What’s the Most Popular Condiment? (2024)

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Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Wonder Friend. Wonder Friend Wonders, “What is the most popular condiment?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Wonder Friend!

Have you ever been to a baseball game? What part of the experience did you enjoy most? Many people love the thrill of watching pitchers work their magic. Others enjoy the sound of a bat knocking the ball over the outfield fence.

For many people, though, eating a hot dog really completes the experience of taking in a baseball game. The thought of sizzling meat wrapped in a soft bun makes their mouths water! Of course, a hot dog just isn’t complete without mustard. Or do you prefer ketchup? Others might spread on a thick layer of relish.

Whether it’s a hot dog, a hamburger, or another type of sandwich, there are a number of toppings that can make it even more delicious. What are we talking about? Condiments, of course!

Condiments are added to food to give it more flavor. They usually take the form of sauces, dips, or spreads. People don’t always agree on what should be called a condiment, though.

For example, jelly and jam are usually viewed as condiments, but peanut butter is not. Likewise, salsa is often included, while guacamole is not. People may disagree on what does and doesn’t fit into this category. But they can agree on one thing! Condiments definitely do the job when it comes to adding flavor to the foods we eat.

Can you imagine French fries without ketchup? Many kids would say no! However, many people eat fries with malt vinegar or mayonnaise. While ketchup and mustard are popular condiments, they’re only two options among hundreds from around the world.

A trip down the food aisles at your local grocery store will reveal a whole host of condiments. You’ll find ketchup, mustard, relish, mayonnaise, hot sauce, jam, jelly, and salsa. There may be sauces ranging from soy to barbecue! Of course, not all of these toppings go great with all foods. Ketchup on a hot dog is tasty, but ketchup on plain bread…not so much. Put jelly or jam on that plain bread, though, and now you’ve got something!

In America, many people assume that ketchup is the most popular condiment. After all, it goes well with so many foods. People add ketchup to their French fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, and many other dishes. Who doesn’t love ketchup?

As it turns out, Americans do love ketchup. But is it the most popular condiment in America? The answer is unclear. Sales figures change each year and vary from state to state. While ketchup regularly appears near the top of the list of widely loved toppings, it has several strong rivals. For instance, salsa often surpasses ketchup in overall annual sales. Soy sauce sales are also similar to those of ketchup.

Ranch salad dressing is another of ketchup’s top rivals. It has become a favorite dip for French fries and many love to spread it on sandwiches. Some people even dunk pizza in ranch! In 2016, the spicy sauce Sriracha out-sold ketchup at the grocery store to become the top condiment in the U.S. It’s still a common topping on a number of dishes, from eggs to potatoes.

However, one sandwich spread often reigns supreme. Its sales are often double those of many others. Can you guess what we’re talking about? That’s right—mayonnaise! According to sales figures, the creamy sandwich spread regularly accounts for more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Many consider mayo to be the top condiment in the U.S.

What’s the top condiment worldwide? Around the globe, a variety of toppings are wildly popular. Vegemite is a top choice in Australia, as is marmite in Britain. In South Korea, gochujang may steal the show. A spicy white vinegar called Datu Puti is widely used in the Philippines. Other popular choices around the world include tahini, currywurst, and aioli.

Do you have a favorite condiment? What do you spread on your sandwiches? Do you dip your fries in ketchup? Maybe you use mustard, mayonnaise, or ranch. The next time you’re at the grocery story, consider picking up a condiment you haven’t tried before. You never know—you could find your new favorite!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1

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Try It Out

Hungry yet? Top off today's Wonder of the Day with a heaping helping of the following activities:

  • Up for a short field trip to the supermarket? Ask an adult friend or family member to take you to a local grocery store to look for condiments. Sure, the ketchup and mustard will be easy to find, but you may have to check other aisles for some of the lesser-known condiments. Don't forget to check to foreign foodsections, too. How many different types of condiments can you locate? If possible, purchase a couple of condiments that you've never tried before. Bring them home, make a meal, and give them a try. What do you think? You never know when you might discover your new favorite condiment!
  • Do you love chips and salsa? Who doesn't, right? Did you know you can make your own salsa right at home? Jump online to check out Cooking with Kids: Easy Homemade Salsa. You'll probably need to make a trip to the store to get a few ingredients. Have fun as a family making your own unique version of salsa!
  • The humble hot dog is one of those foods that begs for condiments to be added to it. After all, a simple dog in a bun isn't very exciting. Of course, ketchup and mustard only take you so far. Maybe you can spice up your hot dog by trying out one of these 13 Creative Hot Dog Recipes. Give one a try and see what you think, or come up with a unique hot dog of your own!

