In this article, we will answer the question “Can you freeze heavy cream?”, and what are the substitutes for fresh heavy cream?

Can you freeze heavy cream?

Soups, desserts, sauces, and whipped cream only use a small portion of heavy cream. The leftover heavy cream has to be stored effectively until the next use. r

Freezing small amounts

If you only require heavy cream in smaller amounts from time to time, your best bet is to use an ice cube tray. You can use a 1-inch or 2-inch ice cube tray, depending on how much you usually need. A 2-inch and 1-inch tray equal 1/c cup and 2 tbsp of heavy cream, respectively.

Pour the heavy cream into the tray and put the tray in the freezer until it solidifies. Then transfer the frozen heavy cream cubes to a freezer bag. Squeeze the air out from the bad. Label the bag and keep it in the freezer.

Freezing large amounts

If you use usually require larger amounts of heavy cream, store the whole carton in the freezer. Do not forget to remove an inch of cream from the top. Because the cream will expand and take up space when frozen.

How to use frozen heavy cream?

If it was stored in the carton, leave it in the fridge and allow it to thaw. When it is soft, give it a vigorous shake to uniformly distribute the butterfat. Previously frozen softened heavy cream whip much better because it is still cold.

If you will be cooking with heavy cream, you do not have to thaw the frozen cubes. Just toss them directly into the dish and let the heat melt it. If you will be using the cubes for making whipped heavy cream, defrosting is important.

You need to figure out the size of your ice cube tray. Generally, one cube equals 2 tbsp, 2 cubes give ¼ cup of cream while 8 cubes provide you about ½ cup of heavy cream. 

Substitutes for fresh heavy cream

Milk and butter

To make one cup of heavy cream, whip ¼ cup of melted butter and ¾ cup of milk. If using low-fat milk, add in a tbsp of flour for thickening. This substitute won’t whip well, therefore, it should only be used in cooking and baking.

Soy milk and olive oil

This vegan substitute for heavy cream works just like milk and butter. The olive oil makes the fat percentage of the milk equal to the cream. For one cup of heavy cream, mix ⅔ cup of soy milk and ⅓ cup of olive oil.

Milk and cornstarch 

This alternative doe not whip well but if you are cutting down on calories, this is your best bet. To make one cup of heavy cream, mix 2 tbsp of cornstarch in a cup of skim or full-fat milk.

Half-and-half and butter

half-and-Half has only one-third fat content of heavy cream. Use half-and-half as is to make sauces and soups or add butter to increase its aft content. For one cup of heavy cream, combine ⅞ cup of half-and-half with ⅛ cup of melted butter.

Silken tofu and soy milk

The good part about this substitute is that it can be whipped. Combine some sugar and vanilla extract and voila, your homemad vegan whipped cream topping is ready. For one cup of heavy cream, combine silken tofu and soya milk in equal proportion. Instead of soy milk, regular milk or any other plant-based milk can be used.

Greek yogurt and milk

This alternative can not be whipped but is nutritionally rich. Green yogurt provides a protein boost to this heavy cream alternative. Due to its thick texture, it is combined with an equal proportion of regular milk or any plant-based milk. Use this alternative in cooking and baking.

Evaporated milk

Evaporated milk is sold in canned form and has about 60% of its water removed. It is not as thick as heavy cream and won’t whip well. But it is a good low-calorie alternative for thickening sauces and soups.

Cottage cheese and milk

Blend cottage cheese with milk in an immersion blender or a food processor until a thick and smooth consistency is achieved. Cottage cheese is rich in protein and sodium. If you have health issues, use salt-free cheese or skip the salt in the recipe to adjust the flavor.

Coconut cream

Substitute thick and creamy coconut cream for heavy cream in equal parts. This is an excellent vegan alternative to heavy cream. 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you freeze heavy cream?”, and what are the substitutes for fresh heavy cream?

References

https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-freeze-heavy-cream-1388376

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/heavy-cream-substitutes#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2