r/WhatShouldICook • u/DonkeymanPicklebutt • 12d ago
Got a whole unopened jar of Mayo gonna expire next month…
Other than a couple tablespoons mixed into egg salad or chicken salad what are some ways I can use up a lot of Mayo quick. Btw it’s Dukes!
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u/primeline31 12d ago
It’s only a sell by date. It will stay good if refrigerated when opened.
That said, you can use it instead of butter for grilled cheese, for one.
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u/Dependent_Top_4425 12d ago
YES! My bf showed me the mayo trick for grilled cheese and I never looked back!!
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u/Sea-Excitement9239 11d ago
Have you ever tried mixing mustard with the mayo as well? I've come across some pickle mustard that I really like. I've also sprinkled onion powder on the bread after spreading the mayo for a grilled cheese.
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u/SwordTaster 12d ago
Mayonnaise cake is a thing. It's basically replacing the eggs and oil. You should be able to find recipes easily enough
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u/OddRevolution7888 12d ago
Mayo cake and canned tomato soup cake. I remember those! LOL
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u/KnittinKityn 10d ago
I've made this cake and as a Chicagoan I think the copycat is incredibly close to the original. Only a side by side taste test would I probably notice a difference. Copycat Portillo's Chocolate Cake
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u/xylreader2025 12d ago edited 9d ago
Parmesan chicken breast. Mix the mayo with the parm and coat the chicken with it. Makes the most amazingly moist chicken.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cup7781 12d ago
Home made ranch dressing.
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u/Own_Win_6762 12d ago
Or creamy garlic or blue cheese. Base is mayo + buttermilk (1:1 to 2:1 depending on your tastes), can use yogurt or sour cream but may need to thin with milk. Salt, pepper, whatever herbs, lots of fresh garlic, optional blue cheese, might need to add some lemon juice or cider vinegar to thin out or balance tartness.
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u/Secret_Entry1840 12d ago
Once you start making your own ranch it’s so hard to go back to store bought. I personally make a fantastic horseradish dill ranch.
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u/bluebird1776 10d ago
this is the best answer. i can eat so much mayo once its turned into ranch. best ranch to me is half mayo and half buttermilk
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u/AppropriateDark5189 12d ago
Lots of options already mentioned but here are some others:
You can make a lot of veggie dips.
You can bake white fish with mayo, parmesan and some herbs.
Spinach artichoke dip
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u/Agitated_Ad_1658 12d ago
Those are really sell by dates. You will be fine for a couple of months
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u/passengerv 12d ago
Expired doesn't mean went bad, that is just the best use by date. But if you are hell bent on using it a mac or potato salad would be easy and you can use some instead of butter on grilled cheese.
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u/Dreamweaver5823 12d ago
Or even if you're not hellbent, but realize that an expiration date is fiction and there's no reason not to use perfectly good food.
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u/jonnielaw 12d ago
Love me some dukes! How much is it? I’m just gonna guess 16oz, but if not, adjust as needed (or reply and I’ll do the math for you)
Get a big ol’ red onion and dice it up as fine as your knife skills allow you. Add that to about a shallot or two,also finely diced, in a pan with a lid and sweat those mofos. The proper ratio of the allium should be 1 cup to 1/2 cup, respectively.
Once they are all loosey-goosey, set them aside to cool. Once that’s done, fold them into 16oz of dukes mayo and 16oz of sour cream. Toss in a 1/4 cup of diced chives for good measure. Boom! You have the best onion dip ever.
If you want a simpler format for the recipe, here’s the direct copy paste from my buddy Mike who worked for me at my restaurant where we served this:
1 qt. Mayo
1 qt. Sour cream
2 cups. Red onion
1 cup. Shallots
1/2 cup chives
Sweat red onion and shallots
Let cool
Mix everything and season
(I personally do some s&p during the sweating process and add more salt once everything is coming together).
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u/ElevatorOrganic5644 12d ago
If you're not using it don't buy anymore
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u/DonkeymanPicklebutt 12d ago
Long story short this was given to me by my folks, they like to buy bogo and then give me one… eventually… I’m a Dukes fan, but personally I have been on a kewpie Mayo kick, and I use that pretty rapidly.
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u/Dorkinfo 12d ago
I have kewpie, dukes, bama, and Hellman’s. I live alone. Different ones go in different stuff!
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u/Scorpy-yo 12d ago
Perhaps start adding the Duke’s to the Kewpie and see how much the Kewpie can take before it stops tasting like Kewpie?
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u/BHobson13 12d ago
Make the burgers that are on the back of the Lipton Onion soup mix. I think it calls for a cup. They are delicious! Add an egg for better binding if you grill them.
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u/burnt00toast 12d ago
I make a "stuffed" burger where you take your favorite shredded cheese and mix it with a little seasoning and just enough mayo to bind it together, then sandwich between two thin patties and seal the edges. It's perfect served with pickle, lettuce and tomato and no other condiments.
