Parents preparing several portions at home
If you’re making sauces, gratins or side dishes for several meals, a 50 cl pot may be the right size. Make sure, though, that you can keep it chilled and use it within the period stated on the packaging.
Who are these options for?
Families preparing packed lunches for school
If the meal includes a cream-based dish, check how it can be transported and stored at school. For packed lunches covered by its local guidance, La Rochelle City Council recommends using an insulated bag with an ice pack and keeping the food at a temperature of between 1 and 8 °C on arrival.
Families mindful of milk and ingredients
Check the ingredients list of the product you choose if your child needs to avoid milk. Also read the product description: thick crème fraîche and a pouring dairy speciality may not have the same ingredients or the texture your recipe calls for.
What should you check first?
For a school lunchbox, start by checking the ingredients and the school’s guidance. Then consider how the meal needs to be stored, before choosing the texture and pack size that suit your recipe.
| Criterion | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Milk and school rules | The ingredients and allergens in the exact product; the school’s guidance and, if applicable, the child’s individual care plan (PAI). | If my child needs to avoid milk or follow specific school guidance, I need to check that the whole dish is suitable before sending it in. Around 42% of consumers would put this suitability first among their concerns. |
| Chilling and use-by period after opening | The storage instructions and use-by date; the conditions needed to transport and store the meal until lunchtime. | When I cook in advance, I want to be able to store the opened pot and transport the meal as required, without leaving cream unused. Keeping food chilled and limiting leftovers would be the priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Texture and pack size | The product description, texture, fat content and quantity needed for the portions you’re planning. | When making several portions of the same dish, I look for a suitable texture without opening a pack I won’t use up. Around 25% of consumers would choose first according to the recipe and the quantity they need to make. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Assuming a dairy speciality is the same as crème fraîche
The product description, ingredients and texture can differ. Elle & Vire, for example, describes its 4% fat pouring product as a dairy speciality, not crème fraîche.
Before choosing, read the product description and ingredients, then check that the texture is right for your recipe.
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Opening a large pot without planning how you’ll use the rest
How long a product keeps after opening varies. The storage guidance from Président and Elle & Vire for certain pouches does not automatically apply to a pot of crème fraîche.
Work out how many portions you’ll need and follow the instructions on the packaging after opening.
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Assuming a dairy-based dish is suitable for every packed lunch
A recipe containing cream includes milk, while the arrangements for packed lunches and their storage depend on the school and the child’s circumstances.
Check the allergens in the exact product and confirm the relevant guidance with the school, especially if your child has a PAI.
Brands to consider
Président
The range includes crème fraîche and cream in pouches, including a 30 cl pouch of thick crème fraîche with 25% fat.
- Président says this pouch can be kept in the fridge for up to 15 days after opening.
- This period applies to the pouch version. Follow the guidance for any other product in the range.
Elle & Vire
The range includes thick cream in pouches and dairy specialities, including a pouring product with 4% fat.
- Elle & Vire says the relevant pouches of thick cream can be kept in the fridge for up to 15 days after opening.
- Thick cream in a pouch is not necessarily described as “crème fraîche”. Check the product name and ingredients.
Carrefour Classic'
The range includes a 50 cl pot of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.
- For this product, Carrefour lists pasteurised crème fraîche and lactic cultures among the ingredients.
- Check the label on the pot you choose for its ingredients and storage instructions.
Delisse / Marque Repère E.Leclerc
The range includes a 50 cl pot of thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, as well as other dairy products with different descriptions.
- For its 50 cl pot of crème fraîche, E.Leclerc lists pasteurised cream, pasteurised skimmed milk and lactic cultures.
- Don’t assume the dairy specialities in the range have the same ingredients. Read the label of the product you choose.
Auchan
The range includes a 50 cl pot of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.
- The product information says to store this product between +2 °C and +6 °C, both before and after opening.
- It should be used soon after opening. Check the instructions on the pot you buy.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you put a crème fraîche-based dish in a school lunchbox?
Yes, provided the dish can be stored as required and the school allows it. As a local example, for packed lunches covered by its guidance, La Rochelle City Council recommends transporting food in an insulated bag with an ice pack and keeping it at a temperature of between 1 and 8 °C on arrival. Check your school’s rules.
Is a large pack of crème fraîche suitable for several meals?
It can be, if you’ll use it within the period stated for that product after opening. Président advises using classic crème fraîche soon after opening, while Président and Elle & Vire say that certain pouches can be kept in the fridge for up to 15 days. Follow the use-by date and the instructions on your packaging.
Is light cream suitable if your child needs to avoid milk?
No. A lower fat content does not mean a product is milk-free. The 4% fat pouring dairy speciality described by Elle & Vire contains skimmed milk and cream. Check the ingredients of the exact product and follow the guidance in place for your child.