Creams and Substitutes
Cream is a collection of fat droplets that float to the top of nonhomogenized whole milk. The heavier and thicker the cram, the higher the fat content. Cooling the cream firms its fat globules and makes it even thicker. Creams vary in their milk fat content, ranging from a low of 18 percent to a high of 36 percent. Cream manufacturers are not required to list on the carton the percentage of fat in the cream. The fat content of light or coffee cream is 18 to 30 percent, of light whipping cream is 30 to 36 percent, and of heavy cream or heavy whipping cream is not less than 36 percent. Combining cream with pasteurized or unltrapasteurized milk yields half-and-half, which is not true cream and contains only 10.5 to 18 percent fat.
Some whipping creams are marketed containing added sugars and stabilizers to improve their taste and texture. Whipping cream is also sold in pressurized canisters, which provide the taste and texture of whipped cream in a convenient-to-use form.
Cream Substitutes
Some of the whipped toppings in pressurized cans and tubs, as well as coffee creamers, dry mixes, imitation sour cream, and snack dips are made from nondairy ingredients. These products came into being as low-cost substitutes that would last longer on the shelf. Nondairy coffee creamers can last over a year at room temperature. They often contain saturated fats, but many lighter substitutes have half the calories (kcal) and one-third the fat of cream, and contain no cholesterol. One fat replacer, Super-creme, can substitute for up to 100 percent of the fat in reduced fat milk (2 percent), sweet cream, sour cream, and butter. This product is made from milk protein that has been transformed into small, spherical globules; it has natural cream flavor and can be used in muffins, dressings, and low-fat soup. The nondairy whipped toppings in pressurized cans are made from water, vegetable oil, corn syrup solids, sodium caseinate or soy protein, emulsifiers, vegetable gums, coffee whiteners, and artificial flavors and colors.
