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Custard vs. Mustard — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 5, 2023
Custard is a sweet dessert made with milk and eggs, often thickened with heat, while mustard is a spicy condiment made from mustard seeds.
Custard vs. Mustard — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Custard and Mustard

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Key Differences

Custard is a sweet, creamy dessert made by combining milk or cream with egg yolks, sugar, and typically a thickening agent like cornstarch or flour. It is often flavored with vanilla and cooked until thick, serving as a standalone dish or a filling for pastries. Custard’s texture ranges from a pourable sauce to a firm, molded gel, depending on preparation.
Mustard, in contrast, is a pungent condiment created from the seeds of the mustard plant. The seeds are mixed with liquids like water, vinegar, lemon juice, wine, or beer, and often other flavorings and spices, to create a range of mustards from smooth to grainy textures and from mild to very spicy flavors. Mustard is commonly used to add zest to sandwiches, dressings, and marinades.
The key distinction between custard and mustard is their use in cooking. Custard is typically a dessert or sweet element in dishes, valued for its smooth texture and rich flavor profile. It can be used as a dessert base, in pies, tarts, or as a sauce. Mustard, with its sharp and often hot flavor, is primarily used to enhance savory dishes.
In terms of cultural significance, custard and mustard each have a place. Custard is seen in many forms from the French crème brûlée to the English trifle, showing its versatility and widespread appeal. Mustard has a historical presence, being used as a spice and medicine, and is now a staple in Western and European cuisine, demonstrating the global palate’s appreciation for its tangy kick.
Nutritionally, custard and mustard differ substantially. Custard is rich in proteins and fats, especially if made with full-fat milk or cream, and contains a significant amount of calories from sugar. Mustard is generally low in calories and can be a healthier option for adding flavor without fat, although some prepared mustards can be high in sodium.
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Comparison Chart

Base Ingredients

Milk, cream, and egg yolks.
Mustard seeds and various liquids.

Flavor

Sweet and creamy.
Pungent and tangy.

Culinary Use

Desserts and sweet dishes.
Condiment for savory dishes.

Nutritional Content

High in sugar and fats.
Low in calories, can be high in sodium.

Texture

Thick and smooth to gel-like.
Can range from smooth to grainy.

Compare with Definitions

Custard

A sweetened mixture of milk and eggs, often baked or set.
She enjoyed the homemade vanilla custard after dinner.

Mustard

A condiment made from the seeds of the mustard plant.
He added a teaspoon of mustard to the salad dressing.

Custard

A dessert or sweet sauce made with a thickened dairy base.
The custard for the pie filling was perfectly silky.

Mustard

A pungent yellow or brownish-yellow sauce.
She preferred yellow mustard on her hot dogs.

Custard

A thick, creamy mixture, used as a filling for pastries or cakes.
He filled the éclairs with rich chocolate custard.

Mustard

A plant whose seeds or leaves are used in cooking.
The recipe called for fresh mustard greens.

Custard

A term often used for various kinds of sweet puddings.
The custard was set into a mold and chilled overnight.

Mustard

A paste or sauce seasoned with mustard seeds.
The sandwich had a thick layer of mustard.

Custard

A sweet course in a meal, often made with a custard base.
Custard topped with fresh berries was their special of the day.

Mustard

A spice prepared from ground mustard seeds.
Mustard is essential for her spice rub mixture.

Custard

Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on sweetened milk, cheese, or cream cooked with egg or egg yolk to thicken it, and sometimes also flour, corn starch, or gelatin. Depending on the recipe, custard may vary in consistency from a thin pouring sauce (crème anglaise) to the thick pastry cream (crème pâtissière) used to fill éclairs.

Mustard

A hot-tasting yellow or brown paste made from the crushed seeds of certain plants, typically eaten with meat or used as a cooking ingredient
Dijon mustard
Mustard sauce

Custard

A dessert or sweet sauce made with milk and eggs, or milk and a proprietary powder.

Mustard

The yellow-flowered Eurasian plant of the cabbage family whose seeds are used to make mustard.

Custard

A dish consisting of milk, eggs, flavoring, and sometimes sugar, boiled or baked until set.

Mustard

A brownish yellow colour
A mustard sweater

Custard

A type of sauce made from milk and eggs (and usually sugar, and sometimes vanilla or other flavourings) and thickened by heat, served hot poured over desserts, as a filling for some pies and cakes, or cold and solidified; also used as a base for some savoury dishes, such as quiches, or eaten as a stand-alone dessert; egg custard.

Mustard

Any of various Eurasian plants of the mustard family, especially white mustard, Indian mustard, and black mustard, which are cultivated for their pungent seeds and edible leaves.

Custard

A mixture of milk and eggs, sweetened, and baked or boiled.

Mustard

A condiment made from the powdered seeds of certain of these plants.

Custard

Sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked or boiled or frozen

Mustard

A member of the mustard family.

Mustard

A dark yellow to light olive brown.

Mustard

Any of a group of toxic organic compounds that include mustard gas and the nitrogen mustards.

Mustard

A plant of certain species of the genus Brassica, or of related genera (especially Sinapis alba, in the family Brassicaceae, with yellow flowers, and linear seed pods).

Mustard

Powder or paste made from seeds of the mustard plant, and used as a condiment or a spice.
When the waitress brought the food, I asked whether she had any Dijon mustard.

Mustard

The leaves of the mustard plant, used as a salad.
Mustard and cress sandwiches.

Mustard

Dark yellow colour, the colour of mustard.

Mustard

One of a family of vesicants containing one or more 2-chloroethyl (C2H4Cl) groups, commonly used in chemical warfare and cancer chemotherapy.

Mustard

The tomalley of a crab, which resembles the condiment.

Mustard

Of a dark yellow colour.

Mustard

The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica (formerly Sinapis), as white mustard (Brassica alba), black mustard (Brassica Nigra), wild mustard or charlock (Brassica Sinapistrum).

Mustard

A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large doses is emetic.

Mustard

Any of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica

Mustard

Pungent powder or paste prepared from ground mustard seeds

Mustard

Leaves eaten as cooked greens

Common Curiosities

Does mustard always taste spicy?

No, mustard can range from mild to spicy, depending on preparation.

Can mustard be made without vinegar?

Yes, mustard can also be made with water, wine, or other liquids.

Can you make custard without eggs?

There are egg-free versions that use cornstarch or similar thickeners.

Is custard always sweet?

Yes, custard is typically a sweet dish or component.

Is custard served hot or cold?

Custard can be served either hot or cold, depending on the dish.

Can you freeze custard?

Yes, but it may separate when thawed; stirring can help restore texture.

Can mustard seeds be eaten whole?

Yes, they can be eaten whole and are often used in pickling.

Are all custards thickened with heat?

Most are, but some can set without cooking, using gelatin.

Is custard vegan?

Traditional custard is not, but there are vegan versions available.

Can custard be flavored with things other than vanilla?

Absolutely, custard can be flavored with chocolate, fruit, and other flavors.

Is mustard gluten-free?

Pure mustard usually is, but some prepared mustards may contain gluten.

How long does mustard last once opened?

It can last several months to a year if refrigerated properly.

Is mustard keto-friendly?

Plain mustard usually is, as it's low in carbs.

Are there different types of mustard?

Yes, including yellow, Dijon, whole grain, and honey mustard, among others.

What makes custard different from ice cream?

Custard is cooked and can be eaten without freezing, unlike ice cream.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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