How Much Mayonnaise to Substitute for Butter
Works for baking, grilling, and raw cold. Mayonnaise brings a noticeably different flavor than Butter.
How much mayonnaise equals one cup of butter?
Use 1 cup mayonnaise per 1 cup butter.
Health notes
Compared with Butter, Mayonnaise has: less saturated fat (10.8g vs 50.5g per 100g in Butter) and less protein (0g vs 0.9g per 100g in Butter).
Using mayonnaise as a butter substitute in baking
Use 1 cup mayonnaise per 1 cup butter in cakes; it keeps things moist but adds a faint tang.
Other cooking methods
- Grilling
1:1 as a baste on meat or vegetables for moisture, brushed on near the end.
- Raw Cold
1:1 in dressings, spreads, and salads where butter isn't melted anyway.
Methods to avoid (5)
- Sauteing
Not recommended: mayonnaise splits and turns greasy the moment it hits a hot pan.
- Frying
Not recommended: breaks into oily pools and burns instead of frying anything.
- Slow Cook
Not recommended: long heat separates the emulsion into curdled fat and liquid.
- Steaming
Not recommended: no benefit here, and heat breaks the emulsion.
- Drinks
Not recommended: mayonnaise doesn't dissolve or blend into drinks.
FAQ
- How much mayonnaise equals one cup of butter?
Use 1 cup mayonnaise per 1 cup butter.
- Can I substitute mayonnaise for Butter in baking?
Yes. Use 1 cup mayonnaise per 1 cup butter in cakes; it keeps things moist but adds a faint tang. Not recommended: mayonnaise splits and turns greasy the moment it hits a hot pan.
- How much mayonnaise to use as a butter substitute?
Tangier and less rich than butter; skip added acid if the recipe calls for it.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
Mayonnaise brings a noticeably different flavor than butter.
- How does texture change when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
Mayonnaise moister, denser crumb in baking; separates into greasy pools if exposed to direct heat.
- What else should I know about substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
For cakes, sandwich spreads, and cold salads. Expect a moister, denser crumb with a faint tangy edge instead of buttery richness. Skip sauteing, frying, and slow cooking since the emulsion breaks under direct heat. Cut back added salt since mayonnaise already carries plenty.
- What still works when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
Mayonnaise still works as a fat, emulsifier, and texture.
- What won't work when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
Mayonnaise won't work as a flavor carrier.
- How well does Mayonnaise match Butter?
Mayonnaise is stretch on structure, stretch on heat, and stretch on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
Mayonnaise has about x5 fewer sat. fat. Overall, calories and fat are similar. Mayonnaise has no protein, while butter has some.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Mayonnaise for Butter?
The flavor shifts toward more acidic and more pungent notes.