Hello

I am still an amatuer when it comes to cooking and have had trouble grasping what does 'cream' refer to in the US context? I go to Dairy section of groceries and I see Sour Cream. Can I use that instead?

Thanks for your help

Anurag

Cream for use in cooking tends to be what we call "single cream" which is runny or "double cream" which is the sort of cream you might use on puddings where you want a thick (which is almost solid enough to be speadable like soft butter).

Its mainly about the fat content and I think its called something like "heavy cream" in America.

fat content (roughly)

Half cream =12%

Single cream =18%

Whipping cream =35%

Double cream =48%

Sour cream is something slightly different where its allowed to go "off" giving it a slightly cheesy taste, so wouldn't give the same results.

Steve

Vow Steve, that is a good chart of various creams. I never looked at the exact concentration that closely before. Thanks :-).

Hello Anurag, you can use sour cream in curries. After all, we use thick yoghurt often enough. See Basic curry sauce recipe.

Mamta

or Anurag,

you could try creme fraiche, which contains only about one third the fat content of double cream.

Cream in India always tastes sour compared to Western creams to me.

Double cream can coat the tongue reducing tasting sensations, and 'hold on' to flavours destined for the nose to sense, so creme fraiche has the benefit of letting more flavour to be appreciated.

Lapis