Who are these formats for?

Households making several toppings

If you’re using cream in several recipes for Candlemas, 50 cl tubs of fresh cream from brands including Carrefour Classic’, Delisse, Auchan and Milsani give you a useful like-for-like size to compare.

Cooks looking to cut down on leftovers

If you’ll be using the cream at different times, a resealable pouch or separate portions may suit the way you cook better. Always check the storage instructions after opening.

Anyone who pays close attention to the type of cream

Whether you’re choosing full-fat thick cream with 30% fat, a lighter version or semi-thick UHT cream, check the product description and ingredients before choosing one for a particular recipe.

What should you look for?

50 cl tub of fresh cream

Worth considering: if you’re making several toppings or recipes close together.

Bear in mind: once opened, follow the storage time and instructions on the packaging.

Resealable pouch

Worth considering: if you want to use Elle & Vire’s 324 g pouch of full-fat thick cream a little at a time.

Worth noting: Elle & Vire says this pouch is not yet recyclable.

Three 20 cl cartons

Worth considering: if you’d rather open each portion separately as you need it.

Worth noting: Delisse’s product is semi-thick UHT cream, not fresh thick crème fraîche in a tub.

Factor What to check Who it matters to
Volume Compare the pack size with what you’re planning to make: a 50 cl tub, a 324 g pouch or three 20 cl cartons. If I’m making several toppings for my guests, I want enough cream without opening more packs than necessary; around 36% of consumers put volume first.
Type of cream Look for the description “thick” or “semi-thick” and check whether the product is fresh or UHT. If a recipe specifically calls for thick crème fraîche, I don’t want to unknowingly swap it for semi-thick UHT cream; this distinction is a priority for around 29% of consumers.
Storage Check the storage temperature and the instructions for how long the product can be kept after opening. If I’m making dishes at different times, I want to plan how to use the opened pack; storage is the top priority for around 21% of consumers.
Fat content and ingredients Compare the fat content and ingredients listed for each product. When choosing between full-fat cream, a lighter version and a UHT product, I want to know what’s in them before deciding; around 14% of consumers make this their top consideration.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing thick cream with semi-thick UHT cream

    Delisse’s pack of three 20 cl cartons contains semi-thick UHT cream with 30% fat. Its ingredients include modified starch, stabilisers and an emulsifier, among other things. It’s not the same product as plain thick crème fraîche.

    Before swapping one for the other in a recipe, check the product description, fat content and ingredients.

  • Opening a large tub without a plan for what’s left

    Once the pack is open, the use-by date alone is no longer enough to tell you how long to keep the cream. The French Ministry of the Economy recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions after opening.

    If you won’t use all 50 cl soon, plan how to use the rest before opening the tub, or consider packs with separate portions.

    Any leftovers not used within the time stated on the packaging could contribute to food waste.

  • Choosing a lighter version just because it says “thick”

    Light cream with 15% fat and full-fat cream with 30% fat have different compositions. Calling them both thick cream doesn’t make them interchangeable in every recipe.

    Decide what type of cream you want to use, then check the fat content of the product you choose.

Brands to know when comparing formats

Elle & Vire

The brand offers, among other products, a 324 g pouch of full-fat thick Normandy cream with 30% fat.

  • According to Elle & Vire, the resealable cap makes it easier to control how much you use.
  • The brand says this pouch is not yet recyclable.

Carrefour Classic’

Carrefour’s range includes a 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche, as well as a light version in a similar size.

  • The 50 cl tub makes it easy to compare the size directly with other family-size tubs of thick crème fraîche.
  • Check the fat content: the light and full-fat versions are different products.

Delisse

E.Leclerc’s Marque Repère range offers a 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, as well as a pack of three 20 cl cartons of semi-thick UHT cream.

  • The separate cartons let you open each one as you need it.
  • The semi-thick UHT cream contains modified starch, stabilisers and an emulsifier, among other ingredients. Don’t confuse it with the fresh cream in a tub.

Auchan

Auchan offers a 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, as well as a POUCE product in the same size.

  • These tubs give you two 50 cl options to consider for your recipe.
  • For the POUCE product, the product details recommend storage between +2 °C and +6 °C and prompt use after opening.

Milsani

ALDI’s dairy brand offers a 50 cl tub of thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.

  • Its size and fat content make it easy to compare with the other 50 cl tubs of fresh cream mentioned here.
  • Check the storage instructions on the tub before choosing it.

Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 50 cl tub suitable if you’re making crêpes for several people?

Yes, if you plan to use the cream in several toppings or recipes close together. Carrefour Classic’, Delisse, Auchan and Milsani offer 50 cl tubs of full-fat thick crème fraîche. If you’ll be using it over a longer period, also compare packs that let you open smaller portions separately.

Should you choose full-fat cream with 30% fat or a light version with 15% fat?

Choose according to the type of cream your recipe calls for. These two fat contents refer to different products, even if both are described as “thick”. Check the product description and ingredients before swapping one for the other.

How should you store thick crème fraîche once it’s open?

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the packaging for storage temperature and how long to keep it after opening. The French Ministry of the Economy explains that the use-by date no longer applies in the same way once a product is open. For its 50 cl tub of POUCE thick crème fraîche, Auchan recommends storage between +2 °C and +6 °C and prompt use after opening.