Who is this choice for?

Households cooking several portions

You regularly make sauces, gratins or quiches for several people and are considering one 50 cl tub instead of several smaller containers.

People who pay attention to the recipe

You want to compare fat content and ingredients, even when two thick crème fraîche products come in the same size pack.

Households keen to use up fresh food

You choose the pack size to suit the meals you have planned and the recommended time for using the product after opening.

What should you look for first?

If you’re cooking several portions, start with the recipes you have planned, then choose the pack size and fat content. Finally, check the ingredients and storage instructions on the tub you’re buying.

Criteria What to check Who it matters to
Full-fat recipe The product name “thick crème fraîche”, the fat content and the ingredients list. Carrefour and Auchan offer 50 cl full-fat options with 30% fat. For making sauces or gratins in larger quantities, I’d choose full-fat thick crème fraîche. This recipe is the top priority for around 42% of consumers.
Amount you’ll use The pack size, use-by date and instructions for use after opening, in relation to the meals you have planned. If I open a 50 cl tub for several meals, I want to be able to finish it within the recommended time. The amount you can realistically use comes first for around 33% of consumers.
Lighter option The fat content and ingredients of the exact product: Auchan also offers 50 cl thick crème fraîche with 15% fat. For the dishes I make regularly, I prefer thick crème fraîche with less fat and compare its recipe. Around 25% of consumers put this criterion first.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Choosing 50 cl without planning when you’ll use the crème fraîche

    A large tub is only useful if you can finish it in the meals you’ve planned while following the instructions for use after opening. Once the tub is open, the use-by date doesn’t replace those instructions.

    Before you buy, plan the dishes you’ll use the crème fraîche in; otherwise, consider a smaller pack.

    An opened tub that isn’t finished within the recommended conditions can lead to waste.

  • Assuming “lighter” means the same recipe with less fat

    Depending on the variant, the product information for Auchan’s 15% lighter thick crème fraîche lists modified starch and thickeners. The full-fat product being compared has a different ingredients list.

    Compare the product name, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g on the tub you choose.

  • Letting chilled crème fraîche warm up while you shop

    Keeping it chilled is part of choosing a fresh product, especially if it’ll be a long journey from the shop to your fridge.

    Anses advises picking up chilled products at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag to carry them. Then follow the temperature guidance on the packaging.

Brands to compare

Elle & Vire

The brand offers a 324 g pouch of full-fat thick crème fraîche from Normandy, with 30% fat.

  • The listed recipe combines full-fat crème fraîche from Normandy with lactic cultures.
  • At 324 g, this pouch doesn’t offer the same quantity as a 50 cl family-size tub.

Carrefour Classic'

A 50 cl tub of full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat is available.

  • The product information lists pasteurised crème fraîche and lactic cultures.
  • Check the use-by date and instructions on the specific tub you choose.

E.Leclerc / Delisse

The range includes 50 cl tubs of thick crème fraîche with either 30% or 15% fat.

  • These two options make it easy to compare full-fat and lighter versions in the same pack size.
  • Check the label on the product you choose for its ingredients and storage instructions.

Auchan

Two 50 cl tubs of thick crème fraîche are available: a full-fat version with 30% fat and a lighter one with 15% fat.

  • The product information lets you compare their ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
  • Auchan notes that the composition may vary by delivery service and purchase date, so check the tub you choose.

Aldi / Milsani

The Milsani product listed by Aldi is a 50 cl tub of thick crème fraîche with 30% fat.

  • The pack size and fat content are listed for this product.
  • Read the label on the tub to compare its ingredients and storage instructions.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a 50 cl tub always suitable for a family?

No. It’s a good fit if you plan to use it in several recipes and can follow the storage conditions and recommended time after opening. If not, compare it with a smaller pack.

What should you compare between 30% full-fat thick crème fraîche and a 15% lighter version?

Compare the fat content, nutritional information per 100 g and ingredients of the product you choose. For the two Auchan products reviewed, the information for the lighter version lists modified starch and thickeners in some variants.

How should you transport and store a large tub of thick crème fraîche?

Pick up chilled crème fraîche at the end of your shop and carry it in an insulated bag, as advised by Anses. Once home, follow the temperature guidance and instructions for use after opening on the packaging. The Auchan products featured here state that they should be kept between +2 °C and +6 °C.