Wonder Sources

  • http://www.foodbeast.com/2014/01/30/mayonnaise-dethrones-ketchup-as-most-popular-condiment (accessed 27 May 2020)
  • http://gothamist.com/2014/01/30/america_best_condiment.php (accessed 27 May 2020)
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/18/condiments_n_4980858.html (accessed 27 May 2020)
  • https://www.southernliving.com/news/most-popular-condiment-us (accessed 27 May 2020)
  • https://www.mashed.com/157373/the-most-popular-condiments-from-around-the-world/ (accessed 27 May 2020)

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What’s the Most Popular Condiment? (2024)

FAQs

What is the best condiment? ›

The top 10 most popular condiments have something in common - they can change an average meal into a great one.
  • Yellow mustard.
  • Relish.
  • Vinegar.
  • Wasabi.
  • Hot sauce.
  • Dijon mustard.
  • Mayonnaise.
  • Ketchup.
26 Jun 2022

What are 5 condiments? ›

Here are five of the most popular condiments and the lowdown on their nutrition content.
  • Condiment #1: Ketchup. It seems like no restaurant table is complete without the signature red bottle of Heinz ketchup. ...
  • Condiment #2: Mustard. ...
  • Condiment #3: Hot Sauce. ...
  • Condiment #4: Mayonnaise. ...
  • Condiment #5: Salsa.
18 Sept 2014

Whats the most popular condiment in America? ›

Mayonnaise Beats Ketchup as Most Popular Condiment in America.

What is the least popular condiment? ›

According to the results of a survey conducted in June 2021, the most hated condiment by consumers in the United States is hot sauce, with approximately 24 percent of respondents indicating that they hate hot sauce. In second place was relish, which was hated by around 21 percent of respondents.

What is a common condiment? ›

Here are some of the most popular: Mayonnaise. Creamy, eggy mayonnaise is in a perpetual fight for the most-used condiment in the U.S. Made with oil and eggs, this tasty concoction is often added to sandwiches, salads, and dips. Ketchup.

What are the top 5 condiments in America? ›

America's most commonly-used condiments
  • Ketchup. This tomato sauce is added to fries, onion rings, sandwiches, meatloaf, hot dogs and more. ...
  • Soy sauce. Another oft-used condiment in the U.S. is soy sauce. ...
  • Salsa. Take a look in the refrigerator of 10 of your closest friends. ...
  • Mustard. ...
  • Hot sauce.
7 May 2015

What are condiments Write 2 examples? ›

Condiments are sometimes added prior to serving, for example, in a sandwich made with ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise. Some condiments are used during cooking to add flavor or texture: barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, Marmite and sour cream are examples.

What are the top 5 sauces? ›

What are the five mother sauces of classical cuisine?
  1. Béchamel. You may know béchamel sauce as the white sauce that gives chicken pot pie its creamy texture, or as the binder for all that cheese in macaroni and cheese. ...
  2. Velouté ...
  3. Espagnole. ...
  4. Sauce Tomate. ...
  5. Hollandaise.

What are the three condiments? ›

You know the triad we're talking about: ketchup, mustard, relish.

What are the 4 main sauces? ›

When we talk sauces, we often talk about the “mother sauces.” These five basic sauces—tomate, béchamel, espagnole, hollandaise, and velouté—form the foundations of French cooking, and by proxy, of a lot of cooking world-wide.

What are the 5 modern sauces? ›

Five basic types of sauces appear over and over again on menus and in cookbooks that feature the kind of vegetable-heavy, flavor-dense food that cooks and eaters favor today: yogurt sauce, pepper sauce, herb sauce, tahini sauce and pesto.

