What Is Heavy Duty Mayonnaise?

It's no wonder why mayonnaise, a centuries-old condiment, is still enjoyed by people all over the world today. Made from a combination of eggs, oil, vinegar or lemon juice, and sometimes mustard, mayonnaise adds flavor to sandwiches, salads, and countless other dishes — not to mention that it can also be used as a base for sauces or an ingredient in dips. Quartz even refers to it as "the king of American condiments" due to its success in the sauce market. But people don't just enjoy mayo for its taste and versatility: It's also a convenient way to ramp up your daily consumption of vitamin E and polyunsaturated fats, the latter of which may benefit heart and brain health when eaten in moderation, per Healthline.

For the heath-conscious out there, be aware that experts debate about the healthiness of many store-bought mayonnaise brands, which often use soy and canola oil in their recipes. If you make your own mayonnaise or head to a supermarket, though, you can opt for a blend made with nutrient-rich olive oil or avocado oil, as well as little to no added sugar. Also on today's market are mayo options with minimal fat, vegan ingredients, additional spices and flavorings, and more, making it an even more versatile condiment. However, in addition to these options is another mayo variety known as heavy duty. What does that mean, exactly?

Heavy-duty mayonnaise, according to The Takeout, is mayo that is thicker and richer in flavor than the classic style due to the inclusion of extra egg yolks. While the rest of the ingredients are the same as other mayo varieties, the added egg makes a big difference that chefs and food handlers appreciate for commercial purposes — and not only because it results in more decadent tuna salad. As a Hellmann's Extra Heavy mayo ad explains, heavy duty mayonnaise has "a superior browning ability and even holds together better in hot applications," making it a great choice for dishes cooked at high temperatures, such as grilled cheese sandwiches and other foods you want to turn golden.

If you ever get your hands on heavy duty mayo, you'll notice that its "denser" consistency seems to hold together better than the regular kind. Clockwork Lemon explains that the extra eggs make the condiment more stable and "extra emulsified," meaning the added lecithin acts as a powerful glue between the oil and liquid in the recipe. Though heavy duty mayo is geared toward chefs, brands like Hellmann's and Duke's do sell it in bulk on sites like Amazon. If you don't have use for a gallon of heavy duty mayo in your home kitchen, though, you could just make a small jar yourself, adding extra egg yolks to your favorite recipe.