Households making several meals with crème fraîche
If you’re planning to make pasta dishes, gratins or quiches over a few days, a 50 cl tub could be enough for several recipes. Auchan and Carrefour offer thick crème fraîche in this size.
Who are these formats suitable for?
Households still finding their cooking routine
If you’re doing your first shop without meals already planned, individual UHT cartons let you open just one portion at a time. Be sure to check the product description and texture, though: not all of them are thick crème fraîche.
People who care about texture and ingredients
If a recipe calls for thick crème fraîche, or fat content matters to you, compare the products beyond their pack size. Auchan offers 50 cl tubs of thick crème fraîche with 15% and 30% fat; Elle & Vire also offers a 4% UHT single-cream dairy product.
What should you check before choosing?
For your first shop, start with the recipes you’re planning and how often you’ll make them. This will help you choose the right size without confusing thick crème fraîche with single cream or other dairy products.
50 cl tub of chilled thick crème fraîche
Consider it: for several recipes close together that call for a thick texture.
Bear in mind: the whole tub needs to be kept chilled, and you should follow the label’s instructions after opening.
Multipack of UHT cartons
Consider it: if you use crème fraîche only occasionally and want to open one carton at a time.
Check: these products may have a pourable texture. The 4% Elle & Vire product is a dairy speciality, not thick crème fraîche.
1 L UHT carton
Consider it: if you’ve already planned recipes that need a large amount of cream.
Bear in mind: Carrefour offers a 1 L carton of full-fat single cream. Check that it’s suitable for your recipes and that you’ll be able to use it after opening.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Amount for several recipes | Compare the pack size with the recipes you’re planning and the date shown on the tub. | If I’m making several dishes over the next few days, I want a pack that’s big enough without having to open several small tubs; around 33% of consumers would prioritise pack size for these meals. |
| Amount opened at a time | Check whether the multipack contains individual cartons and follow the storage instructions for each one. | When I only cook with cream now and then, I’d rather not open my whole supply at once; around 25% of consumers would prioritise reducing waste. |
| Texture for the recipe | Read the product description and distinguish between thick and pourable textures. | For a recipe that calls for a thick texture, I want to avoid choosing a pourable dairy product by mistake; texture would be the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Fat content and ingredients | Compare the fat percentage and ingredients list for each product. | If I’m choosing between full-fat cream, a lighter version and a dairy speciality, I want to know what each one contains; around 17% of consumers would put this comparison first. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing the biggest tub without planning when to use it
A 50 cl tub of chilled crème fraîche puts all the contents in one container. If you leave a long time between recipes, you may not use it within the period stated after opening.
Before choosing between a tub and individual cartons, count the recipes you’re planning and check the product’s date and storage instructions.
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Assuming thick crème fraîche and pourable UHT products are interchangeable
Pack size tells you nothing about the texture. Elle & Vire describes its 4% pourable UHT product as a dairy speciality, while the chilled tubs mentioned from Auchan and Carrefour are thick crème fraîche.
First check the product description and texture your recipe calls for, then choose the pack size.
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Assuming a lighter version has the same ingredients as a full-fat one
Auchan’s product listings for its 50 cl tubs of thick crème fraîche with 15% and 30% fat show different ingredients. Depending on the product, the lighter version may contain modified starches and stabilisers.
If the ingredients matter to your choice, compare the lists on the packaging of the products available.
Brands to compare
Président
Président offers full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in 20 cl and 45 cl tubs.
- The 45 cl tub could suit a household planning several recipes.
- Check the size and date on the tub you choose. The brand describes it as suitable for cooking, but results may vary from recipe to recipe.
Elle & Vire
Elle & Vire offers, among other products, a 4% pourable UHT dairy speciality in a pack of 3 × 20 cl.
- The individual cartons let you open 20 cl at a time.
- Don’t confuse this pourable dairy speciality with full-fat thick crème fraîche when your recipe calls for the latter.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour offers full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat under this brand, in a 50 cl tub.
- The product listing says the tub contains pasteurised crème fraîche and lactic cultures.
- As with any large tub of chilled cream, choose it based on the recipes you’re planning and the storage instructions on the packaging.
Auchan
Auchan offers two 50 cl tubs of thick crème fraîche: a full-fat version with 30% fat and a lighter version with 15% fat.
- The same pack size makes it easier to compare the product descriptions and ingredients of the two options.
- Their ingredients differ. Auchan advises storing the tubs in question between +2 °C and +6 °C.
E.Leclerc / DéLisse
E.Leclerc offers a 50 cl tub of DéLisse light crème fraîche with 15% fat.
- This product is a light option if you’re considering a 50 cl tub of chilled crème fraîche.
- E.Leclerc recommends checking availability with the relevant store.
Related Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 50 cl tub always suitable for a family?
No: whether you’ll use this size mainly depends on how many recipes you’re planning. If you cook with cream only occasionally, compare the tub with individual portions and take the storage instructions after opening into account.
How should I store a tub of crème fraîche bought from the chilled aisle?
Follow the temperature, use-by date and after-opening instructions on the packaging. Auchan advises storing the 50 cl chilled tubs mentioned between +2 °C and +6 °C. The French Ministry of the Economy reminds consumers to follow use-by dates.
Can a light UHT carton replace thick crème fraîche?
Not automatically: check what your recipe calls for before swapping one for the other. The 4% Elle & Vire product mentioned here is a pourable UHT dairy speciality, whereas the Auchan and Carrefour tubs mentioned are thick crème fraîche, with fat content and ingredients that vary by product.
What should I check on the label if I have a food allergy?
Check the ingredients and any allergens highlighted on the packaging of the product you choose. The DGCCRF states that allergenic ingredients must be clearly distinguished on labels. Don’t rely solely on a product range’s name or the listing for a different version.