Is milk a condiment? ›

If you add milk to cereal, is said milk now a beverage, broth, or sauce? No. It's not a beverage because you don't drink it. It's not a sauce because it's not a “condiment or relish for food” (per Merriam Webster).

What is America's #1 favorite food? ›

The Number 1 Most Popular Foods in America are Hamburgers!

What sells more ketchup or salsa? ›

Ever since 1992, salsa has consistently outsold ketchup every year in the United States.

What is the #1 food in America? ›

Ask a handful of people to guess America's favorite foods, and you'll likely get some similar answers. It's no secret that pizza, burgers, and fries are big sellers at both fast-food and traditional restaurants.

What is the unhealthiest condiment? ›

Unhealthy condiments to limit
  • Ranch dressing. Ranch dressing is high in calories with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) providing 129 calories. ...
  • Fat-free salad dressing. ...
  • Barbecue sauce. ...
  • Pancake syrup. ...
  • Queso. ...
  • Margarine. ...
  • Teriyaki sauce. ...
  • Artificial sweeteners.
29 Sept 2018

What's more popular ketchup or mayo? ›

Then there's people who prefer BBQ or peri-peri, but they're in the minority. Until recently, ketchup has been the dominant force in the condiment charts, but mayo has now officially pipped red sauce to the post.

What's more popular mustard or mayo? ›

If you think mayo coming in third in our poll is surprising, wait until we tell you that mustard came in last. Yep, that's right. Of the five options we gave to those being polled, mustard was the least favorite, garnering just 14.22% (89 votes).

What is the rarest sauce? ›

Black Crown Hot Sauce - The rarest hot sauce in the world.

A distinctive hot sauce made with one of the rarest tropical fruits in the world - The renowned Antigua Black Pineapple. Once paired with rip roaring scotch bonnet peppers this fiery Hot Sauce brightens up every dish with bold heat and deep island flavor.

Which is the tastiest sauce in the world? ›

10 Best Rated Sauces in the World
  • Sauce. Nam phrik. THAILAND. shutterstock. ...
  • Sauce. Vietnamese Fish Sauce (Nước chấm) VIETNAM. shutterstock. ...
  • Dip. Muhammara. Aleppo. Syria. ...
  • Sauce. Hoisin Sauce. CHINA. shutterstock. ...
  • Meat-based Sauce. Ragù alla Bolognese. Bologna. Italy. ...
  • Dip. Tzatziki. GREECE. shutterstock. ...
  • Sauce. Mole. MEXICO. ...
  • Sauce. Tkemali. GEORGIA.
9 Nov 2022

What is the tastiest sauce? ›

Here are the 100 best sauces to make your food wet and delicious.
  • Soy Sauce.
  • Ketchup.
  • Mayonnaise.
  • Horse Radish.
  • Sweet and Sour.
  • Polynesian.
  • Duck Sauce.
  • Fish Sauce.
21 Aug 2012

What isn't a condiment? ›

Anything that can be eaten on its own — like a standalone dish — doesn't count as a condiment. Hummus isn't a condiment because you can eat it as a standalone thing. I'm on the fence about guacamole, though. In my opinion, salsa is a condiment, and ketchup/mustard/mayo (I swear by Kewpie) are for sure.”

What are condiments short answer? ›

Condiments are prepared food compounds containing one or more spices, or spice extracts, which, when added to a food after it has been served, enhance the flavor of the food (Farrell, 1985).

What is the most popular hot sauce? ›

The findings revealed that the most popular hot sauce in the United States is Huy Fong Sriracha.

What is the number one selling sauce? ›

According to the data, Americans made Sriracha the most bought hot sauce in 31 states.

What is Canada's favorite condiment? ›

Can you believe it? Canada's fave is guacamole! Okay but honestly this does make a lot of sense, it's hard not to love this delicious dip. Clearly, other countries feel the same as guacamole stole the spot as the world's favorite condiment. In second place for the world was mayo and then salsa.

Is sauce a condiment? ›

The definition of a condiment is: “a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food to impart a particular flavor or to enhance its flavor.” So a sauce can be a condiment, but not all condiments can be a sauce.

