This article is about the dairy product. For the English rock band, see Cream (band). For other uses, see Cream (disambiguation).
A bottle of unhomogenised milk, with the cream clearly visible, resting on top of the milk.
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, will eventually rise to the top. In the industrial production of cream, this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators". In many countries, cream is sold in several grades depending on the total butterfat content. Cream can be dried to a powder for shipment to distant markets. Cream has high levels of saturated fat.[1][2]
Cream skimmed from milk may be called "sweet cream" to distinguish it from whey cream skimmed from whey, a by-product of cheese-making. Whey cream has a lower fat content and tastes more salty, tangy and "cheesy".[3] In many countries, cream is usually sold partially fermented: sour cream, crème fraîche, and so on.
Cream has many culinary uses in sweet, bitter, salty and tangy dishes.
Cream produced by cattle (particularly Jersey cattle) grazing on natural pasture often contains some natural carotenoid pigments derived from the plants they eat; this gives the cream a slight yellow tone, hence the name of the yellowish-white color, cream. This is also the origin of butter's yellow color. Cream from goat's milk, or from cows fed indoors on grain or grain-based pellets, is white.
Contents
- 1 Cuisine
- 2 Types
- 2.1 United States
- 2.2 Australia
- 2.3 UK
- 2.4 Canada
- 2.5 Japan
- 2.6 Russia
- 2.7 Switzerland
- 2.8 Sweden
- 3 Processing and additives
- 4 Other cream products
- 5 Other items called "cream"
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 External links
Cuisine
A slice of pumpkin pie topped with a whipped cream rose
Cream is used as an ingredient in many foods, including ice cream, many sauces, soups, stews, puddings, and some custard bases, and is also used for cakes. Whipped cream is served as a topping on ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, egg nog and sweet pies. Irish cream is an alcoholic liqueur which blends cream with whiskey, and often honey, wine, or coffee. Cream is also used in Indian curries such as masala dishes.
Cream (usually light/single cream or half and half) is often added to coffee in the US and Canada.
Both single and double cream can be used in cooking. Double cream or full-fat crème fraîche are often used when cream is added to a hot sauce, to prevent any problem with it separating or "splitting". Double cream can be thinned with milk to make an approximation of single cream.
The French word crème denotes not only dairy cream, but also other thick liquids such as sweet and savory custards, which are normally made with milk, not cream.[4]
Types
Stewed nectarines and heavy cream
Different grades of cream are distinguished by their fat content, whether they have been heat-treated, whipped, and so on. In many jurisdictions, there are regulations for each type.
United States
In the United States, cream is usually sold as:
| Name |
Fat content |
Main Uses |
| Half and Half |
10.5–18% |
To whiten coffee (and tea). |
| Light cream |
18–30% |
Also called "table" cream or "coffee" cream. An old style product for whitening coffee and also as an enriching ingredient in sauces and other recipes. This product is becoming difficult to find at retail in many areas. |
| Whipping cream |
30–36% |
Generally 33%. Used in sauces and soups and as a pourable or whipped garnish. Whipping will only attain soft peaks. Some products labeled "whipping cream" contain small amounts of gelatin as an added stabilizer for improved whipping. |
| Heavy (whipping) cream |
36% min. |
For whipping when pert stable peaks are desired. Also used as a luxurious pourable garnish on fresh fruit and hot cereals. |
| Manufacturer's cream |
>=40% |
Used in commercial and professional production applications. Not generally available at retail until recently. |
Most cream products sold in the United States at retail contain the minimum permissible fat content for their product type, e.g., "Half and half" almost always contains only 10.5% butterfat.
