How to Use Mustard for Memorial Day and outdoor cooking

Rooted in Horseradish: From the Kitchen of the Zing Masters™

Burgers, Brats, and Classic Salads like Potato Salad

Memorial Day weekend marks the official start of summer grilling season. Burgers go on the grill, brats stay sizzling, and picnic tables fill with classic sides like potato salad. One ingredient that belongs across the entire Memorial Day spread is mustard.

Mustard is more than a topping. It enhances grilled meat, helps seasonings stick before cooking, and brings balance and tang to summer salads. With its wide range of flavors, Silver Spring Mustard makes it easy to use mustard in multiple ways throughout a Memorial Day meal.

What is Mustard?

Mustard is a condiment made by combining crushed mustard seeds with water, vinegar, and seasonings. When the seeds are crushed, they release natural compounds that give mustard its iconic flavor and gentle heat.

Different ingredients and seed styles create distinct flavor profiles. That’s why mustard can range from classic and mild to bold and savory. Silver Spring Mustards span that spectrum with varieties like plain yellow, horseradish, Dijon, whole grain, dill, chipotle, jalapeño, and honey. Each offers a slightly different balance of tang, texture, and heat, making mustard a versatile ingredient across grilling and summer dishes.

Why Mustard Matters for Memorial Day Meals

Memorial Day menus often combine grilled foods with creamy, chilled sides. Mustard helps bring balance across the entire menu.

For Memorial Day cooking, mustard:

• Cuts through the richness of burgers and brats
• Brings brightness to mayo?based salads
• Helps seasonings adhere to food

With varieties that range from classic yellow to bold, savory blends, Silver Spring Mustard gives grillers flexibility without needing extra ingredients.

Explore the full lineup of Silver Spring flavors here:
All Silver Spring Mustards

How to use Mustard on Burgers and Brats

Burgers

Mustard enhances burgers in more ways than most people expect.

As a classic topping, mustard adds tang that balances beef and melted cheese. In burgers sauces, it blends well with mayonnaise or sour cream for a creamy but not heavy finish.

Some grillers also apply a very thin layer of mustard during cooking. Used sparingly, it adds depth to surface flavor without overpowering the beef.

Burger recipes from Silver Spring Foods:
All Recipes | Recipes Made With Silver Spring Products

Brats

Brats and mustard are a time-tested pairing. Mustard’s tang and heat balances and adds complexity to the savory, juicy nature of grilled sausage. Popular ways to serve mustard with brats include offering multiple mustard styles, pairing mustard with grilled onions, or mixing it into warm sauerkraut.

For classic brat cookouts, Silver Spring Beer ’n Brat Mustard is a natural fit. Made with horseradish to add savory depth and a gentle kick, it complements grilled sausage without overpowering it. The bold, balanced flavor works straight from the jar or stirred into toppings, making it an easy go?to for Memorial Day grilling.

Silver Spring Beer’n Brat Mustard award winning from the National Mustard Museum:
Mustard — Tagged "Award Winners" — National Mustard Museum

Using Mustard as a Binder for Grilled Meats

Many grillers use mustard as a binder before grilling. A mustard binder is a thin layer of mustard spread on meat to help seasonings stick.

Why grillers use mustard as a binder

• Helps dry rubs and spices adhere evenly
• Supports browning on the grill
• Helps bind oil and seasonings to the meat’s surface

Mustard in Memorial Day Salads

Mustard is just as important off the grill as it is on it, especially in classic picnic sides.

Potato Salad

Mustard plays a key role in many potato salad recipes. It adds tang, balances creamy textures, and prevents the salad from tasting flat.

Classic yellow mustard delivers traditional picnic flavor, while deli?style or stone?ground mustards add a more savory twist.

Potato Salad recipes from Silver Spring Foods:
All Recipes | Recipes Made With Silver Spring Products

Other Summer Salads

Mustard works equally well in pasta salads, coleslaw, and vegetable salads by helping dressings stay balanced and evenly mixed. Whether the base is creamy or vinegar?based, mustard brings structure and brightness.

Macaroni salad with Silver Spring Dijon Mustard:
Easy Macaroni Salad | Silver Spring Foods

This article was written by the Silver Spring Zing Masters™, our internal team of culinary innovators and flavor experts, and reviewed by our food science partners who specialize in horseradish processing and heat stability.