Heavy whipping cream has a variety of culinary uses. It can be used to make butter and whipped cream, thicken coffee or soups, among other things.
Everything you need to know about heavy whipping cream, including its applications, nutritional makeup, advantages, and drawbacks, is covered in this article.
Fresh milk naturally separates into cream and milk. Due to the cream’s fat content, it rises to the top. It’s then skimmed off before further processing (1).
Pasteurization and homogenization are done to this cream to create heavy whipping cream. To eliminate pathogens, extend shelf life, and enhance stability, the cream is heated and put under intense pressure (2, 3).
Additives that aid in stabilizing the cream and preventing the fat from separating are also present in a variety of heavy whipping cream varieties.
Carrageenan, a component of these additives that is derived from seaweed The milk protein casein also comes in sodium caseinate, which is used as a food additive (4, 5).
Uses of heavy whipping cream
There are numerous uses for heavy whipping cream in both commercial and home cooking.
Heavy whipping cream’s fat molecules congregate when whisked or churned.
After a few minutes of whipping, this property causes the liquid cream to turn into whipped cream. After a few more minutes of churning, the whipped cream turns into butter (6, 7, 8).
The liquid that remains after heavy whipping cream has been churned into butter is known as buttermilk, another well-known dairy product (9)
Additionally, heavy whipping cream is used to make coffee, baked goods, soups, and other recipes creamier. It is widely used by people who consume high fat diets, like the ketogenic diet, to add additional fat to their meals and beverages.
Heavy whipping cream is mostly fat, so it’s high in calories. It’s also rich in choline, fat-soluble vitamins, and certain minerals. One half-cup of liquid cream is equivalent to 1 cup whipped cream (120 grams) and contains (10):
Saturated fat, which makes up the majority of the fat in heavy whipping cream, has long been associated with heart disease.
However, current research does not always show a strong link between dairy fat intake and heart disease. Some emerging research suggests that eating saturated fat may help protect against heart disease (11, 12).
However, not all researchers are in agreement about whether eating saturated fat reduces or increases the risk of heart disease (13, 14).
To better understand how saturated fat contributes to the development of heart disease, more research is required.
Choline, vitamins A, D, E, and K, and other nutrients found in heavy whipping cream are all essential for maintaining good health.
Choline is important for early brain development and metabolism, while vitamin A is necessary for eye health and immune function (15, 16).
Furthermore, heavy whipping cream contains calcium and phosphorus, two minerals that are necessary for healthy bones (17).
Heavy whipping cream vs. whipping cream
Depending on how much fat they contain, various types of cream are categorized.
Whipping cream and heavy whipping cream are two different products that shouldn’t be confused. Both heavy whipping cream and heavy cream have a minimum milk fat content of 36% (3).
On the other hand, light whipping cream, which is sometimes called whipping cream, is slightly lighter, containing 30–35% milk fat (3).
Because of its lower fat content, light whipping cream produces an airier whipped cream, while heavy whipping cream produces a richer whipped cream (3).
Half-and-half is another cream-based product, consisting of half cream and half milk. It contains 10–18% milk fat and is primarily used in coffee (3).
Heavy whipping cream is full of health-promoting vitamins and minerals. However, it contains a lot of calories and, if consumed in large quantities, could lead to weight gain.
The advantages and drawbacks of heavy whipping cream are listed below.
Benefits of heavy whipping cream
The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as other health-promoting vitamins and minerals can be found in heavy whipping cream and other full-fat dairy products.
In fact, full fat dairy products contain more fat-soluble vitamins than their low fat and fat-free counterparts (10, 11, 18).
What’s more, your body absorbs fat-soluble vitamins better when you consume them with fat, such as the fat found in heavy whipping cream (19).
Some studies have also found that full fat dairy products are associated with a decreased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease (11, 20, 21, 22, 23).
One study with over 1,300 participants found that those who consumed the most full-fat dairy had a significantly lower risk of obesity than those who consumed the least. Additionally, those who consumed more had significantly less belly fat (20).
The low-fat Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet was compared to a high-fat version of the diet that contained 40% fat and full-fat dairy products in a 13-week study involving 36 adults.
