15 Uses for Mayo

Mayonnaise is one of the most popular condiments, and is incredibly versatile. It’s made of olive oil, egg yolk, lemon, and salt, and each of those ingredients help enhance the richness and flavor of almost any food.

Did you know that mayo can also be used in several cleaning hacks around the home? Read on to find out the top 15 uses for mayo.

1. Make a Moist Chocolate Cake

The olive oil in mayo makes the cake more tender, the extra egg yolk enriches the flavor, and the acid in the lemon also helps to make the chocolate taste more intense. Add mayo to your next chocolate cake recipe and see the difference.

2. Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Butter is often used for creating the crispiest crust on your grilled cheese sandwich, but mayonnaise is far better.

3. Stop Grilled Fish from Sticking

If you like to cook fish on your outdoor grill but find that it often sticks to the grates, try some mayo magic. It sticks nicely to the fish, and adds an acidic richness to the cooked fish. Simply smear an even layer of mayo over the fish before you grill it.

4. Make Breadcrumbs Stick to Fish

Getting breadcrumbs to stick to any kind of fish can be a chore, but the solution is simple. Smear your fish in a thin layer of mayo before bread crumbing them.

5. Keeps Chicken Breast Moist

Cover chicken breasts in mayonnaise before cooking, and it will help to tenderize the chicken due to the acidic action of the lemon. The added bonus is that it will keep the chicken nice and moist while it cooks, so no more dry chicken dinners!

6. Perfect Potatoes

Grilling potatoes with mayo helps them to retain some moisture while crisping up on the outside. Toss the cubed potatoes with mayonnaise and seasonings before you put them in a foil packet to grill.

7. Make Great Mexican Street Corn

Mayo is a key part of Mexican street corn, but if you don’t want the mess and fuss of making it on the cob, why not try a one-pan Mexican Street Corn Bake? You can make it with canned corn instead of fresh, and you just add some mayo, chipotle pepper, green onions, and Parmesan cheese. Mix it up, cover and bake it in the oven at 350F for around 40 minutes.

8. Get Watermarks Off Wood

If your wood furniture has watermarks, rub some mayo on the marks, and leave it on for a few hours before wiping off. The moisture in the mayo displaces the moisture inside the wood, which unlocks it.

9. Remove Crayon Marks

The oils in mayo are great at breaking down crayon marks. Dab it on, leave it for a bit, then wipe away.

10. Remove Fingerprints from Stainless Steel

Stainless steel appliances look great – until they get covered in fingermarks! Put a little mayo on a microfiber cloth, and rub.

11. Remove Chewing Gum from Hair

Turn a hair disaster into no problem at all with mayo. Rub some mayo onto the affected hair, and it will soften the gum so you can remove it without pain, or the need for scissors.

12. Polish Ivory Piano Keys

Apparently, the bacteria in mayonnaise helps to clean yellowed ivory piano keys gently. Don’t forget to buff with a dry cloth after cleaning.

13. Make Your Houseplants Shine

If your shiny-leaved houseplants are looking a little dull and dusty, put some mayo on a microfiber cloth and polish the leaves gently.

14. After-Sun Soother

Gently apply some mayonnaise to your sunburn, and the oil and egg yolk will help soothe the pain.

15. Hair Conditioner

The egg yolk in mayo is naturally moisturizing, as well as rich in fats and proteins, and the olive oil seals in the moisture. Apply to your hair as if it were normal conditioner. Leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse off and clean with a gentle shampoo.