Homemade Yellow Mustard Recipe (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · Jul 12, 2019 · 33 Comments · Jump to Recipe

With this homemade yellow mustard recipe, you'll never need to buy overprocessed yellow mustard again. All you need is mustard powder, water, vinegar, and a few other optional ingredients.

Are you a fan of yellow mustard? Many of us start out with yellow mustard as kids, the cheap stuff squirted from bright yellow bottles. It's a classic American condiment, easy to find, and essential as a topping for certain foods.

I couldn't imagine as a kid not having some simple yellow mustard on hand for squeezing onto my hot dog, my favorite sandwiches, or a burger fresh off the grill.

The thing is, you don't have to limit yourself to store bought condiments, classic yellow mustard included. This homemade version is so much better. You can make it yourself at home with a few simple ingredients. Once you've learned how to make yellow mustard, the world opens up to experimentation.

You're free to include additional ingredients and vary up the ratios and flavors.

What is Yellow Mustard Made From?

Yellow mustard is made by mixing yellow mustard powder with some sort of liquid, such as water, vinegar, wine or beer, along with salt and other spices. The simplest yellow mustard is made simply with ground mustard or dry mustard powder and water. They are mixed together to form a paste that you can flavor to your liking and adjust to your own personal tastes.

Read more about some possible adjustments in the Recipe Notes section below.

The Flavor of Yellow Mustard

The flavors of yellow mustard are often described as pungent, spicy, hot, or sharp, much like the powder of horseradish or wasabi.

Yellow mustard powder is itself made by grinding yellow mustard seeds, which come from the mustard plant, into a powder form. There are three different types of mustard seeds - white or yellow mustard seeds, brown mustard seeds, and black mustard seeds. You can make mustard from whole mustard seeds as well, but that would result in more of a grain mustard, not a smooth mustard.

When you mix ground mustard seeds with water, a chemical reaction occurs, forming a mustard oil, which can vary from plant to plant and with different colored seeds. This variability can result in different flavors, intensity and pungency.

You can learn more about them and also how to make mustard from my post, How to Make Mustard - the Basics.

Let's talk about how we make it at home, shall we?

Homemade Yellow Mustard Ingredients

Yellow Mustard Powder.
Water.
Distilled White Vinegar.

Optional Seasonings

Turmeric.For color.
Garlic Powder.
Salt.
Cayenne Powder.Or use paprika for a milder heat.

How to Make Homemade Yellow Mustard - The Recipe Method

First, gather up your ingredients. For this recipe, I'm using ¾ cup yellow mustard powder, 1 cup water, ½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder.

Once your ingredients are ready, whisk together the mustard powder, water, vinegar and seasonings together in a medium bowl. Make sure there are no lumps.

Next, pour the mixture into a wide pan or pot and bring to a quick boil. Reduce the heat and simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until you achieve your desired thickness.

Think of your typical “yellow mustard”. I’ve made this recipe many times and the thickening time can vary, usually depending on the amount of heat.

Remove from heat and cool. Store in a sealable container in the refrigerator. It will thicken as it cools.

Boom! Quite easy, right? Who knew making homemade yellow mustard would be so simple. It's such an uber American condiment, widely loved across the United States.

Recipe Tips & Notes

This is a basic recipe, with many optional ingredients you can add. You really only need mustard powder, water and vinegar, maybe some salt. By adjusting the basic ingredients and bringing in others, you can make a huge variety of mustard.

The Spice Factor

I like a bit of kick to my mustards, so I've opted to include cayenne pepper here. You can omit altogether for a yellow mustard that is more like what you get in the store, or use paprika or smoked paprika for a touch of heat. If you'd like a much hotter version, try using ghost pepper powder.

Thickening the Mustard

I've seen some recipes that call for flour in them, using the flour as a thickener. Flour is not needed. Your mustard will thicken up just fine if you stick to this recipe and the ratios I've provided.

Thickening time really has to do with the HEAT. Simmer on low and it will take longer to thicken. Kick up the heat a bit and it will thicken more quickly, but it can splatter. Keep this in mind.

Also, do not add extra mustard powder after the fact to thicken it up. Just keep heating it and stirring, and it will thicken up accordingly.

Texture

This yellow mustard is noticeably grainier than what you're used to from the grocery store. This is because the mustard is not overly processed or strained. You can, of course, strain it through a fine mesh sieve to achieve a smoother mustard, but it is not necessary. The grainy texture gives it an interesting character.

About the Vinegar

I've used a simple distilled white vinegar for this recipe, but feel free to experiment. Different types of vinegar will give you different results and flavors. Apple cider vinegar, for example, is sweeter and juicier.

About the Liquids

Instead of water, try substituting it for wine or light beer, or a combination of wine and vinegar. There are many options for flavorful liquids, such as fruit juices and more, that will achieve the same results with different flavors. This is why making mustard at home is so fun. I've always loved a good beer mustard.

About the Turmeric

Turmeric brings in the vibrant yellow color of a yellow mustard. I've used a whole teaspoon because I was looking to achieve an extremely yellow mustard. Feel free to dial that back and use only a half a teaspoon or even less.

