Who is this option for?

People who prefer a less rich sauce

For a post-workout meal, you’re looking for a creamy texture while choosing a lower fat content than full-fat crème fraîche. Elle & Vire and Auchan offer thick varieties with 12% and 15% fat.

People who pay attention to texture and ingredients

You prefer full-fat crème fraîche with 30% fat and want to compare ingredient lists. The full-fat varieties featured by Auchan and Elle & Vire list cream and lactic cultures as ingredients.

Households that often cook in large quantities

You’re considering 2 L for regular cooking. The 2 L bucket from Lactalis Foodservice is intended for catering, so before choosing this size, consider whether you have enough fridge space and how much you’ll use once it’s opened.

What should you look for?

For a post-workout meal, first decide what role the crème fraîche will play in your recipe. Then compare fat content and choose a size that suits how you’ll use it.

Criterion What to check Who it’s for
Its role in the meal Protein per 100 g and whether the meal includes another protein-rich ingredient. If I’m putting together a post-workout meal, I want to know what the crème fraîche adds to the recipe without treating it as the main protein-rich ingredient. Around 50% of consumers would prioritise the overall composition of the meal.
Fat content and recipe Fat per 100 g and the ingredient list for the specific product. For a sauce or mash, I want to choose between light and full-fat crème fraîche, depending on the texture and ingredients I prefer. Fat content is reportedly the main criterion for around 30% of consumers.
Size and storage The quantity shown on the packaging, storage temperature and instructions for after opening. When I regularly cook for several people, I need to be able to store and use the size I choose without leaving a large amount open. Around 20% of consumers would prioritise the pack size and how to use it after opening.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Relying on crème fraîche as your main protein-rich ingredient

    Crème fraîche can make a meal creamier, but the Elle & Vire and Auchan products described here aren’t presented as primarily protein-rich ingredients.

    Choose the other ingredients in your meal to suit your dietary preferences, then decide how much crème fraîche you want to use in the recipe.

  • Comparing products based on the word ‘light’ alone

    Fat content doesn’t tell you everything about a product’s composition. Thick crème fraîche and a semi-thick dairy speciality, such as the one from Delisse, are not the same type of product.

    Check the product description, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for each specific variety.

  • Choosing 2 L without planning how you’ll use it

    The 2 L bucket from Lactalis Foodservice is intended for catering and comes with chilled storage instructions.

    For a household, compare smaller sizes too, and check the instructions for after opening.

    Any opened quantity you can’t use in time could go to waste.

  • Treating a store product listing as a definitive label

    Auchan says that the composition may vary depending on the store and purchase date. So, a product listing you check in advance is no substitute for the information on the product you receive.

    Check its label again, especially the ingredients, allergens, date and storage instructions.

Crème fraîche brands to consider

Elle & Vire

Fresh thick crème fraîche in pouches, including an organic light variety with 12% fat and a full-fat variety with 30% fat.

  • According to Elle & Vire, the full-fat variety contains cream and lactic cultures; the organic light variety also contains starch.
  • The pouches featured by the brand weigh around 324 to 328 g, so they’re not the large 2 L size considered here.

Auchan

Fresh thick crème fraîche in 50 cl tubs, including varieties with 15% and 30% fat.

  • Auchan’s product listings show ingredients and nutritional values, and state that the relevant varieties should be stored between +2 °C and +6 °C.
  • Auchan notes that the composition may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the label on the tub you receive.

Carrefour Classic'

Carrefour’s range includes light thick crème fraîche with 15% fat and a full-fat variety in a 50 cl pack.

  • These products let you compare two fat levels within the same range.
  • When choosing a specific product, check its ingredients, nutritional information and label.

Delisse

E.Leclerc’s range includes thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, UHT semi-thick light cream with 18% fat and a semi-thick dairy speciality with 4% fat.

  • The product descriptions and fat levels listed by E.Leclerc help you tell these varieties apart.
  • The 4% product is a dairy speciality, not thick crème fraîche; the 18% variety is semi-thick.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can thick crème fraîche be the main protein-rich ingredient in a post-workout meal?

No. It’s better used to add texture to a recipe. If the protein content of your meal matters to you, consider its other ingredients too. Anses highlights the role of protein in the renewal of muscle tissue.

How do I choose between thick crème fraîche with 15% fat and full-fat crème fraîche with 30% fat?

Choose according to the recipe and ingredients you prefer, rather than assuming the texture or ingredients based on the percentage alone. Compare fat content, nutritional values per 100 g and the ingredient lists of the specific products.

Is a 2 L tub of thick crème fraîche suitable for a household?

It could be, if you regularly use that quantity and can follow the storage instructions. The 2 L bucket from Lactalis Foodservice is intended for catering, so for home use, compare smaller sizes too.

What should I look for on the label of pre-packed crème fraîche?

Check the product description, ingredients, allergens, net quantity, date and nutritional information. The DGCCRF lists these among the labelling details required for pre-packed foods in France.

How should I store thick crème fraîche after buying it?

Follow the storage temperatures and after-opening instructions on the pack you’ve bought. The Auchan crème fraîche products featured here state that they should be stored between +2 °C and +6 °C; the 2 L catering bucket from Lactalis Foodservice states between +4 °C and +6 °C.