Not all grades are defined by all jurisdictions, and the exact fat content ranges vary. The above figures are based on the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 131[5][6]
Australia
The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.5.2 – Defines cream as milk product comparatively rich in fat, in the form of an emulsion of fat-in-skim milk, which can be obtained by separation from milk. Cream must contain no less than 350 g/kg of milk fat.[7]
Manufacturers labels may distinguish between different fat contents, a general guideline is as follows:
| Name |
Fat Content |
Main Uses |
| Extra light (or 'lite') |
12–12.5% |
|
| Light (or 'lite') |
18–20% |
|
| Thickened Cream |
35–36.5% |
with added gelatine and/or other thickeners to give the cream a creamier texture, also possibly with stabilizers to aid the consistency of whipped cream (this would be the cream to use for whipped cream, not necessarily for cooking) |
| Single Cream |
~ 35% |
Recipes calling for 'single cream' are referring to pure or thickened cream with about 35% fat. |
| Double Cream |
48–60% |
[8] |
UK
In the United Kingdom, the types of cream are legally defined[9] as followed:
| Name |
Minimum
milk fat |
Additional definition |
Main uses |
| Clotted cream |
55% |
is heat-treated |
Served as it is. A traditional part of a cream tea. |
| Extra-thick double cream |
48% |
is heat-treated then quickly cooled |
Thickest available fresh cream, spooned onto pies, puddings, and desserts (cannot be poured due to its consistency) |
| Double cream |
48% |
|
Whips easily and thickest for puddings and desserts, can be piped once whipped |
| Whipping cream |
35% |
|
Whips well but lighter, can be piped once whipped |
| Whipped cream |
35% |
has been whipped |
Decorations on cakes, topping for ice cream, fruit and so on. |
| Sterilized cream |
23% |
is sterilized |
|
| Cream or single cream |
18% |
is not sterilized |
Poured over puddings, used in sauces |
| Sterilized half cream |
12% |
is sterilized |
|
| Half cream |
|
|
Uncommon, some cocktails |
Canada
Canadian cream definitions are similar to those used in the United States, except for that of "light cream". In Canada, "light cream" is very low-fat cream, usually with 5% or 6% butterfat. Specific product characteristics are generally uniform throughout Canada, but names vary by both geographic and linguistic area and by manufacturer. It can be quite confusing: "coffee cream" may be 10% or 18% and "half-and-half" ("crème légère") may be 3%, 5%, 6% or 10%, all depending on location and brand.[10][11]
| Name |
Minimum
milk fat |
Additional definition |
Main uses |
| Manufacturing cream |
40% |
Crème fraîche is also 40–45% but is an acidified cultured product rather than sweet cream. |
Commercial production. |
| Whipping cream |
33–36% |
Also as cooking or "thick" cream 35% with added stabilizers. Heavy cream must be at least 36%. In Francophone areas: crème à fouetter 35%; and for cooking, crème à cuisson 35%, crème à l'ancienne 35% or crème épaisse 35%. |
Whips into a creamy and smooth topping that is used for pastries, fresh fruits, desserts, hot cocoa, etc. Cooking version is formulated to resist breaking when heated (as in sauces). |
| Table cream |
15–18% |
Coffee cream. Also as cooking or "thick" cream 15% with added stabilizers. In Francophone areas: crème de table 15% or crème à café 18%; and for cooking, crème champêtre 15%, crème campagnarde (country cream) 15% or crème épaisse 15%. |
Added as rich whitener to coffee. Ideal for soups, sauces and veloutés. Garnishing fruit and desserts. Cooking version is formulated to resist breaking when heated. |
| Half and half |
10% |
Cereal cream (at least one producer calls it coffee cream; another calls it Creamo™ light cream). Product with the most butterfat in the light cream category. In Francophone areas: crème à café 10% and sometimes crème légère 10%. |
Poured over hot cereal as a garnish. Ideal in sauces for vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, and pasta. Also in cream soups. |
| Light cream |
3–10% |
Light cream 6%. In Francophone areas: mélange de lait et de crème pour café 5%, Crémette™ 5% or crème légère 3% to 10%. A mixture of milk and cream. |
5% product is similar to the richest Guernsey or Jersey milk. A lower fat alternative to table cream in coffee. |
Japan
|
|
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In Japan, cream sold in supermarkets is usually between 35% and 48% butterfat.
Russia
Russia, as well as other EAC countries, legally separates cream into two classes: normal (10–34% butterfat) and heavy (35–58%),[12] but the industry has pretty much standardized around the following types:
| English |
Russian |
Transliteration |
Milk fat (wt%) |
| Low-fat or drinking[12][13] cream |
Нежирные (питьевые) сливки |
Nezhirnÿe[14] (pityevÿe) slivki |
10% |
| (Normal) Cream |
Сливки |
Slivki |
15% or 20% |
| Whipping cream |
Сливки для взбивания |
Slivki dlya vzbivaniya |
33% or 35% |
| Double cream |
Двойные (жирные) сливки |
Dvoinÿe (Zhirnÿe) slivki |
48% |
Switzerland
In Switzerland, the types of cream are legally defined[15] as follows:
| English[16] |
German |
French |
Italian |
Typical
milk fat
wt% |
Minimum
milk fat
wt% |
| Double cream |
Doppelrahm |
double-crème |
doppia panna |
45% |
45% |
Full cream
Whipping cream
Cream |
Vollrahm
Schlagrahm
Rahm
Sahne |
crème entière
crème à fouetter
crème |
panna intera
panna da montare
panna |
35% |
35% |
| Half cream |
Halbrahm |
demi-crème |
mezza panna |
25% |
15% |
| Coffee cream |
Kaffeerahm |
crème à café |
panna da caffè |
15% |
15% |
Sour cream and crème fraîche (German: Sauerrahm, Crème fraîche; French: crème acidulée, crème fraîche; Italian: panna acidula, crème fraîche) are defined as cream soured by bacterial cultures.
Thick cream (German: verdickter Rahm; French: crème épaissie; Italian: panna addensata) is defined as cream thickened using thickening agents.
