Food Lens Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Food Lens · Dairy
Cream
Rich, mildly sweet, and distinctly milky; adds a velvety, luxurious body to both savory and sweet applications.
Lens analyzedHeavy cream (also called heavy whipping cream or double cream) is the high-fat layer skimmed from fresh milk, containing at least 36% butterfat. It enriches sauces, soups, and desserts and whips into stable peaks.
Where it comes from
Cream is the fat-rich layer that rises on fresh milk, traditionally skimmed and used across European cooking for sauces, soups, and desserts. North American heavy cream contains at least 36 percent butterfat, making it the standard choice for whipping and enriching.
Buying it
Look for heavy cream or heavy whipping cream with the highest fat percentage available for the best whipping and sauce stability. Ultra-pasteurized cream has a longer shelf life but may whip slightly less well.
Storing it
Keep refrigerated and use by the date on the carton. An opened carton keeps for 5–7 days. Cream can be frozen in small portions for up to 3 months.
Keeps about 10 days in the fridge.
Out of cream? Good swaps
- Crème fraîche
- Full-fat coconut cream
General cooking guidance — always check the labels on the products you use. Listahan’s allergen checks run automatically when you plan a recipe in the app. Not medical advice.
Recipes that use cream
Common questions about cream
What can I use instead of cream?
Good swaps include Crème fraîche, Full-fat coconut cream. Each behaves a little differently — see the swaps above for notes, and always check labels for allergens.
How do I store cream?
Keep refrigerated and use by the date on the carton. An opened carton keeps for 5–7 days. Cream can be frozen in small portions for up to 3 months. It keeps about 10 days in the fridge.
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Make cream about your kitchen — with Listahan Pro
Everything above is free, forever. Pro adds the Household Lens — the same food, seen for your family:
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Checked for each member
Flags cream per person against your household's allergies and school rules — not just a generic "contains" tag.
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Pantry-aware
Knows whether you already have it, what is running low, and the best swap from what is in your kitchen tonight.
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What it costs near you
A real price from the Presyo community index, so you can plan the budget — not guess.
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Your household memory
Who likes it, plus your own private notes — brand, where you keep it, who skips it.
Allergen safety is always free — Pro adds the automation, never the safety.
Cook with cream — safely
Plan a recipe in Listahan and the household allergen check runs automatically — every plan, every swap, every lunchbox. Safety is never paywalled.