Shoppers limiting fat after exercise
If you want something creamy without choosing ordinary double cream, compare the fat declaration with that of a reduced-fat cream-style product. Check that the alternative also works for how you plan to use it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
The useful choice depends on whether you need a creamy ingredient, want to limit fat, or are choosing the main components of an after-exercise snack.
Home cooks adding cream to a meal
If double cream supplies a particular flavour or texture, decide how much the recipe needs and compare the nutrition for that serving. Cream need not be the main carbohydrate- or protein-containing part of the meal.
Shoppers comparing supermarket ranges
Check the named product rather than treating double cream, extra-thick double cream and reduced-fat crème fraîche as the same ingredient. Nutrition, milk declarations and chilled-storage instructions all matter to the choice.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether the purchase is primarily a creamy recipe ingredient or an after-exercise snack, then compare products on the same nutrition basis and check how you intend to use them.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and saturates | Compare per 100ml figures before comparing serving sizes. Tesco Fresh Double Cream lists 47.5g fat and 29.7g saturates per 100ml; Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream lists 50.5g and 31.4g. Waitrose Reduced Fat Crème Fraîche lists 14.0g and 8.4g per 100ml. | I want a creamy addition while limiting fat, so the amount I will actually use matters as well as the product type. |
| Snack composition | Check the carbohydrate and protein declarations if those are the reasons for buying an after-exercise snack. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate-and-protein snacks in its exercise guidance and says the choice depends on the activity, its duration and individual circumstances. | For a snack after training, I want to choose its main ingredients for that purpose rather than rely on cream to supply protein. |
| Recipe use | Check whether the recipe needs double cream for pouring, whipping or a particular texture. Waitrose Reduced Fat Crème Fraîche is cultured and contains tapioca starch, pectin and sugar; do not assume it will behave identically. | A dollop may suit what I am making, but I need to check before swapping it into a recipe that calls for double cream. |
| Label and storage | Check the specific pack for milk, its use-by date and refrigeration instructions. Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream specifies storage below 5°C and use within three days of opening without exceeding its use-by date. | I need to check the milk declaration and make sure I can store and use the pack as instructed. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a small serving makes double cream a low-fat choice
Tesco Fresh Double Cream lists 14.3g fat and 8.9g saturates in a 30ml serving. A small-looking portion can still matter when you are comparing fat per serving.
Check both the per 100ml declaration and the amount you expect to use. If limiting fat is the priority, compare a reduced-fat cream-style product as a separate option.
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Choosing cream as the main protein-containing snack
Tesco Fresh Double Cream lists 1.7g protein per 100ml, while Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream lists 1.5g per 100ml. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust instead discusses snacks containing carbohydrate and protein in its exercise guidance.
If those are the components you want in an after-exercise snack, check foods that supply them directly. Add cream for flavour or texture only if it suits the meal.
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Expecting reduced-fat crème fraîche to work exactly like double cream
Waitrose Reduced Fat Crème Fraîche is a cultured product containing tapioca starch, pectin and sugar, not plain double cream. Its lower fat figure does not establish identical flavour or recipe behaviour.
Check whether your recipe calls for whipping, pouring or a particular thickness before substituting it.
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Overlooking milk and chilled-storage instructions
The Tesco and Waitrose cream products identify milk. Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream also specifies refrigeration below 5°C, use within three days after opening and adherence to its use-by date.
Read the current pack for allergens and storage directions, and follow its use-by date. The Food Standards Agency distinguishes use-by dates as a food-safety matter.
Brand and product references
These examples help compare named products; a brand name alone does not establish the nutrition or storage instructions for every item in its range.
Tesco
Tesco lists Fresh Double Cream with nutrition figures both per 100ml and per 30ml serving.
- Fresh Double Cream lists 47.5g fat, 29.7g saturates and 1.7g protein per 100ml.
- Check the current pack before buying or using it, as Tesco says recipes and nutrition information may change.
Waitrose
Waitrose provides figures for both Extra Thick Double Cream and a distinct Reduced Fat Crème Fraîche.
- Per 100ml, the double cream lists 50.5g fat and 31.4g saturates; the crème fraîche lists 14.0g fat and 8.4g saturates.
- The reduced-fat option is cultured crème fraîche with additional ingredients, so check whether it suits the intended recipe.
M&S
M&S British Double Cream provides a nutrition declaration per 100g, rather than the per 100ml basis used for the Tesco and Waitrose examples above.
- It lists 50.5g fat, 31.4g saturates and 1.5g protein per 100g.
- Check the pack for current information; its per 100g figures should not be treated as per 100ml figures.
A Joybuy snack option
This protein bar is an option to consider if you want an after-exercise snack rather than a creamy cooking ingredient. Check its pack nutrition against what you want from the snack; it is not a double-cream substitute.
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Grenade Soft Core Double Chocolate Protein Bar, 12 × 50g
For a snack instead of a creamy ingredient, this pack contains 12 × 50g bars. It is not double cream; check the current pack for nutrition, ingredients, milk and soy information, and any use warnings before choosing it.
Frequently asked questions
Is double cream a low-fat choice after exercise?
The ordinary double creams compared here are not lower-fat choices: Tesco Fresh Double Cream lists 47.5g fat per 100ml and Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream lists 50.5g per 100ml. If you want its flavour or texture, consider the serving you will use rather than treating cream as the main snack.
How does reduced-fat crème fraîche compare?
Waitrose Reduced Fat Crème Fraîche lists 14.0g fat per 100ml, compared with 47.5g and 50.5g per 100ml in the Tesco and Waitrose double creams discussed here. It is cultured crème fraîche with additional ingredients, so check that it suits your recipe rather than assuming it is interchangeable with double cream.
What if I want carbohydrate and protein after exercise?
Look for a snack whose main foods supply the carbohydrate and protein you want, rather than relying on double cream for protein. University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust describes carbohydrate-and-protein exercise snacks and notes that the appropriate choice depends on the activity, its duration and individual circumstances, including diabetes management where relevant.
How should I store fresh cream?
Follow the refrigeration and use-by instructions on the specific pack. Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream says to keep it below 5°C, use it within three days of opening and not exceed its use-by date; the Food Standards Agency explains that storage time and temperature affect food safety.
Does double cream contain milk?
The Tesco Fresh Double Cream and Waitrose Extra Thick Double Cream product information identifies milk. If milk is relevant to your choice, check the current label of the exact product before using it.