Sweden
In Sweden, cream is usually sold as:
- Matlagningsgrädde ("cooking cream"), 10–15%
- Kaffegrädde ("Coffee cream"), 10%
- Vispgrädde (whipping cream), 36–40%
Mellangrädde (27%) is, nowadays, a less common variant. Gräddfil and Creme Fraiche are two common sour cream products.
Processing and additives
Cream may have thickening agents and stabilizers added. Thickeners include sodium alginate, carrageenan, gelatine, sodium bicarbonate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and alginic acid.[17]:296[18]
Other processing may be carried out. For example, cream has a tendency to produce oily globules (called "feathering") when added to coffee. The stability of the cream may be increased by increasing the non-fat solids content, which can be done by partial demineralisation and addition of sodium caseinate, although this is expensive.[17]:297
Other cream products
Chart of 50 types of milk products and relationships, including cream (click on image to enlarge).
Butter is made by churning cream to separate the butterfat and buttermilk. This can be done by hand or by machine.
Whipped cream is made by whisking or mixing air into cream with more than 30% fat, to turn the liquid cream into a soft solid. Nitrous oxide may also be used to make whipped cream.
Sour cream, common in many countries including the U.S., Canada and Australia, is cream (12 to 16% or more milk fat) that has been subjected to a bacterial culture that produces lactic acid (0.5%+), which sours and thickens it.
Crème fraîche (28% milk fat) is slightly soured with bacterial culture, but not as sour or as thick as sour cream. Mexican crema (or cream espesa) is similar to crème fraîche.
Smetana is a heavy cream product (15-40% milk fat) Central and Eastern European sweet or sour cream.
Rjome or rømme is Norwegian sour cream containing 35% milk fat, similar to Icelandic sýrður rjómi.
Clotted cream, common in the United Kingdom, is made through a process that starts by slowly heating whole milk to produce a very high-fat (55%) product. This is similar to Indian malai.
Other items called "cream"
Some non-edible substances are called creams due to their consistency: shoe cream is runny, unlike regular waxy shoe polish; hand/body 'creme' or "skin cream" is meant for moisturizing the skin.
Regulations in many jurisdictions restrict the use of the word cream for foods. Words such as creme, kreme, creame, or whipped topping (e.g., Cool Whip) are often used for products which cannot legally be called cream. Oreo cookies are a type of sandwich cookie in which two biscuits have a soft, sweet filling between them which is called "crème filling". In some cases foods can be described as cream although they do not contain predominantly milk fats; for example in Britain "ice cream" does not have to be a dairy product (although it must be labelled "contains non-milk fat"), and salad cream is the customary name for a condiment that has been produced since the 1920s.[19]
See also
- Artificial cream
- Buttercream
- Condensed milk
- Cool Whip, a brand of imitation whipped cream.
- Crème, a culinary term for cream-like preparations
- Crème fraîche
- Crème liqueur
- Ice cream
- Kaymak, which is similar to clotted cream
- List of dairy products
- Malai
- Non-dairy creamer
- Sour cream
- Smetana
- Whipped-cream charger, describes how nitrous oxide whips cream
References
- ^ Saturated Fat
- ^ Eat less saturated fat
- ^ Article on sweet cream, whey cream, and the butters they produce
- ^ Larousse Gastronomique, 1938, translated 1961, p. 337
- ^ FDA > CDRH > CFR Title 21 Database Search
- ^ 2005 CFR Title 21, Volume 2
- ^ Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.5.2 – Cream, 2015-03-25. Retrieved on 2016-10-26.
- ^ "Cream and Sour Cream". Choice.
- ^ Food Labelling Regulations 1998
- ^ https://bcdairy.ca/milk/articles/what-kind-of-cream-should-i-use
- ^ http://metsdelacreme.com/lafamilledescremes/
- ^ a b Eurasian Customs Union Technical Requirements "On milk and dairy products safety"
- ^ Legally, the "drinking cream" term denotes pasteurized and individually packed cream, and has nothing to do with its fat content.
- ^ "Ÿ" denotes Cyrillic letter Yery, which is here a separate vowel and shouldn't be read as a part of a diphthong.
- ^ Verordnung des EDI über Lebensmittel tierischer Herkunft / Ordonnance du DFI sur les denrées alimentaires d'origine animale / Ordinanza del DFI sulle derrate alimentari di origine animale of 2010-11-23, SR/RS 817.022.108 (D·F·I), art. 48 (D·F·I)
- ^ The English terms are not legally regulated
- ^ a b Dairy Fats and Related Products, edited by Adnan Tamime. This book has a great deal of technical information on cream and other dairy fat products. Extracts available on Google books [1]
- ^ Carrageenan
- ^ UK Ministry of food orders, 1945
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cream. |
- Virtual Museum Exhibit on Milk, Cream & Butter
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