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Homemade mayonnaise takes about ten minutes and heads off in three directions: classic, baconnaise made with bacon fat, and a lemon-dill mayoli built for fish. Egg yolks, lemon juice, vinegar, and mustard, then a slow drizzle of oil. Once you know the technique, you can flavor it any way you like.
Pro Tips
- The drizzle is everything: add the oil as slowly as a sloth would — a thin stream while whisking hard — or the emulsion never sets.
- Use an electric whisk if you have one; by hand, expect up to five extra minutes of whisking to reach a thick, spreadable consistency.
- No macadamia oil? Avocado oil, liquefied coconut oil, or all olive oil all work in the classic version.
- For baconnaise, replace the oils entirely with ¾ cup of liquefied bacon fat — whisk it in just as slowly while it's still pourable.
- Stir the lemon zest and dill in at the very end for the mayoli, so the herbs stay bright rather than bruised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make mayonnaise by hand without a machine?
Yes — the recipe works with a plain whisk; it just takes up to five more minutes of steady whisking as you drizzle in the oil.
Which oils should I use for homemade mayo?
The classic base is ¼ cup olive oil plus ½ cup macadamia oil; avocado oil, liquefied coconut oil, or entirely olive oil are the listed swaps.
What's the difference between the three versions?
Classic uses oil, baconnaise swaps in ¾ cup liquefied bacon fat, and the lemon-dill mayoli adds lemon zest and dill to the olive-oil base — that one's made for fish.
How long does homemade mayonnaise keep?
Keep it refrigerated and use it within about a week, since it's made with raw egg yolks and no preservatives.
Recipe Card

Ingredients
Method
- 1.
- Whisk (we recommend electric, but you can do it by hand too) together the egg yolks, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and salt until well combined.
- 2. Slowly, slowly, slowly (like a sloth) drip in the oil while whisking hard, about 5 minutes.
- 3.
- Continue to whisk until the mayonnaise forms to your preferred consistency. This may take up to another five minutes if whisking by hand.