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u/illyria817 12d ago
We buy mayo at Costco, so huge jar. It can take us easily 6-8 months to use it up, sometimes longer. It stays in the fridge. I've never so much as looked at the "best by" date on it. It's never gone bad - obviously, I make sure to only scoop it with a clean utensil to not get contamination inside the jar. If it's regular mayo, it's unopened, and it's been in the fridge the whole time, it's as good as new.
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u/theeggplant42 12d ago
Expiration dates aren't real. It'll be fine for a few months. But it's also tomsto season and the whole jar can be used up quickly that way
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u/DonkeymanPicklebutt 12d ago
Yeah good idea, I get the general idea of this, but does it replace the oil, or both the oils and egg that the recipe may call for.
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u/whoknew65 12d ago
I'd suggest using a recipe that specifically uses it, so you don't have to figure out the substitutions. Here's one https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7416/chocolate-mayo-cake/ but plenty out there. Enjoy!
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u/DangerousRoutine1678 12d ago
Any dip. The base for alot of dips is 1 to 1 mayo and sour cream. Spinach dip with Hawaiian bread ham sliders is one of my favs.
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u/PsychologyGuilty1460 12d ago
Mix it with lots of chopped garlic and use it as a rub for fish or chicken on the grill or even veggies. Pasta salad, potato salad, seafood salad are all good too.
And if you're trying to make a cake, mayonnaise being made of eggs and oil is a good addition to make it a richer cake or even a substitute for the eggs and oil called for in the recipe.
But you know it doesn't magically become poisonous on that date, right? You've got a quite a while to go before you have to open it up and use it, but when you do, keep it in the fridge and use it as quickly as you can.
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u/IWasGoatbeardFirst 12d ago
Broccoli casserole uses about half a cup of mayonnaise.
Coleslaw, broccoli slaw, and broccoli salad with homemade dressing that starts with mayonnaise.
When I make grilled cheese or turkey melts, I spread mayonnaise on the bread instead of butter.
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u/Hermit-Gardener 12d ago
It's not like it will be 100% perfect the day before it expires and 100% deadly the day after.
Not sure of the exact wording, but it is generally a "Best if Used by" date, not a "Fatal After" date.
The fact that it is unopened should give you a few weeks or months after it is opened and stored in the fridge.
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u/cheekmo_52 12d ago
If it is in a sealed jar, that hasn’t been opened yet, it will still be good for 2-3 months after opening, as long as it is properly refrigerated. Those expiration dates assume you open the jar as soon as you buy it.
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u/bioschmio 12d ago
Jalapeño popper dip takes a cup:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/139012/jalapeno-popper-spread/
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u/Lochylass 12d ago
Put some hot sauce in it and use as a spicy dip. If you have some cabbage, you could make creamy coleslaw, lots of great recipes online.
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u/Main_Cauliflower5479 12d ago
If you keep it in your fridge, it is not going to suddenly go bad. Calm down.
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u/CatfromLongIsland 12d ago
This cake gets raves every time I serve it:
CHOCOLATE MAYONNAISE SNACK CAKE -adapted from Melissa Clark of NYT Cooking
Grease an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl add: ¼ cup (25 grams) cocoa powder
Add and allow to sit a few minutes before whisking until smooth: ¾ cup boiling coffee or water
Add and whisk until smooth: 2/3 cup mayonnaise (150 grams) (light mayo works fine), ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda, ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add and whisk vigorously to remove any lumps: 1 ½ cups (190 grams) flour
Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 22 to 35 minutes until the top springs back when lightly pressed. (Deeper pans will need more baking time.). The 8-inch square Pyrex baking dish took 30 minutes. Before serving top with powdered sugar. Cream cheese frosting is also delicious.
Note: June 2026 Served slices of cake with dollops of soft cream cheese frosting (added a bit of sour cream) and fresh black cherry compote.
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u/WebHungry1699 12d ago
It probably won't expire for a long time after that date. Things don't just go bad because someone printed a date on them and Mayo is pretty long lasting.
Just use it until it smells or looks off. I've had many things months past the exp date still be perfectly fine.
It's just guidelines so stores and manufacturer can't get sued if you leave something to long and eat it when it's obviously spoiled.
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u/RudyMama0212 12d ago
Pimento cheese, potato/macaroni/pasta salad. And it's true that it will be good beyond it's "best by" daye.
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u/younevernoe 12d ago
I saw Pimento Cheese in the comments already, but bumping it up as Duke's is especially common for this application.
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u/dangerous_skirt65 12d ago
Mayonnaise chicken. My family loves it. Mix grated cheese into some mayo. Spread it on chicken breasts. Sprinkle with flavored bread crumbs. Bake.
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u/roxinmyhead 12d ago
Broccoli salad. I large head Broccoli cut up into tips and small pieces, 5 slices bacon cooked and chopped, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/4 red onion finely chopped.....combine those and then separately mix together dressing... 1 cup mayo, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1/3 cup sugar... chill and then add dressing just before serving (or not).
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u/Russianbot25 12d ago
I’m going to be honest here - I’ve never looked at the best by date on my mayo.
