People making dips
If you’re looking for a thick, spoon-coating preparation to serve at home, compare thick crème fraîche options. Président describes its Gastronomique product this way; check that the texture suits your recipe.
Who is this guide for?
People preparing several dishes
A 50 cl pot, such as the full-fat thick crème fraîche described by Auchan, could be suitable for several recipes. However, make sure you can use it before its use-by date and follow the storage instructions after opening.
People taking snacks with them
If you’re taking crème fraîche along with your gym kit, focus on keeping it chilled during transport. ANSES recommends using an insulated bag and keeping the journey time short for refrigerated foods.
What should you check?
For crème fraîche intended for dips or snacks, first consider how you’ll transport and store it, then choose a quantity and texture that suit your recipes.
| Criterion | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping it chilled in transit | Check the storage temperature on the packaging and take an insulated bag for the journey. ANSES recommends keeping transport time to a minimum for chilled products. | If I’m going to the gym after shopping, I need to be able to put the crème fraîche in the fridge promptly rather than leave it in my bag. Around 45% of consumers would prioritise keeping it chilled. |
| Pack size and usage | Compare the volume, use-by date and instructions for after opening; an Auchan product is described as coming in a 50 cl pot. | When I’m only making a dip for one occasion, I want a quantity I can use within the stated time. Pack size would be the top criterion for around 33% of consumers. |
| Texture and fat content | Check whether it’s labelled “thick” or “pourable”, its fat content and its ingredients. Products described by Président, E.Leclerc and Elle & Vire don’t all have the same formulation. | For a dip, I’m looking for a thick texture; for a pourable preparation, I check whether a different cream is suitable for the recipe. Around 22% of consumers would prioritise texture and fat content. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Relying on a gym bag to keep crème fraîche chilled
An ordinary gym bag is no substitute for an insulated bag when transporting chilled crème fraîche. ANSES recommends buying chilled foods last and keeping transport time to a minimum.
Use an insulated bag and plan a journey that lets you put the product in the fridge promptly. Don’t leave it waiting in a changing room or car.
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Choosing a large pot without planning how you’ll use it
A 50 cl pack could be used for several recipes, but any leftovers must be stored and used according to the product instructions. The up-to-15-day storage period after opening stated by Président for its 30 cl pouch doesn’t apply to other products.
Estimate how much you’ll need for your recipes, then check the use-by date and instructions for after opening on the packaging you choose.
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Confusing light thick cream, pourable UHT cream and thick crème fraîche
These descriptions don’t mean the same texture or necessarily the same ingredients. For example, the Delisse light thick cream sold by E.Leclerc contains modified maize starch; Elle & Vire distinguishes its pourable UHT products from its thick creams.
For a dip, check the texture stated on the product. For a pourable recipe, check the type of cream it calls for and the ingredients list.
Brands to compare by product
Président
The range includes Gastronomique full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, as well as a 25% thick cream in a 30 cl pouch.
- Président describes its Gastronomique product as thick and suitable for cooking; this description applies to that specific product.
- The storage period of up to 15 days after opening stated by Président applies to its 25% pouch, not the entire range.
Elle & Vire
Elle & Vire offers thick creams as well as pourable or semi-thick UHT products, with fat content varying between products.
- The different textures make it easier to compare products according to the recipe you have in mind.
- Its 4% pourable UHT speciality isn’t thick crème fraîche, so check the product description before using it for a dip.
Carrefour Classic'
Carrefour describes a full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, sold in a 196 g pot.
- The ingredients listed by Carrefour include pasteurised crème fraîche and lactic cultures.
- Check the use-by date and storage instructions on the pot you choose.
AUCHAN
Auchan describes a full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, sold in a 50 cl pot.
- The Auchan product information states that it should be stored between +2 °C and +6 °C before opening.
- For this larger pack, consider the quantity in relation to the recipes you have planned and follow the packaging instructions after opening.
ECO + (E.Leclerc)
E.Leclerc offers ECO + thick crème fraîche with 30% fat. Its Delisse light thick cream with 15% fat is a different product.
- The nutritional information for the products featured by E.Leclerc lets you compare their fat content per 100 g.
- The Delisse light product contains modified maize starch, so don’t assume that its thick texture means it has the same formulation as the ECO + product.
Joybuy products
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep crème fraîche in my gym bag to eat later?
An ordinary gym bag won’t keep chilled crème fraîche at a safe temperature. ANSES advises carrying chilled foods in an insulated bag, keeping the journey short and putting them back in the fridge promptly.
What temperature should thick crème fraîche be stored at?
Follow the storage temperature on the packaging of the product you buy. For its 30% full-fat thick crème fraîche, Auchan states between +2 °C and +6 °C before opening; also check the product’s own instructions for after opening.
Will light thick cream give the same result as full-fat cream in a dip?
Don’t assume they’ll give the same result: compare the texture you’re looking for with the formulation of each product. The Delisse light thick cream sold by E.Leclerc contains modified maize starch, while the full-fat thick crème fraîche described in Auchan’s product information contains pasteurised cream and lactic cultures.
Can pourable UHT cream replace thick crème fraîche?
It may work if the recipe calls for a pourable texture, but it isn’t a like-for-like replacement for a thick dip. Elle & Vire distinguishes its pourable or semi-thick UHT products from its thick crème fraîche, so check the product description and the texture you need before buying.