Editor's column: What’s your favorite condiment?

By Mike Bollinger

Most everyone, I would think, has a condiment they like more than others.

A little research reveals a wide range of favorite condiments across the United States. In this area, however, one condiment rules.

According to zippia.com, in North Carolina, the favorite is barbecue sauce. This is also true in Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee. In Georgia, the favorite is ketchup. In Kentucky, the favorite is gravy. (Is gravy a condiment?)

Other random favorites include tartar sauce in Montana (they must eat a lot of fish), worcestershire sauce in Nevada, vinaigrette in New Mexico, tabasco sauce in Louisiana and ranch dressing in South Dakota.

Thedailymeal.com lists the 10 most popular condiments in the U.S. What’s the most popular? Mayonnaise. This one confirms my opinion that mayonnaise is indeed the best condiment.

What’s not to like? You can use it on pretty much anything, and it is a key ingredient in coleslaw and pasta salad, to name a couple. It’s also a great dip for fries and is great on a cheeseburger. While I am not brand name driven on most things, for me, and from what I gather for a lot of other people in this part of the world, there’s only one mayo that graces my fridge. Duke’s is by far the best.

Mustard is a favorite on hot dogs and sausages. Ketchup is also a hot dog favorite in addition to being used a lot on fries and burgers. Soy sauce is used as a dip for sushi, dumplings and vegetables and is also used in marinades. Hot sauce will add a little kick to most anything.

Barbecue sauce, of course, is mostly used with barbecue, but is also good with chicken sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs. Sriracha is a blend of chile peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar and salt, and it can be used on anything from Asian dishes to pizza, sandwiches and burgers.

Salsas are mainly used with tortilla chips and come in varying degrees of spiciness. Basil pesto can be stirred into pasta or replace the garlic in garlic bread.

It can also be used as a sandwich spread and a vegetable dip. Horseradish is most commonly used with roast beef.

While I may look strangely at those who don’t like mayonnaise, people will also look strangely at me when I tell them I don’t like ketchup. I’m OK with ketchup being cooked in things, such as meat loaf, but I don’t like it poured on things. I eat my fries with just salt. Fries are one thing I don’t use mayonnaise for.

People will also look strangely at me when I explain my rules for using mayo. I use mayo on sandwiches or burgers that have cheese. And, no other condiments touch those. It’s bread, meat, cheese and mayo.

If a sandwich has only meat, then it’s mustard for me. I don’t under any circumstance eat mustard on cheese.

When people tell me they don’t like mayonnaise, I have a hard time understanding. However, I do my best not to judge those who don’t have a taste for it.

The second favorite is mustard, followed by ketchup, soy sauce, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, sriracha, salsa, basil pesto and horseradish. Of these, I really use only two, mustard and barbecue sauce. I would have thought A-1 sauce might have made this list, but maybe that’s because it isn’t used much except for steak.

So there, I have revealed some of my odd eating habits to the world.

Thedailymeal.com also noted the mosttrusted condiment brand in America. Heinz was the choice there. Hellmann’s was second. Their mayo is not as good as Duke’s, but to each his own.

The good thing about condiments is that there are so many out there that everyone can find one that adds to their sandwich, burger or whatever. Or, if all else fails, eat it plain.

Just keep your mustard off my cheese.