Researchers noted that both diets reduced high blood pressure, but the higher fat diet had the added benefit of decreasing harmful very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol while maintaining levels of heart-protective high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (24).
Furthermore, heavy whipping cream appears to be healthier than several highly refined low fat products that can serve as cream replacements, such as coffee creamers and whipped topping (25).
Compared with whole foods, these products are less filling and have a greater impact on your blood sugar levels. High intake of these refined foods has also been linked to obesity (26, 27, 28).
Downsides of heavy whipping cream
Heavy whipping cream is very high in calories, containing 408 calories per 1/2 cup (120 grams). Therefore, it can be easy to consume excess calories if you use it often (10).
Lower calorie alternatives include half-and-half, whole milk, and nut milks.
Surprisingly, more than 65% of people may be lactose intolerant and should avoid heavy whipping cream and other dairy products (29).
Moreover, some research shows that dairy products may contribute to mucus production in many people — even those who don’t have any allergy or intolerance to dairy (30).
But more analysis is required to draw a clearer connection between the two.
In one study of 108 adults with excessive nasal mucus production, it was discovered that cutting out dairy products helped the issue.
Those who went on a dairy-free diet for 6 days reported significantly fewer symptoms of excessive mucus production than those who went dairy-free for just 2 days and then reintroduced dairy into their diets (31).
However, this is an area of debate. Some researchers have found no link between dairy consumption and mucus production (32).
Dairy intake has also been associated with an increased risk of certain cancers (33).
For example, a review including more than 8,000 people observed that those with the highest dairy intake were 20% more likely to have stomach cancer than those with the lowest dairy intake (34).
In addition, many heavy whipping creams contain additives like sodium caseinate and carrageenan. In studies on animals and in test tubes, these have been connected to intestinal damage when taken in high doses (4, 5, 35, 36).
While heavy whipping cream has a lot of calories, it also has a lot of good fats and vitamins and minerals. It’s typically used in small amounts, like in coffee or recipes that call for a little creaminess, so it won’t significantly increase your calorie intake.
However, if you’re on a calorie-restricted diet, you can substitute it with something lower in calories, like nut milk or half-and-half, or you can keep your daily consumption of heavy whipping cream to a minimum.
The majority of people may be lactose intolerant and may need to avoid heavy whipping cream and other dairy products for optimal health (29).
Additionally, consuming dairy products may cause some people to produce more mucus. You might want to stay away from heavy whipping cream if this applies to you.
However, if you can eat dairy products and use heavy whipping cream sparingly in your diet, it can be beneficial.
Lastly, organic, grass-fed heavy cream is preferable because it contains more nutrients, including healthy fats and antioxidants, than regular dairy products do (37, 38, 39).
Making whipped cream and butter with heavy whipping cream adds richness to dishes or coffee.
Heavy whipping cream and other full-fat dairy products are packed with nutrients, including fat-soluble vitamins, which some research has linked to a lower risk of diseases like heart disease and obesity.
However, heavy whipping cream contains a lot of calories, and the majority of people are intolerant to dairy products.
If you can consume dairy and use heavy whipping cream sparingly, it can be a nutritious component of your diet.
Today, give it a try: You can use heavy whipping cream in both sweet and savory dishes. For a sweet treat like a Boston cream pie or tomato soup, top with a dollop of heavy whipping cream.
Last medically reviewed on March 21, 2022
How we reviewed this article:
Our experts closely follow the health and wellness sector, and whenever fresh information is released, we update our articles.
Katherine Marengo, LDN, RD
FAQ
How many calories are in a tablespoon of Whipping Cream?
One tablespoon (15 mL) of heavy cream has the most fat and calories of the three, at about 51 (2). Meanwhile, there are roughly 20 calories in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of coffee creamer (4). Additionally, half-and-half has 20 calories per tablespoon (15 mL) (3).
How many calories are in 2 tablespoons of whip cream?
How many calories are in 2 tablespoons of Reddi Whip?
Made with real cream. Per 2 tbsp Serving: 15 calories; 0. Less than 1 g of sugar, 0 mg of sodium, and 5 g of saturated fat (3% DV).
How many calories are in 2 tablespoons of thick cream?
2 tablespoons of heavy cream contain 103 calories, according to the nutritional analysis.