Is jelly a condiment? ›

For example, jelly and jam are usually viewed as condiments, but peanut butter is not. Likewise, salsa is often included, while guacamole is not.

What is a condiment in food? ›

A condiment is a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food, after cooking, to impart a specific flavor, to enhance the flavor, or to complement the dish. A table condiment or table sauce is more specifically a condiment that is served separately from the food and is added to taste by the diner.

What is a sister sauce? ›

A sauce made by adding flavoring to a basic mother sauce is a “sister” sauce.

What is the king of sauces? ›

Béchamel, the classic white sauce, was named after its inventor, Louis XIV's steward Louis de Béchamel. The king of all sauces, it is often referred to as a cream sauce because of its appearance and is probably used most frequently in all types of dishes.

What are 6 common condiments for a sandwich? ›

I've included recipes for 4 of them, and they all have just 5 ingredients or less!
  • 1 - Honey Mustard Mayonnaise. Let's start off with a classic combo: honey mustard mayo! ...
  • 2 - Pesto. Next up, we have one of my favorites: PESTO! ...
  • 3 - Chipotle Mayonnaise. ...
  • 4 - Spicy Avocado. ...
  • 4 - Cream Cheese and Chive. ...
  • 6 - Jam.
11 Sept 2017

Is honey a sauce? ›

Honey alone has been a traditional dipping sauce and spread for centuries. However, food manufacturers are now using it as an ingredient to formulate dynamic spreads, sauces, and dressings that add extra zest to meals.

What is a daughter sauce? ›

Noun. daughter sauce (plural daughter sauces) A sauce made by adding flavoring to a basic mother sauce.

What are the five daughter sauces? ›

Many sauces, often referred to as daughter sauces, can be derived from mother sauces.
  • Béchamel sauce.
  • Espagnole sauce.
  • Velouté sauce.
  • Tomato sauce.
  • Hollandaise sauce.
  • Mayonnaise.

What is a small sauce? ›

A sauce that is derived from a mother sauce and has flavorings and seasonings added to create a new sauce. Also referred to as a "secondary sauce."

What is a thick sauce called? ›

A roux can be white, blond (darker) or brown. Butter, bacon drippings or lard are commonly used fats. Roux is used as a thickening agent for gravy, sauces, soups and stews. It provides the base for a dish, and other ingredients are added after the roux is complete.

What sauces are trending? ›

Spring Flavor Trends for 2022

Today, more U.S. consumers are demanding spices, like jalapeño and chipotle (smoked jalapeño), tajin, hot mustard, smoked paprika, gochujang, harissa, schug, and sambal, as well as chili crisp-oil (infused with crunchy pieces of peppers, scallions, garlic, and so on).

Is Mayo a mother sauce? ›

There are five different mother sauces: Hollandaise, Mayonnaise, Bechamel, Veloute, and Espagnol. And with emulsions on the brain, you guessed it–each sauce relies on some kind of emulsion to hold it together. You're probably most familiar with hollandaise and mayo.

Is Nutella a condiment? ›

Nutella was found to be the top condiment in much of the Northeast, particularly in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, according to a survey from Influenster.

Is coffee a condiment? ›

The term condiment originally described pickled or preserved foods, but has shifted in meaning over time to include other small packaged goods such as coffee and tea.

Is Onion a condiment? ›

Nowadays, onions can be found in every market in the world and are still used as a basic condiment in many recipes.

Is salsa the number 1 condiment? ›

While salsa might be the number one condiment in our hearts, it's not the number one condiment in America. That crown goes to mayonnaise, believe it or not.

What is Canada Number 1 food? ›

1. Poutine. You'll find poutine on most Canadian menus, but its real home is in Quebec. The savory dish combines fries, cheese, and gravy.

What is Canada famous dish? ›

1. Poutine. Few Canadian dishes are as world-renowned as the glorious creation known as poutine. Crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds and rich gravy all combine to create the meal of dreams, and this French Canadian food is so popular that it can now be found all around the world.

What food is most eaten in Canada? ›

Poutine. Another dish you can't miss when you go to Quebec is poutine! Many people would say that this is the most popular Canadian dish, and what's not to love? Fresh cut fries, piping hot gravy, and melty cheese curds!

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