That's it, my friends! I hope you enjoy your homemade yellow mustard!Where would we be without yellow mustard? It's essential for recipes like the famous Chicago-Style Hot Dog, the Cuban Sandwich or Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce.

If you're interested in learning more about the awesome world of mustard making, check out my post - How to Make Mustard - the Basics.

Storage & Leftovers

Storing yourHomemade Yellow Mustardin anairtight containerin the fridge may allow you to store the leftovers for up to 1-2 months. To maximize the storage life, make sure to refrigerate the mustard promptly.

Try Some of My Other Popular Mustard Recipes

Roasted Hatch Chile-Beer Mustard – Recipe
Homemade Whole Grain Spicy Beer Mustard
Homemade Spicy Mustard
Beer-Honey Mustard Recipe
Pickled Mustard Seeds

See the list of mustard recipes in ourHomemade Condiments Recipes. Try it alongside my homemade ketchup recipe. Ketchup and mustard are best friends.

Here are some links to purchase mustard seeds from Amazon. These are affiliate links, my friends. I buy them in bulk for making mustard whenver I want. Great stuff!

Let me know how your mustard turns out! Send pics! Enjoy!

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Homemade Yellow Mustard Recipe

With this homemade yellow mustard recipe, you'll never need to buy overprocessed yellow mustard again. All you need is mustard powder, water, vinegar, and a few other optional ingredients.

Save Recipe

Course: Main Course, Seasonings

Cuisine: American

Keyword: coleslaw recipe, condiment, mustard, spicy

Ingredients

¾ cup yellow mustard powder
1 cup water
½ cup distilled white vinegar

OPTIONAL SEASONINGS

1 teaspoon turmeric for color – use ¼ to ½ teaspoon for less pronounced yellow color
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt or to taste
¼ teaspoon cayenne powder or use paprika for a milder heat

Instructions

Whisk together the mustard powder, water, vinegar and seasonings together in a medium bowl. Make sure there are no lumps.
Pour into a wide pan or pot and bring to a quick boil. Reduce the heat and simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until you achieve your desired thickness. Think of your typical “yellow mustard”. I’ve made this recipe many times and the thickening time can vary, usually depending on the amount of heat.
Remove from heat and cool. Store in a sealable container in the refrigerator. It will thicken as it cools.

Video

Notes

This will last 3 months or longer. The flavors mellow a bit over time.

Makes about 1.5 cups.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 21kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 49mgPotassium: 32mgVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.4mg

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Allen Henderson says
February 24, 2024 at 4:56 am

But the one that I remember being sold in the shops and at BBQ's was also sweet in flavor and tasted slightly like pickles. I buy/use a lot of mustard, almost daily on my ham salad rolls, sometimes I add honey, but from last week I suddenly felt like yellow mustard. Thinking back to my childhood. I found two bottles in the one shop only, and they were very expensive, and small. So I now intend to make my own, but I want that same traditional taste. Yours is close, I think a bit of sugar will help it. Any other ideas would be appreciated, thanks in advance.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  February 24, 2024 at 9:03 am
  
  Allen, you can add in more honey/brown sugar to up the sweetness, and extra vinegar for the "pickle" flavor. Try apple cider vinegar, or the pickling juice from either pickles or a jar of pickled jalapenos. Much will be experimenting with ratios to get close to the one you know and love. Good luck!
  Reply
Jenny Hooper says
January 21, 2024 at 12:20 pm

Thank you so much for this recipe. Due to an illness I have, I have had to cut out a lot of foods. Now I'm at the reintroduction stage of my diet, and have been blocked at reintroducing some things because of other ingredients they contain. With my illness and the diet I am on I cannot have distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or any vinegars made from grapes(wine vinegars). I happen to come across coconut vinegar which actually smells and taste a little bit like apple cider vinegar. I used that in this recipe and I am stoked to say I know have mustard! Thank you!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  January 21, 2024 at 12:53 pm
  
  Glad this helped, Jenny. I'm sure it's a HUGE change for you, very jarring! Wishing you the best in adapting as quickly as possible.
  Reply
Tracy Kozinski says
June 28, 2023 at 3:56 pm

The end product always turns out bitter, even after letting it sit. any ideas, anyone?
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  June 29, 2023 at 6:57 am
  
  Tracy, you can add a bit of honey or other sweet element to counteract any bitterness that you taste. It is likely from the powder you started with, which CAN have some bitterness. Also, if you let it sit a few days, some of that bitterness should mellow. Let me know how it goes for you.
  Reply
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Tawnia says
June 24, 2022 at 7:11 pm

I routinely check your site for different condiments. Im on a mission to make everything I can, eliminating unnecessary ingredients from our foods. I tried another mustard recipe, it was ok. I'm very pleased with this one and it will be my go to. I have found if I don't taste the mustard for at least 24 hours, the bitterness others mentioned goes away. I almost threw my first try away until I read that it needs to sit a couple days. Been my experience anyway. Thank you for another great recipe!
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  June 25, 2022 at 6:31 am
  
