
Comparison Chart
Main Ingredients
Oil, egg yolks, vinegar/lemon juice
Cream (milk fat)
Texture and Form
Creamy, emulsified
Solid, creamy when softened
Primary Uses
Condiment, base for dressings and sauces
Spread, cooking, baking
Flavor Profile
Tangy, creamy
Rich, savory
Nutritional Content
High in unsaturated fats, contains some protein
High in saturated fats, vitamins A, D, E, K
Temperature Suitability
Cold dishes
Hot dishes
Dairy Content
Non-dairy
Dairy
Compare with Definitions
Mayonnaise
An emulsified condiment used in various dishes.
Mayonnaise is a key ingredient in potato salad.
Butter
Solid at room temperature, creamy when softened or melted.
Butter melts perfectly on hot toast.
Mayonnaise
A creamy sauce made from oil, egg yolks, and an acid.
She spread mayonnaise on her sandwich for extra flavor.
Butter
A dairy product made by churning cream.
She used butter to grease the baking pan.
Mayonnaise
Can be flavored with herbs, spices, or additional ingredients.
Garlic mayonnaise is popular as a dip for fries.
Butter
Rich in saturated fats and vitamins from milk.
Butter adds a rich flavor to baked goods.
Mayonnaise
Non-dairy, often used in cold preparations.
The chef used mayonnaise as a base for the salad dressing.
Butter
Widely used in both sweet and savory recipes.
Butter is essential for making flaky pie crusts.
Mayonnaise
Provides a creamy texture and tangy taste.
The chicken salad was moist and flavorful thanks to the mayonnaise.
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise, informally mayo, is a thick cold sauce or dressing commonly used in sandwiches, hamburgers, composed salads, and on French fries. It also forms the base for many other sauces, such as tartar sauce, fry sauce, remoulade, salsa golf and rouille.Mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil, egg yolk, and an acid, either vinegar or lemon juice; there are many variants using additional flavorings.
Butter
A pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.
Mayonnaise
A thick dressing made of beaten raw egg yolk, oil, lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings.
Butter
Spread (something) with butter
Lily buttered a slice of toast
Mayonnaise
A dressing made from vegetable oil, raw egg yolks, vinegar or lemon juice, and seasoning, used on salads, with french fries, in sandwiches etc.
Butter
A soft yellowish or whitish emulsion of butterfat, water, air, and sometimes salt, churned from milk or cream and processed for use in cooking and as a food.
Mayonnaise
Any cold dish with that dressing as an ingredient.
We served a lobster mayonnaise as a starter.
Hair mayonnaise
Facial mayonnaise
Butter
A spread made from fruit, nuts, or other foods
Plum butter.
Cashew butter.
Mayonnaise
(transitive) To cover or season with mayonnaise.
Butter
A vegetable fat having a nearly solid consistency at ordinary temperatures.
Mayonnaise
A thick white sauce compounded of raw yolks of eggs beaten up with olive oil to the consistency near to that of a gel, and seasoned with vinegar, pepper, salt, etc.; - used in dressing salads, fish, etc. Also, a dish dressed with this sauce.
Butter
Flattery.
Mayonnaise
Egg yolks and oil and vinegar
Butter
To put butter on or in.
Butter
A soft, fatty foodstuff made by churning the cream of milk (generally cow's milk).
Butter
Any of various foodstuffs made from other foods or oils, similar in consistency to, eaten like or intended as a substitute for butter (preceded by the name of the food used to make it).
Peanut butter
Soy butter
Chocolate butter
Butter
Any of various substances made from other (especially plant-based) oils or fats, used in moisturizers, cosmetics, etc.
Butter
Any specific soft substance.
Butter of antimony; butter of arsenic
Butter
A smooth plane landing.
Butter
Someone who butts, or who butts in.
Butter
(transitive) To spread butter on.
Butter the toast.
Butter
To move one's weight backwards or forwards onto the tips or tails of one's skis or snowboard so only the tip or tail is in contact with the snow. Similar to applying butter to bread with then end of a butterknife.
Butter
To spin on skis or a snowboard using only the tips or tails being in contact with the snow
Butter
To increase (stakes) at every throw of dice, or every game.
Butter
Very smooth, very soft
That landing was total butter!
Butter
An oily, unctuous substance obtained from cream or milk by churning.
Butter
Any substance resembling butter in degree of consistence, or other qualities, especially, in old chemistry, the chlorides, as butter of antimony, sesquichloride of antimony; also, certain concrete fat oils remaining nearly solid at ordinary temperatures, as butter of cacao, vegetable butter, shea butter.
Butter
One who, or that which, butts.
Butter
To cover or spread with butter.
I know what's what. I know on which sideMy bread is buttered.
Butter
To increase, as stakes, at every throw or every game.
Butter
An edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
Butter
A fighter who strikes the opponent with his head
Butter
Spread butter on;
Butter bread
Butter
Enhances flavor and texture in cooking and baking.
The butter sauce added richness to the sautéed vegetables.
Common Curiosities
How is butter typically used?
Butter is used as a spread, in baking, and for cooking.
Is mayonnaise a dairy product?
No, mayonnaise is non-dairy.
What is butter made of?
Butter is made by churning cream to separate the butterfat from the buttermilk.
What is clarified butter?
Clarified butter is butter that has had the water and milk solids removed, leaving pure butterfat.
What is mayonnaise made of?
Mayonnaise is made from oil, egg yolks, and an acidic component like vinegar or lemon juice.
What are the main uses of mayonnaise?
Mayonnaise is used as a condiment, a base for dressings, and in various recipes to add moisture and flavor.
Can butter be used in sweet recipes?
Yes, butter is commonly used in sweet recipes like cookies, cakes, and pastries.
Is butter solid or liquid?
Butter is solid at room temperature and becomes creamy when softened or melted.
Can mayonnaise be flavored?
Yes, mayonnaise can be flavored with herbs, spices, and other ingredients.
Can mayonnaise be used in hot dishes?
Mayonnaise is typically used in cold dishes but can be incorporated into some hot recipes.
What gives butter its rich flavor?
Butter's rich flavor comes from the milk fat and natural dairy content.
What is the nutritional difference between mayonnaise and butter?
Mayonnaise is high in unsaturated fats and contains some protein, while butter is high in saturated fats and vitamins from milk.
What type of fat is most prevalent in butter?
Butter is rich in saturated fats.
Does mayonnaise contain protein?
Yes, mayonnaise contains some protein from the egg yolks.
Is homemade mayonnaise different from store-bought?
Homemade mayonnaise can have a fresher taste and different texture compared to store-bought versions.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
