Half and Half vs. Heavy Cream: When to Use Which in Cooking (2024)

Most of us keep half and half and heavy cream in our fridge. But have you ever swapped one for the other, and it didn't quite work? There's a reason for that: Half and half has about half (surprise!) the milkfat as heavy cream does, which means it's a lighter product that results in a less creamy, less decadent dish.

Both half and half and heavy cream work well in beverages like coffee, tea, and smoothies—and as a creamy add-in for some recipes—but they don't always work as a one-to-one sub. We break down the unique qualities of half and half vs. heavy cream and show you how to cook with each. We also unpack the differences between half and half and light cream and explain whether fat-free half and half is worth it.

Half and Half vs. Heavy Cream

The main difference between half and half and heavy cream is their milk fat content. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that half and half, which is equal parts heavy cream and milk, contains between 10.5 and 18 percent milk fat. This gives half and half a less creamy, more watery texture than heavy cream.

Heavy cream, on the other hand, is a thicker, richer product that must have at least 36 percent milk fat. This double dose of milk fat—compared to half and half—makes heavy cream thicker, creamier, and richer.

Substitutions

Half and half and heavy cream are interchangeable in a savory recipe like mashed potatoes or , although the consistency and richness of your dish may vary based on which type of cream you use.

If you're trying to cut back on fat and calories, or if you want to forgo a special trip to the store, half and half is generally a suitable substitute for heavy cream with two major caveats:

Half and half doesn't contain enough milk fat to form luscious stiff peaks the way heavy cream does, so it doesn't work as a substitute for making whipped cream.
Half and half needs to be tempered when added to hot liquid, or it will separate and curdle, while heavy cream does not need tempering.

If you want to turn one type of cream into the other to have the recipe be more exact, here's how:

How to Make Half and Half With Heavy Cream

If you have heavy cream and milk on hand but need half and half, it's an easy fix.

How to Make Heavy Cream With Half and Half

Yes, you can go the other way and turn half and half into heavy cream. All you need is unsalted butter to up the fat content of the half and half, which lends that dairy creaminess.

To make 1 cup of heavy cream:

In a small mixing bowl, melt ¼ cup unsalted butter.
Whisk in ¾ cup half and half.
Allow the cream to cool.

To temper half and half, add a little bit of hot liquid to a bowl with half and half, and then slowly whisk them together. Repeat two more times, and then slowly stir the tempered half and half back into the original mixture. This process gently raises the temperature of the half and half, which prevents curdling.

Half and Half vs. Light Cream

There's even less difference between half and half and light cream than between half and half and heavy cream. The FDA dictates that light cream contains between 18 and 30 percent milk fat, meaning it's a bit fattier than half and half (which has between 10.5 and 18 percent milk fat). In contrast, light cream is not as rich and creamy as heavy cream.

Using Light Cream Instead of Half and Half

Half and half and light cream are highly interchangeable. Like half and half, light cream is a perfect coffee add-in. It's also great as a drizzle over mixed berries and as a substitute for whole milk in our glazed cake donuts recipe.

The low milkfat content in light cream means that it can't be whisked into fluffy whipped cream and shouldn't be used in dishes that are heated for long periods because the cream could curdle.

What Is Fat-Free Half and Half?

While fat-free half and half may seem like a healthy alternative, its name is deceiving. It usually contains fat-free milk and cream but also corn syrup, artificial colors, and a handful of chemicals not normally found in regular half and half.

Fat-free half and half has about half the calories of regular half and half and one less gram of sugar per serving. Fewer calories and zero fat may leave you feeling guilt-free, but the fat-free version's half-dozen additives make us inclined to recommend the real deal.

Heavy Cream and Whipping Cream Are Not the Same—Here's Why

FAQs

Half and Half vs. Heavy Cream: When to Use Which in Cooking? ›

Can I Use Half-and-Half and Heavy Cream Interchangeably? It depends. If you're making custard or custard-based fillings, as with this Lime-Coconut Custard Pie, you can use half-and-half and heavy cream interchangeably, though using heavy cream will result in a richer end product.

Do you cook with half-and-half or heavy cream? ›

So, if you're cooking something forgiving like soup or mashed potatoes, heavy cream and half-and-half are virtually interchangeable in equal amounts, yes—both will give you that creamy texture we all love and crave. Just be mindful that heavy cream contains more fat, so it will taste much richer.

Is heavy cream or half-and-half better for you? ›

If you're looking for a product that can be used in cooking, heavy cream is the most versatile. It can be used to make many different dishes, including soups, sauces, and desserts. However, for an ingredient that can sweeten your favorite drinks, half-and-half may be the healthier option.

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When can you substitute half-and-half for heavy cream? ›

Adding butter helps increase the fat percentage of half-and-half, making it a suitable alternative to heavy cream in almost any recipe, including those that require whipping. You can also use half-and-half to replace heavy cream without adding butter in certain recipes, such as sauces and soups.

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Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream in pasta? ›

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

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Is half-and-half or heavy cream better for mac and cheese? ›

Other examples where you can use half-and-half and heavy cream interchangeably include mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken pot pie and bread pudding (keep in mind that heavy cream will yield a richer dish whereas half-and-half will create an end product that's not as rich, which may be desirable in some cases ...

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Does half-and-half get thick when cooked? ›

Half-and-half can be incorporated in recipes, but because of the lower fat content, it cannot be used to make whipped cream since it won't hold its peaks. It also won't thicken a sauce the way that heavy or whipping cream does. Half-and-half is commonly used as a coffee creamer.

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What is heavy cream used for? ›

It's an excellent thickener/enricher for soups and sauces, especially since cream (as opposed to half and half) will not curdle when boiled. Heavy cream is also used for ice cream, frostings and as a topper for desserts because when whipped, it can be piped and hold its shape.

What is half-and-half used for? ›

It's what you use when you need something richer than milk, but not quite as thick as cream. You'll find it in rich and velvety sauces, soups, and desserts. Many people like using half-and-half in their coffee because it strikes the perfect balance between too creamy and too thin.

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Can I use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for ganache? ›

Typical ganache calls for heavy cream, but half and half can be used if absolutely needed! But please remember that because it is thinner, it will result in a finished ganache that is also thinner and less rich.

Which cream is best for pasta? ›

Pasta is cooked in salted water. Mostly, heavy cream (for cooking). Does Italian cooking use cream? Use 35% whipping cream or 35% heavy cream for sauces (dairy section as well).