Gustatorium
The bitter taste is not generally unanimous, and especially when you do not expect it. This is the case when you want to make a sweet and light mayonnaise, and you end up with pronounced bitter notes. The result can be very disappointing, to the point of considering not consuming it. So, to both avoid ruining all your efforts but also to fight against food waste, discover tips and solutions to remove the bitterness of mayonnaise.
Why does your mayonnaise taste bitter?
Bitterness has no place in the flavors of a sauce mayonnaise. On the contrary, we like this condiment thanks to its relatively mild flavors that go wonderfully with many dishes. But then , what is responsible for the bitterness of your homemade mayonnaise?
A culprit is obvious: what makes mayonnaise particularly bitter is olive oil. Indeed, we sometimes forget that the olive is a bitter fruit! Oil being one of the main ingredients of mayonnaise, its bitterness will necessarily be transmitted to your sauce and will therefore be strongly present in the mouth. This is especially true if you use extra virgin olive oil. Note that it sometimes happens that virgin and organic sunflower oil also has a slight bitterness.
The bitter taste is the main characteristic of good olive oils since the degree of bitterness depends on the degree of maturity of the olive: the more the olive oil is bitter, the more the fruit has reached its full maturity. This is why some olive oils are more bitter than others.
If your mayonnaise is bitter even though you didn't use olive oil, it may not be not suitable for consumption. And this, especially if your mayonnaise is starting to get old. Indeed, homemade mayonnaises do not contain preservatives, and they tend to go sour quite quickly. The homemade mayonnaise can be kept for 24 hours maximum in the refrigerator because it contains raw egg. With regard to industrial mayonnaise, it is important to respect the expiry date after it has been opened. Note that any homemade or industrial mayonnaise left more than 2 hours at room temperature should be discarded.
If your mayonnaise tastes bitter because you used the wrong oil, there are some tricks you can take away from the bitterness. On the other hand, if the bitter taste has appeared over time, it's a safe bet that the mayonnaise is no longer edible. In this case there is a risk of food poisoning and it is better to throw it away.
How to remove bitterness from mayonnaise?
To make up for a mayonnaise that is too bitter, there are several tips. So, depending on your taste preferences and what you have available in your cupboards, find the trick that suits you best to remove the bitterness from your mayonnaise:
Be aware, however, now that if your mayonnaise is too bitter, it will be difficult for you to catch up. However, you can hope to reduce the degree of bitterness.
Choose the right oil
What to do first to prevent your mayonnaise from being too bitter? Choose the right oil to add to the sauce! This advice is of course to be applied before embarking on the recipe, and therefore, to avoid precisely the next times having to use tips to catch up with the mayonnaise.
You will need to use a neutral oil to avoid the bitterness present in mayonnaise. Preferably use oil of rape, oil of sunflower or oil of glitches of reason rather than olive oil. If you still want to include some in the preparation, you can then opt for a recipe based on 1/3 olive oil and 2/3 a neutral oil of your choice (rapeseed, sunflower or grape).
Read also: What is the best oil for making mayonnaise?
Add a neutral-tasting food
To remove the bitterness present in an already made mayonnaise, one of the effective tricks is to add a neutral-tasting food or basic which will then allowsweeten your mayonnaise and therefore to reduce the degree of bitterness.
You can then add fresh cream, yogurt or cottage cheese. To incorporate them into your preparation, simply beat your too bitter mayonnaise with a teaspoon of one of its ingredients. Taste and then adjust if you haven't managed to sufficiently remove the bitterness from your mayo sauce.
Le milk can also do the trick, but you will need to whisk it energetically when incorporating it so that it mixes properly with the preparation. To do this, it is better to add a tablespoon of the bitter-tasting mayonnaise in a bowl, then beat this small amount with a teaspoon of milk. Once the emulsion is successful, gradually add the rest of the mayonnaise. If you have not managed to sufficiently remove the bitterness from the mayonnaise, repeat the operation.
Add an acidic food to remove the bitterness of mayonnaise
You can also remove the bitterness of mayonnaise with an acidic food such as lemon, vinegar or mustard. Indeed, the acidity deceives your taste buds because it takes over the bitterness. As a result, the bitter flavor will be much less present in the mouth. Simply add a few drops of lemon or vinegar or 1/2 teaspoon of mustard, then beat vigorously again.
Discover here what is the best vinegar to put in a mayonnaise.
Add sweeteners against the bitter taste of mayonnaise
You can also add a sweet food to lessen the bitterness of mayonnaise. Indeed, sugar is an excellent remedy for the bitter taste because it neutralizes it. Moreover, it is excellent for soften the mayonnaise.
You can add white sugar, cane sugar but also honey or Agave syrup, although the latter two are more difficult to incorporate.
Finally, mix ketchup in your homemade mayonnaise that is too bitter can also be an effective trick to reduce the degree of bitterness thanks to its sweet and mild taste.
Add strong-tasting foods
To camouflage the bitter taste of mayonnaise, you can add strong ingredients in taste which will then take over the bitterness without completely transforming the typical and light taste of mayonnaise: aromatic herbs chopped (dill, parsley, coriander, chives, etc.) or ground (oregano, Provencal herbs, etc.), shallot, ail chopped or spices (especially curry or paprika).
Add baking soda
Finally, you can also add a pinch of baking soda to remove the too bitter taste of mayonnaise. Known to neutralize acidity, it also works to lessen bitterness although this is less effective. This is why we advise you to combine this trick with the one previously exposed.
You now have all the tips for removing the bitterness of mayonnaise. It's up to you to find the one that best suits your preparation. Don't hesitate to tell us in the comments if you managed to save your too bitter mayo or if you have other effective tips!
