Can You Freeze Mayonnaise? [3 Essential Tips]

3 minutes

Mayonnaise is one of the most popular condiments out there and is popular on dinner tables all around the world. And while most people store their mayonnaise in the fridge once it has been opened, you might be wondering, can you freeze mayonnaise instead?

Mayonnaise can be frozen for up to 3 months. But because mayonnaise is emulsion-based, its ingredients will break down once it has thawed. It’s important to add some vinegar or lemon juice to your mayonnaise, as it stabilises the thawing process.

Do Does Mayonnaise freeze well? No

Can you refreeze Mayonnaise? No

How to Freeze Mayonnaise

Whether homemade or shop-bought, it’s possible to freeze mayonnaise. You just need to be mindful that frozen mayonnaise will be nothing like refrigerated mayo. Due to the fact that mayonnaise is emulsion-based, the component parts will separate when mayo thaws, which isn’t ideal for everyone.

While you can stir mayonnaise once it has been frozen to try and save its texture, you will need to add either vinegar or lemon juice to it before you freeze it, as we explain below.

Place in a Freezer-Safe Container
Separate your mayonnaise into appropriate portion sizes for freezing. Then, place each serving in a sealable glass jar or plastic box.
Add Lemon Juice or Vinegar
Before you seal the container of mayonnaise, add a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice, and stir the mayonnaise well. This addition will help prevent the mayonnaise from splitting too badly and will enable you to stir it and improve its texture once it has thawed.
Seal
Screw the lid on your glass jar or fix the lid on top of the plastic tub.
Label and Freeze
Write the date that you prepared (or purchased) the mayonnaise, and place it in the freezer. Remember, you can freeze mayonnaise for around three months.

3 Tips for Freezing Mayonnaise

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing mayo to have the best results:

Freeze Mayonnaise as a Last Resort
While you can freeze mayonnaise, it’s probably best not to. This is because mayonnaise separates when it is frozen, and even though you can rescue it to an extent, it certainly won’t be the same as it is when it’s stored in the fridge.

Mayo has a reasonable lifespan when you store it in the fridge, so only freeze it if you really have to.

Thaw in the Fridge
When you’re ready to serve your frozen mayonnaise, you will need to thaw it in the fridge. You should never defrost mayonnaise at room temperature or in the microwave.

It’s best to remove your serving of mayonnaise from the fridge the night before you plan to use it so you have sufficient time to thaw and stir it.

Stir Thoroughly Before Use
Once your mayonnaise has thawed, you will need to stir it thoroughly before using it. While you won’t be able to return it to its pre-freezing consistency, it will at least ensure your frozen mayonnaise is edible!

If you don’t stir it, you will be left with an unpleasant mixture that won’t be good for much.

How Long Can You Freeze Mayonnaise?

You can freeze mayonnaise for around three months. But given that mayo has a reasonable lifespan in the fridge once opened, you should only really freeze it as a last resort.

Providing it’s sealed, mayo should be good for 3-4 weeks in the fridge, giving you plenty of time to use it up without freezing it.

But if you do opt to freeze it, you should only keep it in the freezer for up to three months.

You Can Freeze Mayonnaise for up to 3 Months

How Do You Defrost Mayonnaise?

When you’re ready to use your frozen mayonnaise, you will need to transfer it to the fridge until it has thawed. This can take several hours, and it’s the only safe way to defrost mayonnaise.

While it’s quicker to thaw mayonnaise in the microwave or at room temperature, it’s not safe to do so.

Can You Refreeze Mayonnaise?

No, you should only freeze mayonnaise once. As you will discover, mayonnaise doesn’t freeze well in the first instance, so you definitely shouldn’t freeze it for a second time.

While it’s not dangerous to freeze mayonnaise twice, you will almost certainly be disappointed with the result!

The best way to store mayonnaise is in the fridge, and we’d highly advise you to only freeze it once if you choose to freeze it at all.

Does Mayonnaise Freeze Well?

As you’ve probably realised by now, mayonnaise does not freeze well. Whether your mayonnaise is homemade or shop-bought, you will find that it separates in the freezer and will be largely disappointing when it has thawed.

As such, while you can freeze mayonnaise, we only advise doing so as a last resort.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing mayonnaise, then these may help:

Can You Freeze Hellman’s Mayonnaise?

Hellman’s might be the most well-known brand of mayo but that doesn’t mean it’ll freeze any better. The same rules apply. Although it will freeze, you’ll find the texture changes dramatically when it thaws.

Can You Freeze Mayonnaise-Based Dips?

Mayonnaise-based dips can be frozen in an ice cube tray. You’ll need to add some acid to the dip to prevent it from splitting too much when it thaws. You’ll also need to give it a vigorous stir once defrosted.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!