If you want to spread your cream across several lunches, small UHT cartons are a good choice if you’d like to open one at a time. If your recipe calls for thick crème fraîche, choose a pot labelled as such. The 3 × 20 cl formats featured by Carrefour and E.Leclerc include semi-thick creams and a dairy speciality, which are not equivalent to thick crème fraîche. In either case, check the fat content, ingredients and storage instructions, particularly after opening.
If you use a little cream at each meal, the 3 × 20 cl semi-thick UHT cartons featured by Carrefour and E.Leclerc let you open one at a time. However, check that the product’s description is suitable for your recipe.
If your recipe calls for this specific product and texture, look at pots of thick crème fraîche rather than choosing a multipack based on its format alone. For example, the light MILSANI thick crème fraîche featured by ALDI comes in a pot.
If lactose, the presence of milk or fat content guides your choice, read the ingredients and nutritional information before comparing packaging. The Elle & Vire thick cream featured as lactose-free contains milk and cream: this label does not mean “milk-free”.
For school-holiday lunches, decide whether individual portions or thick crème fraîche matters more for your recipe. Then check the ingredients and storage instructions for the product you choose.
| Criterion | What to check | What consumers are looking for |
|---|---|---|
| Portioning across meals | Compare the number of cartons, the volume of each one and the instructions for use after opening. A 3 × 20 cl format contains three units, not necessarily three portions. | When I’m preparing several lunches, I prefer to open a small unit for each dish. Around 42% of consumers would prioritise this way of portioning. |
| Texture and recipe | Read the full product description, including “thick crème fraîche”, “semi-thick UHT” or “dairy speciality”, as well as the fat content. | If my recipe calls for thick crème fraîche, I want to choose that texture before thinking about the format. Almost 33% of consumers would prioritise this culinary use. |
| Ingredients | Check the ingredients, listed allergens and nutritional information; “lactose-free” does not mean “milk-free”. | Before choosing a pack, I want to know whether the product contains milk and how much fat it has. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise these features. |
The 3 × 20 cl cartons described by Carrefour and E.Leclerc include semi-thick UHT creams and a dairy speciality. Their product descriptions and ingredients may therefore differ from those of thick crème fraîche in a pot.
For a specific recipe, compare the full product description, ingredients and fat content before looking at the number of cartons.
A pot may suit a family meal, but it won’t let you portion the cream out across several meals. Once opened, it should be stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
If you’re cooking more than once, compare the amount you’ll open each time and follow the product’s storage instructions.
The lactose-free Elle & Vire thick cream featured by Carrefour contains milk and cream. The French National Health Insurance distinguishes between lactose intolerance and food allergy.
If you have a milk allergy, don’t rely on the “lactose-free” label alone: check the allergens and follow your doctor’s advice.
The brand offers 30% fat, semi-thick UHT single cream in two 25 cl bottles. A separate lactose-free light thick crème fraîche product is also available.
Carrefour offers semi-thick UHT creams in 3 × 20 cl packs, including options with 18% and 30% fat.
E.Leclerc offers a 4% fat semi-thick UHT dairy speciality and 30% fat semi-thick UHT single cream in 3 × 20 cl packs.
ALDI offers MILSANI light thick crème fraîche with 15% fat in a 50 cl pot.
No: the 3 × 20 cl formats featured by Carrefour and E.Leclerc include semi-thick UHT creams and a semi-thick dairy speciality. If your recipe calls for thick crème fraîche, check the product description on the packaging before comparing volumes.
Follow the storage instructions for the product and prepared dish. If it needs to be kept chilled, keep it cool during transport too. France’s consumer protection authority, the DGCCRF, reminds consumers that higher temperatures encourage microbial growth. The UHT label alone doesn’t tell you how to store a product after opening.
Not necessarily: the lactose-free Elle & Vire thick crème fraîche featured by Carrefour contains milk and cream. The French National Health Insurance distinguishes between lactose intolerance and food allergy; if you have an allergy, check the ingredients and follow medical advice.