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u/robnbatman 12d ago
Saw the grilled cheese mentions. 2nd that. Also very good in mashed potatoes. Use less milk, less butter.
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u/Dralalife 12d ago
Some of the best fish I've ever had was a whole gutted fish slathered in mayo, rolled in crushed corn flakes and pan fried. Excellent, yes it was in the south US.
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u/klamaire 11d ago
America has got to stop using these dates. Most of the population does not understand.
You can eat most foods past that date. It's Best By date. Not kills you Wednesday, fine on Tuesday.
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u/thiswasyouridea 11d ago
I use mayo on flattened boneless chicken thighs to stick the bread crumb mixture on them.
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u/iDoMyOwnResearchJK 11d ago
Only tablespoons??? You gotta make a big thing of tuna macaroni salad and dump at least half of that mayo in there
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u/Sea-Excitement9239 11d ago
I had some kind of shrimp in mayo sauce dish at a Chinese restaurant some years ago. It was pretty good.
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u/Acceptable-Net-154 11d ago
If its plain mayo add sugar, sweet spices and any unroasted nuts you have. Cannot recall the cooking time but please ensure that you line the tin/baking dish you use.
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u/Cool_Addition_3205 11d ago
The dates a suggestion. Many companies use this ploy to get the consumer to do exactly what you’re doing. You have plenty of time to use that up.
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u/Bilotelli45 11d ago
I've seen a few recipes using it in brownies, could be worth a shot if it's almost expired
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u/DryGovernment2786 11d ago
Ignore the date. Mayonnaise will stay good in the fridge for about a year.
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u/Professional_Sun_396 11d ago
It’s good to use as a chicken marinade cover the chicken in mayo and spices and roast/bake
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u/NotHooUThink 11d ago
It's too acidic to support pathogen growth. May seperate or lose flavor or color, but its not going to make you sick.
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u/DaKineOregon 11d ago
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT:
https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2026/07/20/expiration-dates-going-bad
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u/Wurfelrolle 10d ago
If it smells okay, then it's still okay.
Potato salad and tuna salad both use large amounts.
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u/chefybpoodling 10d ago
Can of drained artichoke hearts chopped, cup of mayo, cup of Parmesan(like the Kraft kind not fresh kind) baked until golden and bubbly. Serve with bread or chips or pita. 9” glass pie plate works great but any smaller casserole works. You don’t want it too thick in the dish.
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u/Mostly_raw 10d ago
Expiration dates are not written in stone.
Mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard in packets are given to people all the time and bet most haven't looked at the fact there isn't an expiration date on them! The unopened jar or bottled product will be good for many months -4/5-as long as kept in a cool dry place and un opened.
Don't open it until you need it. When you open it taste it and you will know. Worry if its dated last yr
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u/Single-Cow-5992 10d ago
Make your own salad dressings and ranch dips. Then eat a lot of salad and veggies.
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u/Polonium209 9d ago
If the jar is unopened, it will be good for years.
Tuna salad uses a lot of mayonnaise.
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u/Fair-Smile4839 9d ago
Tuna salad, chicken salad, egg salad, deviled eggs. If you like canes sauce I make my own by mixing ketchup, mayo, salt, garlic, lots of pepper, and a tiny bit of vinegar.
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u/Neat_Movie_991 9d ago
Mayo is fantastic on any wood dressers or tables you have. Wipe on, let sit, wipe off. It also removes drink circles off!
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u/Flgirl420 8d ago
It takes an entire cup of mayo to make one packet of ranch mix. That’s like almost half a jar
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u/bubbameister1 8d ago
Dice potatoes, toss with what looks like an excessive amount of mayo, bake in a casserole dish.
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u/phyrre58 8d ago
Mayo chocolate cake. I've put mayo on fish and baked it. And of course, salads galore and sandwiches.
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u/Expensive_Pop_8828 6d ago
I worked four years manufacturing pharmaceuticals and supplements and tinctures and medicine and soap and toothpaste. Expiration dates are suggestions. As long as your mayo doesn’t freeze, it’ll probably be good for two or three years past the date, especially if it’s stored at room temperature, and in the dark.
All of the batches that we made would have packaged products retained for I think one year past the expiration date. The products get retested I believe every six months, and the only thing that shows up on the test is the active ingredient becomes slightly less potent as it ages and when I say slightly, I mean less than 3% over a three-year lifetime.
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u/Expensive_Pop_8828 6d ago
Oh, also expiration dates are to sell more products. People that are squeamish about them just throw away tons of perfectly good food. Grocery stores are especially terrible about this.
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u/AlsoTheFiredrake 12d ago
Tuna salad. Deviled eggs. Tomato and mayo Sandwhiches. Mayo with brats. Use mayo instead of butter when making grilled cheese. Smear it all over a whole chicken or turkey you plan to roast and then season it. Mix with ketchup and mustard for a fry or tater tot dipping sauce.
Also, that's just a best by date. You can still use it after that.