Crème fraîche (2024)

FAQs

How is crème fraîche different than sour cream __________________ and ___________________? ›

The Difference Between Crème Fraîche and Sour Cream

The flavor of crème fraîche is slightly less tangy and richer than that of sour cream, and its texture is thicker.

Crème fraîche is essentially the European equivalent of sour cream. It's used widely throughout Europe but less commonly in the United States and Canada. Crème fraîche is a dairy product much like sour cream but it has a higher fat content.

What is crème fraîche? A classic French ingredient (the literal translation is 'fresh cream') made from dairy cream that's been soured using bacteria in the form of a starter culture, to slightly thicken and acidify it. Crème fraîche is usually made with cream that has at least a 30% fat content.

Sour cream (which has less fat) is the best and easiest substitute, but it's not as rich or tangy as crème fraîche. Full-fat plain Greek yogurt is another substitute, but it doesn't have the same smooth texture or mild flavor.

Sour cream may contain thickening agents like gelatin or polysaccharides to create a smooth texture, while creme fraiche's fermentation process naturally produces a thicker texture than sour cream. Plus, sour cream has a tangier taste than creme fraiche, which has a rich and creamy taste.

Tangy full-fat Greek yogurt is a great substitute for crème fraîche in a pinch. Though it isn't as high in fat, it will provide a similar creamy texture and can be subbed at a 1:1 ratio. It works in both sweet and savory recipes.

Rich in calcium and probiotics, crème fraîche can help to promote gut health, but its high-fat content might not align with everyone's dietary goals. The best way to make informed choices when incorporating crème fraîche into your meals is by understanding what your body wants and needs.

Double cream has a higher fat content – around 48-50 per cent, and it's not commonly available here. Crème fraîche, on the other hand, is cream that's had a culture added, making it slightly sour in flavour. It's around 40 per cent fat. If you're trying to cook healthily, however, cream is not an everyday ingredient.

You can think of crème fraîche as being somewhere between yogurt and sour cream. It generally has a higher fat content than either, so its flavor is much richer and its texture is much creamier. Good quality crème fraîche is usually less aggressively tangy than sour cream.

Mascarpone: If you're short on time, try using mascarpone. The Italian cream cheese has a comparable texture and taste, but mascarpone is sweeter. It works best as a substitute in dessert recipes. Substitute on a 1:1 ratio.

Can I use ricotta instead of crème fraîche? ›

Ricotta Cheese

Of course, other options on my list might come in handy in recipes where the crème fraîche tang is the MVP. Otherwise, this Italian cheese works just fine as a 1:1 substitute. The only thing to keep in mind is its grainy and lumpy texture, which might end up with a different result.

The main difference between Cream and Crème FraÎche is that the former is made from the higher-fat layer that appears on top of the milk, while the latter is a type of Cream that is made after fermenting the Cream. It is done so by using lactobacillus, a kind of bacteria.

Mexican crema's flavor is described as tangy with a hint of sweetness versus sour cream's more acidic flavor. This is likely because while sour cream is fermented with an acidic starter, Mexican crema is traditionally made with the more mellow buttermilk.

The main difference between Cream and Crème FraÎche is that the former is made from the higher-fat layer that appears on top of the milk, while the latter is a type of Cream that is made after fermenting the Cream. It is done so by using lactobacillus, a kind of bacteria.

So essentially the major difference as it relates to your cooking is in fat content. Sour cream is about 20 percent fat. Creme fraiche is around 30 percent. Yogurt is only around 10-12 percent fat.

A In a nutshell, soured cream is single cream that has been given a sharp, sour edge by adding a bacterial culture; creme fraiche is double cream similarly cultured but made from cream with a high fat content and is richer and thicker.