Heavy cream, half-and-half, and creamer are three ingredients often used in cooking and drinks. Although they look similar, their ingredients are somewhat different.

What are heavy cream, half-and-half, and creamer?

Heavy cream, half-and-half, and creamer are all different products, but what are the differences between their ingredients? Let’s explain.

What is heavy cream?

Heavy cream has a richer flavor and a higher fat content. Fresh cream comes from raw milk, which is freshly squeezed and cooled, but not yet pasteurized.

As the raw milk cools, the less dense fat rises to the top, and this fat becomes the fresh cream. This fat is removed during the production process, and factories often use a special centrifuge to quickly separate the raw milk from the fat.

Generally speaking, fresh cream with a fat content of 36% or more is classified as heavy cream. While heavy cream is primarily the substance that floats on top of raw milk, some brands add thickening agents like gellan gum to enhance its texture.

What is half-and-half?

Half-and-half cream is essentially a mixture of heavy cream and whole milk in a 1:1 ratio—half heavy cream, half whole milk.

This type of cream has a thinner texture than heavy cream, contains less fat, and has a lighter flavor, making it suitable for a variety of recipes.

While half-and-half cream is primarily composed of heavy cream and whole milk, some brands add ingredients like carrageenan to enhance its texture.

Fat-free versions of half-and-half cream are also available. These typically use corn syrup instead of heavy cream and are then mixed with skim milk, resulting in a fat-free version but a higher sugar content.

What is creamer?

The biggest difference between creamer and heavy cream or half-and-half is that it contains no milk or butterfat. While ingredients vary slightly by brand, the main ingredients are generally water, sugar, and vegetable oil.

Other common ingredients include carrageenan and viscose, which enhance the creamer’s texture, and flavorings, which enhance its flavor. When choosing a creamer, avoid those with high sugar content.

Common Uses of Heavy Cream, Half-and-Half, and Creamer

Heavy Cream

Rich heavy cream is ideal for making sour cream, cream, and ice cream, or adding it to soups and sauces (as in the recipes below).

Heavy cream enhances the flavor and texture of dishes, especially since it contains a high amount of fat.

This makes it ideal for whipping cream, as it helps it hold its shape better after whipping. Heavy cream can also be added to foods like puddings, quiches, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and beverages like coffee.

Half and Half Cream

Half and half, which is lighter than heavy cream, can be used in beverages like coffee and tea, as well as in scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soups, and desserts.

Half and half cream is used in a similar way to heavy cream, but its fat content is not high enough, making it unsuitable for whipped cream.

Creamer

Creamer is primarily used in coffee, enhancing the aroma and sweetness of coffee. Besides adding creamer to coffee, many people also use it in drinks like hot cocoa and hot tea, or with desserts like coffee jelly.