For making a quick dip or sauce
You’re looking for thick cream to use cold or as a finishing touch for a hot dish. The full-fat options with 30% fat from Elle & Vire and Président let you compare recipes and pack sizes for these uses.
Who are these options for?
For choosing based on fat content or lactose
You want to compare a lighter thick cream with a lactose-free option without confusing their features. ALDI lists a Milsani option with 15% fat, while Elle & Vire offers a lactose-free dairy product with 4% fat. Check the product description and ingredients for each one.
For occasional use
If you only use cream for the odd snack, the amount you buy and the storage instructions after opening matter particularly. Compare the pack size, use-by date and storage guidance on the packaging.
What should you look for first?
Start with how you plan to use the thick cream, then compare the recipe and the amount you’ll be able to use. For a chilled product, also read the storage instructions for the option you choose.
| Factor | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and use | Whether the product is described as “thick” or “semi-thick”, and whether it’s suitable for hot or cold dishes. | If I’m dipping food into a cold sauce or quickly finishing a dish, the first thing I want is a texture that suits my recipe. Around 37% of consumers prioritise this immediate use. |
| Fat content or lactose | The fat content, whether it’s labelled “lactose-free” if that matters to you, and the ingredients list. | If fat content or lactose is my main concern, I compare the recipes rather than relying on the word “thick” alone. This comes first for around 27% of consumers. |
| Pack size | The amount in g or cl, and whether you’ll be able to use the remainder after opening. | If I’m planning just one snack, I don’t want to buy more cream than I can use. Around 18% of consumers put buying the right amount at the top of their list. |
| Storage | The use-by or best-before date, the required temperature and the instructions for after opening. | I need to be able to store the cream as directed until I use it. Storage is the main priority for around 18% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions to avoid
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Assuming “thick”, “full-fat” and “lactose-free” mean the same thing
These labels describe different characteristics. Elle & Vire, for example, offers full-fat thick cream with 30% fat, as well as a lactose-free thick dairy product with 4% fat.
Check the product description, fat content and ingredients list before choosing.
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Choosing a large pack without planning how you’ll use the rest
Once opened, crème fraîche must be stored and used according to the instructions on its own label. For a Président product listed by Auchan, the instructions say to use it within 7 days of opening.
Choose an amount that suits the dishes you’re actually planning to make, and check the instructions for the product you buy.
If you can’t use the amount within the recommended conditions, some of it may go to waste.
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Confusing “light”, “lactose-free” and “dairy-free”
The Milsani light thick cream listed by ALDI contains 15% fat in the finished product. Elle & Vire’s lactose-free dairy product contains skimmed milk and cream, among other ingredients, so “lactose-free” doesn’t mean “dairy-free” for this product.
Check the fat content, lactose and any ingredients or allergens that matter to you separately.
Brands to compare
Elle & Vire
The brand offers full-fat thick Normandy crème fraîche with 30% fat in a 324 g pouch, as well as a lactose-free thick dairy product with 4% fat.
- According to Elle & Vire, the resealable cap on the full-fat cream pouch makes it easier to measure out.
- The 4% product contains skimmed milk, cream, starch and stabilisers, among other ingredients, so it’s not the same recipe as the full-fat cream.
Auchan
The retailer lists, among other products, full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in a 50 cl pack.
- Auchan’s product page lists pasteurised cream and lactic cultures as ingredients, and says to store it between +2 °C and +6 °C.
- Auchan notes that the ingredients may vary depending on the store and purchase date, so check the label on the product you choose.
ECO+
This E.Leclerc brand offers thick crème fraîche with 30% fat, made in France.
- E.Leclerc’s product page lists a recipe made with pasteurised cream, pasteurised skimmed milk and lactic cultures.
- E.Leclerc advises checking with your local store or drive-through service to find out whether this product is available.
Milsani
ALDI offers light thick crème fraîche under this brand, with 15% fat in the finished product and a pack size of 50 cl.
- The stated fat content sets this product apart from the full-fat options with 30% fat mentioned here.
- Don’t assume it will give the same results in cooking; check that it’s suitable for your recipe.
Président
Auchan lists Président full-fat thick crème fraîche with 30% fat in a 45 cl pack.
- Auchan’s product page recommends this option for both hot and cold dishes.
- For this product, the page says to store it between +2 °C and +6 °C, use it within 7 days of opening and not freeze it.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Does thick cream always contain more fat than single cream?
No: texture alone doesn’t tell you how much fat a product contains. Elle & Vire explains that adding lactic cultures helps thicken the cream. Compare the fat percentage shown on each pack.
Can you use crème fraîche after its use-by date?
No, not if the product is past its use-by date. Anses says that products carrying a use-by date shouldn’t be eaten after that date. Check the exact wording on the packaging, and don’t confuse it with a best-before date.
How long can you keep thick cream after opening?
Follow the storage time and temperature given for the product you’ve bought. For example, Auchan’s product page for Président thick cream says to store it between +2 °C and +6 °C, use it within 7 days of opening and not freeze it.
Does “lactose-free” mean “dairy-free”?
No: the lactose-free thick dairy product listed by Elle & Vire contains skimmed milk and cream, among other ingredients. If milk ingredients or allergens matter to you, check the details on the product you’re thinking of buying.