Mayonnaise Too Thin
Your mayonnaise is runny because the emulsion is weak. Add yolk and whisk to tighten it.
runny texture weak emulsion vegetarian gluten-free
Ingredients on hand
- thin mayonnaise
- egg yolk
- oil
- lemon juice
- mustard
Why it happened
A stronger emulsion needs more emulsifiers. A fresh yolk provides lecithin to bind the oil and water.
The fix
- 1 whisk 1 egg yolk with 1 teaspoon mustard
- 2 slowly whisk in the thin mayo to build a stronger emulsion
- 3 adjust with lemon juice and salt
If it's still wrong
- use as a dressing base where thinner texture is fine
- blend in a spoon of yogurt for body
Prevent next time
- add oil slowly while whisking
- use room-temperature ingredients
Notes
Why this works
Emulsions need enough lecithin to hold the oil. Adding a yolk rebuilds the structure and thickens the mayo.
Substitutions
- egg yolk → 1 tablespoon aquafaba
- lemon juice → vinegar
Other sauces fixes