In a blind taste test conducted by consumer champion Which?, Co-op’s On The Side Real Mayonnaise has been crowned the best mayonnaise in the UK, outperforming popular brands like Hellmann’s and Heinz. The supermarket own-brand also offers a significant saving of £1.10 per bottle compared to Hellmann’s.
How the Taste Test Was Conducted
Which? gathered 62 participants at its test lab in May 2026 to sample nine different mayonnaises. The selection included seven supermarket own brands from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Lidl, Co-op, and M&S, along with two major brands, Heinz and Hellmann’s. All samples were tasted blindly in a rotated order to eliminate bias, with each tester using a private booth. The panel reflected the demographic profile of UK adults who regularly consume mayonnaise.
Scoring was based on four criteria: flavour (50%), texture (20%), appearance (15%), and aroma (15%). These weightings were determined by the attributes consumers consider most important when tasting mayonnaise.
Full Ranking of Mayonnaises
9. M&S Classic Mayo
Testers appreciated its thick texture and creaminess, but one-third found the flavour too sharp. Score: 68%. Price: £1.40 for 500ml (28p per 100ml).
8. Heinz Seriously Good Mayo
A disappointing result for Heinz. Two-thirds were happy with its creamy thickness, but nearly half found the flavour and sharpness lacking. Score: 68%. Price: £2.84 for 540ml (53p per 100ml).
7. Morrisons Mayo
Testers noted a dark colour and bland taste, though most liked its creamy thickness. Score: 69%. Price: 95p for 500ml (19p per 100ml).
6. Tesco Mayonnaise
Pleasing thickness, creaminess, and colour were noted. Nearly half enjoyed the flavour, but a similar proportion deemed it overly tangy. Score: 70%. Price: 86p for 450ml (19p per 100ml).
5. Asda Classic Real Mayonnaise
Most testers appreciated the colour, creaminess, and texture, but around one-third found the flavour too weak. Score: 70%. Price: 96p for 500ml (19p per 100ml).
4. Lidl Batts Real Mayonnaise
A fraction cheaper than Sainsbury’s, Lidl’s mayo matched Hellmann’s in testers’ estimation. Most were satisfied with thickness and creaminess, though some found it a little bland. Score: 71%. Price: 95p for 500ml (19p per 100ml).
3. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise
Hellmann’s outperformed Heinz in the brand battle. Most testers liked its appearance, creamy texture, and thickness, while half were fans of the flavour. However, more than one-third thought the flavour too weak, and over 40% said the sharp tang was lacking. Score: 71%. Price: £2.45 for 430ml (57p per 100ml).
2. Sainsbury's Real Mayo
Described as a “great-tasting, creamy mayo that looks good too.” Over two-thirds liked its thickness, and more than half enjoyed its strength of flavour and sharpness. Awarded Best Buy and Great Value. Score: 73%. Price: £1 for 500ml (20p per 100ml).
1. Co-op On The Side Real Mayonnaise
Testers called it an appetising-looking, creamy mayo with a flavour enjoyed by most. Two-thirds said the thickness was just right, and most relished its tart tang. Co-op’s mayo is the joint priciest among supermarket bottles but still less than half the price of big brands. Score: 74%. Price: £1.35 for 500ml (27p per 100ml).
Is Mayonnaise Healthy?
Mayonnaise has a reputation for being unhealthy, but it is not that simple. Mayo is around three-quarters oil, making it high in fat and calories. A tablespoon adds about 100 calories. However, the fat in mayonnaise is mostly unsaturated, which is generally considered more heart-healthy than saturated fats. Most mainstream brands use rapeseed oil, though some may use sunflower, soybean, or other oils. Key ingredients include egg yolk, vinegar or lemon juice, and small amounts of sugar and seasonings. Most mass-produced brands also contain emulsifiers.