  Glad you enjoyed it, Tawnia! Thanks!
  Reply
Kara says
June 05, 2022 at 7:08 am

Do you think I could replace the vinegar with lemon juice or should I try just water for liquid? We are restricted from using any vinegar and why I’m looking to make my own mustard.
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  June 05, 2022 at 8:26 am
  
  You can use lemon juice, though other liquid is fine in this case. Let me know how it turns out for you. Enjoy!
  Reply
Dave says
May 31, 2022 at 12:34 pm

I made your habanero mustard and does that one last three months as well?
Reply
- Mike Hultquist says
  May 31, 2022 at 12:37 pm
  
  Dave, it will likely last longer, but since it has habaneros in it, it is best to use within a few months. Just keep an eye on it, make sure there is no spoilage, and always keep refrigerated in an airtight container. Best!
  Reply
  - Dave says
    June 03, 2022 at 12:53 pm
    
    Thanks! Love chilli pepper mad!
    Reply
Laura says
March 06, 2022 at 10:11 pm

Happy to find you as I was searching for a salt-free yellow mustard. I see a couple comments about bitterness & that most likely it's due to the type of mustard powder. So, can you say what brand you use that doesn't have the bitterness in the end? Thanks!!!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  March 07, 2022 at 2:02 pm
  
  I make this with different brands of mustard powder, but Coleman's is always good quality.
  Reply
Ray says
March 29, 2021 at 8:12 am

Very good Recipe, i’ve made it and followed your instructions but it is hardly bitter, how to remove bitterness from it?
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  March 29, 2021 at 8:29 am
  
  Ray, you can add a bit of honey or other sweet element to counteract any bitterness that you taste. It is likely from the powder you started with, which CAN have some bitterness. Let me know how it goes for you.
  Reply
Mary says
February 24, 2021 at 5:11 pm

Great, EASY recipe! For my second batch I added Wasabi powder to the basic ingredients, served with cream cheese wontons - super tasty!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  February 24, 2021 at 6:01 pm
  
  Awesome! Easy, isn't it? I love your additions! Customize! Make it your own. Perfect.
  Reply
Ajada says
February 21, 2021 at 5:21 pm

Hi. I was wondering if you had ever canned this recipe. I would like to can it in small jars so I only have to make it like once a year.
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  February 22, 2021 at 6:47 am
  
  Ajada, I have not canned this, as mustard lasts very, very long in the refrigerator. However, you can easily process it in a water bath for stable shelf storage. Enjoy.
  Reply
Jeff Glackin says
February 15, 2021 at 4:49 pm

This mustard is amazing! Thank you!!
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  February 16, 2021 at 6:51 am
  
  Yes! Thanks, Jeff! Glad you enjoyed it. Reminds me, I need another batch!
  Reply
PhilipO says
August 04, 2020 at 3:37 pm

Michael this was great! I did it two ways. The first was simply replacing the cayenne with smoked paprika. The second kept the smoked paprika, replaced the water with Sauvignon Blanc and the white vinegar with apple cider vinegar. In both cases I let the mixture sit for two hours before cooking........I can`t go back to "store bought" now
Philip
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  August 05, 2020 at 3:04 pm
  
  Great, Philip! Super happy you enjoyed it!! Love it.
  Reply
Minx says
August 02, 2020 at 11:32 pm

Very easy recipe. However I have a question, my mustard turned out exceptionally bitter. What can be the cause of this? The only item different was distilled white grape vinegar. Do you think it can be the quality of the mustard powder used?
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  August 04, 2020 at 9:48 am
  
  Minx, there could be some inherent bitterness in the mustard seeds themselves, and also the liquid used to hydrate them. That is easily balanced by adding other ingredients, such as honey, etc.
  Reply
Laceher says
August 01, 2020 at 11:53 pm

Hello, how do you make Dijon style mustard out of this simple powder method?
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  August 02, 2020 at 7:54 am
  
  Dijon is made with wine, though you should be able to make it with powder.
  Reply
Eydie says
July 18, 2020 at 2:51 pm

Can u can/process in a pressure canner or hot water bath and if so how long
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  July 19, 2020 at 8:36 am
  
  Eydie, absolutely. Hot water bath should be 10-15 minutes. Check your pressure canner settings for mustard times.
  Reply
Ashley Hotter says
November 03, 2019 at 9:58 am

how long does it typically last in the fridge?
Reply
- Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
  November 03, 2019 at 12:59 pm
  
  Ashley, mustard can last many months in the refrigerator or longer. Just keep it in a sealed container.
  Reply

FAQs

What are the ingredients in yellow mustard? ›

DISTILLED VINEGAR, WATER, #1 GRADE MUSTARD SEED, SALT, TURMERIC, PAPRIKA, SPICE, NATURAL FLAVORS AND GARLIC POWDER.

How long does homemade mustard last? ›

Homemade mustard can be stored in an airtight jar or container, in the refrigerator for maximum freshness. How long does it keep? When properly stored, homemade mustard will keep for up to 1 year. What do you use Whole Grain Mustard for?