Which size is right for you?

Families making several savoury dishes

If your lunches include pasta, vegetables in sauce or gratins, a 45 to 50 cl tub of thick crème fraîche could suit the quantities you need. Just check how long it can be kept once opened.

Families planning desserts too

If whipped cream or desserts are on the menu, check the recommended uses for full-fat single cream. Elle & Vire, for example, recommends its 50 cl UHT single cream for whipped cream and desserts.

Households that use small amounts of cream

If you use cream across several meals over a longer period, compare the pack size and the instructions for use after opening. A 30 cl pouch, such as the one from Président, suits a different pattern of use from a 50 cl tub.

What should you check before buying?

Start with the recipes you have planned, then choose a size you can use while following the product’s storage instructions.

What to consider What to check Who is it for?
Large quantities for savoury dishes The 45 to 50 cl size, whether you need a thick or semi-thick texture, and the uses recommended for your recipe. If I’m making several pasta dishes with sauce or gratins, I want a suitable texture and enough cream for everyone. Around 31% of consumers make this their top priority.
Desserts and whipped cream The liquid texture, the pack size and whether the manufacturer recommends it for whipped cream. If I want to use the same purchase for lunches and desserts, I don’t want to choose a thick crème fraîche just because of its size. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers.
Using it after opening The use-by date, storage instructions and the product’s recommended time limit after opening. If I only use a little cream at each meal, I’d rather have a container I can finish within the stated time. This is the main priority for around 23% of consumers.
Fat content and ingredients The fat percentage, ingredients list and the texture required by your recipe. If I want a lower-fat cream, I also want to know what’s in it before using it in a recipe. Around 15% of consumers prioritise this.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Buying the biggest tub without planning how you’ll use it

    A 50 cl tub may be more than you need if only one recipe calls for cream. Once opened, follow the storage instructions and use-by period stated on the packaging.

    Count the meals and work out how much you need before choosing a size.

    If you can’t finish an opened tub within the stated time, you may have to throw it away.

  • Choosing thick crème fraîche to make whipped cream

    The recommended uses differ depending on the cream’s texture. Elle & Vire, for example, recommends its 50 cl full-fat single cream for whipped cream and desserts.

    If you’re planning to make whipped cream, check that the product is suitable before choosing a thick variety intended for savoury dishes.

  • Comparing creams on fat content alone

    Delisse 50 cl reduced-fat thick crème fraîche contains 15% fat and includes modified maize starch, among other ingredients. So fat content alone doesn’t tell you what’s in the product.

    Read the ingredients list and check that the texture suits your recipe, especially if you’re replacing full-fat cream.

  • Judging by the tub rather than checking the use-by date

    In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers not to use products beyond their use-by date. You must also follow the storage instructions.

    Check the use-by date before buying and follow the storage temperature shown on the packaging. The product information for Auchan 50 cl full-fat thick crème fraîche specifies storage between +2 °C and +6 °C.

Brands to compare

Président

The range includes a 45 cl tub of gastronomic thick crème fraîche and a 30 cl pouch of thick crème fraîche. Compare the two pack sizes based on your recipes and how often you use cream.

  • Président describes its gastronomic crème fraîche, with 30% fat, as suitable for cooking in a frying pan, in the oven and in slow-cooked dishes.
  • The claim that the 25%-fat pouch keeps for up to 15 days after opening applies to this 30 cl pouch only, not the entire range.

Elle & Vire

The range includes 50 cl of 35%-fat UHT full-fat single cream as well as 30%-fat UHT semi-thick cream.

  • Elle & Vire recommends its 50 cl single cream for whipped cream and desserts, and its semi-thick cream for pouring over dishes.
  • The semi-thick cream mentioned contains modified starch, stabilisers and carrageenans, among other ingredients. Check the ingredients if they’re important to your choice.

Carrefour

Carrefour offers a 50 cl tub of Classic’ full-fat thick crème fraîche and a 50 cl tub of organic thick crème fraîche.

  • The two products make it easy to compare tubs of the same size.
  • Check the ingredients on the tub you choose and whether it’s available at your local store.

Delisse / Marque Repère E.Leclerc

Two 50 cl products let you compare full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat and reduced-fat thick crème fraîche with 15% fat.

  • The same pack size makes it easier to compare the stated fat content.
  • Delisse reduced-fat crème fraîche contains modified maize starch. Check the ingredients and availability of each product at your local store.

Auchan

Auchan offers a 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, for savoury recipes planned across several meals.

  • The product information for this variety specifies storage between +2 °C and +6 °C.
  • The product information advises using it soon after opening. Check the instructions on the tub you buy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a 50 cl tub of crème fraîche suitable for every family lunch?

Not necessarily. A 50 cl tub is a good choice if your planned quantities and the recommended time after opening mean you can finish it. If you’ll use it more gradually, compare it with a smaller container and always follow the product’s instructions.

Which cream should I choose if I’m making whipped cream?

Choose a cream that the manufacturer recommends for this use. Elle & Vire recommends its 50 cl UHT full-fat single cream, with 35% fat, for whipped cream and desserts.

How long can I keep cream after opening?

Follow the time limit and storage instructions on the packaging, as these vary from product to product. Elle & Vire says to use its UHT cream within 3 to 4 days of opening, while Président says its 30 cl pouch of thick crème fraîche keeps for up to 15 days. These instructions don’t apply to other creams.

Can I use refrigerated crème fraîche after its use-by date?

No, not if the use-by date has passed. In France, the DGCCRF reminds consumers to respect the use-by date for relevant food products, as well as their storage instructions.

Can I use reduced-fat cream instead of full-fat cream in any recipe?

Don’t assume they’re interchangeable in every recipe. Delisse 50 cl reduced-fat thick crème fraîche contains 15% fat and includes modified maize starch, among other ingredients, while Auchan 50 cl full-fat thick crème fraîche contains 30% fat. Compare the ingredients and the texture your recipe needs before making the swap.