For a household of one or two, a 20 cl pot is a good choice for occasional use. Consider 50 cl if you plan to make several recipes within the stated storage period. Check that the packaging identifies the product as organic, then choose a texture that suits your recipe. Compare the fat content and ingredients for each product.
If you use cream for a few breakfasts, with fruit, in sauces or in desserts, the amount you buy matters just as much as the recipe. E.Leclerc, for example, stocks Bio Village organic thick crème fraîche in a 20 cl pot. Compare this size with how often you use cream and the storage instructions.
A larger pot could work well if you’re preparing several dishes close together. Carrefour, E.Leclerc and Auchan offer organic thick crème fraîche in 50 cl pots. Check that you’ll be able to use it within the period stated on the packaging.
Being organic doesn’t determine the fat content or ingredients. Elle & Vire, for example, offers organic thick cream with 12% and 30% fat, as well as 30% fat UHT organic single cream. Compare the labels of the varieties that suit your recipe.
When choosing organic crème fraîche for a small household, first check that the product is identified as organic. Then match the quantity, texture and ingredients to how you’ll use it.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Organic status | Look for the organic label and certification details on the packaging; don’t assume a product is organic based on the milk’s origin alone. | I want to be able to identify the organic status of the pot I buy, rather than relying on the brand name alone. This is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare 20 cl and 50 cl based on the recipes you have planned, then check the date and instructions for use after opening. | When I only use cream occasionally, I look for an amount I’ll be able to finish. Size comes first for around 25% of consumers. |
| Texture and recipe | Choose between thick and single cream depending on how you’ll use it. Also check whether the product is refrigerated or UHT. | Whether I’m topping fruit or adding cream to a hot dish, I first look for a texture that suits the recipe. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this culinary use. |
| Fat and ingredients | Compare fat and saturated fat per 100 g or 100 ml, then check the ingredients and allergens. | If I’m choosing between different organic varieties, I want to understand how their ingredients differ rather than assume they’re the same. This is the top criterion for around 17% of consumers. |
Organic status and fat content are two separate characteristics. Elle & Vire offers organic thick cream with 12% and 30% fat.
Read the nutritional information for the variety you choose, and pick a texture that suits your dish.
You’ll have more cream to use up in a 50 cl pot than in a 20 cl one. The larger size is best suited to several recipes planned within the stated storage period.
Work out how much you need before buying, and follow the storage instructions after opening. For products with a use-by date, Anses recommends not using them after that date.
Texture and ingredients vary between products. Carrefour states that its organic thick crème fraîche contains pasteurised organic cream and lactic cultures; Elle & Vire lists carrageenan in its UHT organic single cream.
Compare the ingredients list and type of cream on the packaging, especially if you’re switching texture or brand.
The milk’s origin and a product’s organic status answer two different questions. An origin label alone doesn’t confirm that crème fraîche is organic.
Check the organic and origin details separately for the product you’re interested in.
Président offers organic cream and says it is made with 100% French organic milk.
The range includes organic thick cream with 12% and 30% fat, as well as 30% fat UHT organic single cream.
Carrefour offers organic thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in a 50 cl pot.
E.Leclerc stocks Bio Village organic thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in 20 cl and 50 cl sizes.
Auchan offers organic full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in a 50 cl pot.
Lidl France offers a range of organic products in its stores.
Check the organic details on the packaging of the product you choose, rather than relying on its origin or brand. Agence BIO explains that the production, inspection and labelling of organic products in the European Union are governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
It can be a good choice if you plan to use it several times within the stated storage period. If you only use cream occasionally, consider a 20 cl pot instead, such as the Bio Village thick crème fraîche stocked by E.Leclerc.
Start with the texture you need: thick cream for topping or spooning over a dish, and single cream for stirring into a recipe. Elle & Vire recommends its UHT organic single cream for sauces and hot dishes; this is the manufacturer’s guidance for this particular product.
No. Organic status alone doesn’t determine the fat content. The Elle & Vire range includes organic thick cream with 12% and 30% fat, so compare the nutritional information for the variety you choose.
Follow the temperature and storage instructions on your pot. Auchan says to store its organic thick crème fraîche between +2 °C and +6 °C and use it soon after opening. Anses advises that products with a use-by date must not be eaten after that date.