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Ingredients

Mustard Lovers, Which Mustard Is Your Favorite?

This popular condiment comes in many varieties; find the one that’s right for you.
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Published Feb. 1, 2023.

Mustard Lovers, Which Mustard Is Your Favorite?

Mustard is used on everything from hot dogs and burgers to pretzels and sandwiches, incorporated in dishes like potato salad, whisked into salad dressings, and used to flavor meat and fish before cooking. 

At its most basic, prepared mustard is made from ground mustard seeds and liquid. But that’s just the beginning. Numerous kinds of mustard can be created by using different varieties of mustard seeds and mixing other ingredients with those seeds. Mustards can be sweet or spicy and creamy or coarse.

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Here are some of the most common mustards you’ll come across.

Yellow Mustard

This smooth, mild condiment is made from sweet yellow mustard seeds, which are not particularly spicy. It’s the standard “American-style” mustard we reach for to add zip without overwhelming other ingredients. Yellow mustard is a favorite for topping hot dogs.

Product Review

Yellow Mustard

Mild but not dull, this ballpark and backyard classic punches up everything from hot dogs to salad dressing.
Read Our Review

Brown Mustard

Made from smaller, hotter brown mustard seeds, brown mustard packs an assertive, spicy punch. It’s thicker and a little more coarse than yellow mustard, but it is still smooth enough to smear on pastrami or rye bread. And it goes perfectly with Ballpark Pretzels.

Product Review

Brown Mustard

Products awash in vinegar didn’t cut the mustard with our tasters.
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Dijon Mustard

Also made from the hotter brown mustard seeds, Dijon mustard packs a wallop of clean, nose-tingling heat. This type of mustard is typically very smooth in texture, making it the ideal choice for salad dressings or creamy sauces.

Product Review

Dijon Mustard

What traits guarantee a Dijon mustard that packs a wallop of clean heat and balanced acidity? Youth and, surprisingly, a little fat.
Read Our Review

Whole-Grain Mustard

Whole-grain, or coarse, mustards have been ground just enough to bind the seeds into a paste, giving them a coarse texture so each bite provides pops of mustard seeds. They can vary in flavor but typically pack sharp heat cut with some acidity. Try it in our Whole-Grain Mustard Chicken Salad.

Product Review

Whole-Grain Mustard

For extra texture and a pleasant crunch, reach for one of these mustards instead of your go-to Dijon or yellow mustard.
Read Our Review

Honey Mustard

A mixture of mustard and honey, this condiment balances the heat with sweet honey notes. Some can be sweeter than others if they have a little sugar added as well. Honey mustard is a great companion for chicken nuggets and ham sandwiches.

Product Review

Honey Mustard

The sweet heat of this popular condiment adds zip to sandwiches and snacks. We also love it as a dip.
Read Our Review

Creole Mustard

This mustard is coarse and grainy, with a texture somewhere between those of whole-grain and spicy brown mustards. It’s “assertively vinegary” in flavor and packs some heat—but not as much as brown mustard or Dijon.

Now that you know all about these different kinds of mustard, be sure to stock up on a few varieties and try them in (or on) your favorite dishes.

Recipe

Easy Homemade Mustard

Here's a quick way to turn the box of powdered mustard sitting in the cupboard into prepared mustard.
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