The best seed oil free mayonnaise is Primal Kitchen Mayo (avocado oil) — widely available on Amazon and in most US grocery stores. Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo is the second best option. Both use avocado oil instead of the soybean oil in standard Hellmann's and Best Foods mayo. If you want to make your own, homemade olive oil mayo takes 5 minutes with a stick blender and tastes significantly better than any bottled version.
Best Seed Oil Free Mayonnaise Brands
| Brand | Oil Used | Where to Buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primal Kitchen Mayo | Avocado oil | Amazon, Whole Foods, Target, Costco | Best tasting, widest availability |
| Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Mayo | Avocado oil | Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts | Slightly thicker texture, clean flavour |
| Sir Kensington's | Sunflower oil | Whole Foods, Amazon | ❌ Sunflower is a seed oil — avoid |
| Hellmann's / Best Foods | Soybean oil | All supermarkets | ❌ Seed oil — avoid |
| Duke's | Soybean oil | Southeast US supermarkets | ❌ Seed oil — avoid |
| Homemade olive oil mayo | Olive oil | DIY — 5 minutes | Best flavour, cheapest, fully seed oil free |
How to Make Seed Oil Free Mayo at Home
Homemade seed oil free mayo uses egg yolks, olive oil or avocado oil, lemon juice, and mustard. The key is the technique — add the oil drop by drop at first to build the emulsion, then in a thin stream. A stick blender makes this foolproof: put everything in a jar, immersion blend from the bottom up for 30 seconds, done.
Ingredients
- 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
- 240ml light olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp fine salt
- Optional: 1 small garlic clove, grated
Method
- Add egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, and salt to a tall narrow jar (a wide-mouth pint jar works perfectly).
- Add all the oil on top — do not stir.
- Place the stick blender at the bottom of the jar over the egg yolks. Blend on high without moving for 20 seconds until white and thick.
- Slowly lift the blender upward while continuing to blend, incorporating all the oil. Takes about 30 seconds total.
- Taste and adjust salt and lemon. Refrigerate immediately. Keeps 1 week.
- For garlic aioli: add grated garlic before blending.
Why Standard Mayo Contains Seed Oils
Standard mayonnaise — Hellmann's, Best Foods, Duke's, Kraft — uses soybean oil as the primary fat. Soybean oil is one of the eight industrial seed oils high in omega-6 linoleic acid. It makes up roughly 80–90% of the mayo by volume, meaning a single tablespoon of standard mayo delivers a significant dose of oxidised polyunsaturated fat. Switching to avocado oil or olive oil mayo eliminates this entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hellmann's mayo seed oil free?
No. Hellmann's uses soybean oil as its primary ingredient. It is not seed oil free.
Is Primal Kitchen mayo seed oil free?
Yes. Primal Kitchen uses avocado oil. It is fully seed oil free and available at most major US grocery chains including Target, Whole Foods, and Costco.
Can I use olive oil in mayo?
Yes. Light olive oil (not extra virgin) works best — EVOO has too strong a flavour and can turn bitter. Use 'light' or 'pure' olive oil for neutral-tasting mayo.
How long does homemade seed oil free mayo last?
1 week refrigerated. It contains raw egg yolks, so keep it cold and use within 7 days. Commercial avocado oil mayo lasts much longer due to preservatives.
Is avocado oil mayo healthier than regular mayo?
Avocado oil mayo replaces omega-6-heavy soybean oil with oleic acid (monounsaturated fat) from avocados. It is more stable at room temperature and does not oxidise the way soybean oil does. Whether 'healthier' depends on your dietary framework, but from a seed oil free perspective it is the correct choice.
Related guides: Seed Oil Free Grocery List · Vegetable Oil Substitute · Seed Oil Free Snacks · How to Detox Seed Oils
Also on The Foodie Kitchen: Seed Oil Free Salad Dressing · Hidden Seed Oils · Best Seed Oil Free Brands
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