Thursday, August 21, 2014

Hellmann's Big H Burger Sauce

In 1979, Hellmann's introduced Big H Burger Sauce a product that was briefly on the market. It was a near perfect carbon copy of a famous burger "special sauce" used by a famous worldwide mega-conglomerate burger chain. And that might have been why this product disappeared as quickly as it came. But I could put that stuff on nearly everything - including hot dogs and it would just taste FANTASTIC. I know it was popular because everyone was talking about it back then.  So it must have sold very, very well.

But ever since then, finding anything about this product was next to impossible. It was like the product never existed. For years, I tried to describe it. But people would think I was talking about Thousand Island salad dressing (this was distinctly different.)

It was the only product marketed by Hellmann's on the West Coast that wasn't under the Best Foods brand name (as Hellmann's Mayonnaise has always been.) There were a few attempts to consolidate the name under the Hellmann's brand west of The Rocky Mountains. But we West Coasters FLATLY wouldn't hear of it and the idea never got off the ground. And we still won't. 

So to this day, Hellmann's mayo is still known as Best Foods mayonnaise west of The Rockies. And that's that. Period.

 

9 comments:

  1. I had a cheese burger tonight and wished I had some of this. Our family bought this product too. Who needed McDonalds when you can get the same thing at home? Which probably explains why it didn't last. Too bad!

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  2. I have tried many times to explain to people that this product existed, I at the time was 10 or 11 years old I am now 51 and have never forgot about Big H, Loved it on burgers and Yes it was a very close product to the secret sauce placed on a Big Mac it was also good on french fries, Hot dogs and also made a great dip for parties, I wish they still made this product, I bet it would fly off the shelf's as it did before, It was no where near thousand island dressings, Thank you now I can show people that it was once made All things Hellmann's is the best you can buy, and Big H was one of those products :)

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  3. I LOVED THIS STUFF!! We had It on the East Coast too! I have been googling It to no avail! I was beginning to think I imagined It!! I wish we could have It back---It was great on EVERYTHING!!!!! Soooooo delicious!!

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  4. NOT FAR FROM A MIX OF MAYO AND KETCHUP, WITH SOME RELISH
    (PICKLE) ADDED, IF I REMEMBER. NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE!

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    Replies
    1. THANK YOU FOR SCREAMING YOUR SUGGESTION! IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO NOT SEE LOWER CASE LETTERS! WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN WHAT YOU WERE MUMBLING ABOUT!

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  5. I just saw it in a magazine I was clearing out.
    Interesting to learn it was short-lived.

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  6. Was hankering for some Big H today, which got me surfing the web for more info. Thanks for validating my memory!

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    Replies
    1. A lot of people remember this, but couldn't find any proof it existed. I wanted to set the record straight. Thanks for reading! Cheers!

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  7. Here is a link to a site by a person who was a manager at Mc Donalds back when the franchise still made their food good. From what I understand, the following recipe is from a book that the store would keep in case they ran out of "secret sauce" - they could send an employee the the market to make a batch right at the restaurant. Here is the recipe:
    Big Mac Special Sauce
    1/4 cup KRAFT Miracle Whip
    1/4 cup mayonnaise
    2 tablespoons, heaping, WISHBONE deluxe French salad dressing (the orange stuff)
    1/2 tablespoon HEINZ sweet relish
    2 teaspoons, heaping, VLASIC dill pickle relish (Heinz dill relish also works)
    1 teaspoon sugar
    1 teaspoon dried, minced onion
    1 teaspoon white vinegar
    1 teaspoon ketchup
    1/8 teaspoon salt

    Mix everything very well in a small container. There better be no streaks! Microwave 25 seconds, and stir well
    again. Cover, and refrigerate at LEAST 1 hour before using. (to allow all of the flavors to "meld") Makes nearly
    1 cup... enough for about 8 Big Macs.
    Here is a link to the site.
    http://www.epicconstructions.com/mirror/mcd/

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