Sour Cream vs Whipping Cream: Difference and Comparison

While both sour cream and whipping cream are the by-product of milk and cream, there are vast differences between the two and must not be confused. They differ in their method of preparation, taste, texture, fat, and air content and also are preferred to be used in different kinds of dishes. 

Key Takeaways

1. Sour cream is a dairy product made by fermenting cream with lactic acid bacteria while whipping cream is simply heavy cream with a high-fat content.
2. Sour cream has a tangy, acidic taste and a thicker consistency while whipping cream is smooth, creamy, and mildly sweet.
3. Sour cream is used in dips, dressings, and baked goods while whipping cream is used for whipped toppings, desserts, and sauces.

Sour Cream vs Whipping Cream

The difference between sour cream and whipping cream is that they have been prepared in the process, which gives them the characteristic taste and texture. Sour cream is prepared by fermenting regular cream to release lactic acid and turn it sour, while whipping cream is regular cream that has been whisked to trap air and become fluffy. 

Sour cream is a cream product. It is also referred to as European-style cream.

It has a milder taste than cream and is served with Mexican and Southwestern food. It is made out of milk that is fermented and sweetened.

When it is time to thicken sour cream, it is done by the fat in the cream. Whipping cream or whipped cream is simply heavy liquid cream made up of milk that has been whipped by hand, whisks, or churners to trap air into it and make it fluffy and semi-solid until it forms stiff peaks in the container it is being whipped in.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Sour Cream	Whipping Cream
Made By	Sour cream is made by the process of fermentation.	Whipped cream is made by the mechanical process of whisking.
Taste	Sour cream is known for its tangy taste.	Whipping creams taste much like regular cream but with an airy texture.
Fat Content	Sour cream contains a small percentage of fat, but mostly water	Whipping cream contains a high percentage of fat and little water
Air Content	Sour cream is thicker and contains a little percentage of trapped air.	Usually lighter than sour cream due to the high percentage of trapped air.
Popular In	Sour cream is popular in Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines.	Whipping cream is famous for baking and frosting.

What is Sour Cream?

Sour cream is, essentially, cream that has been soured. Usually, it is made by allowing the cream to ferment before it is churned into butter and then soured.

Sour cream was discovered to be a delicious topping and is used in many dishes and recipes. When you are making sour cream, it is important to keep the temperature cool and remember to bring down the temperature of the ingredients before you churn it.

It is rich in lactic acid, which gives the product a sour taste. In some parts of the world, sour cream is used as a cooking ingredient to add flavor to a variety of foods.

Sour cream is an ingredient that can also be used with potatoes, fish, and various meats. Sour cream should be stored in a refrigerator to keep it from spoiling.

While sour cream is a delicious additive to many dishes, it’s also a common ingredient in many traditional dishes. It is used in both sweet and savory dishes.

The consistency is similar to cream cheese but with a tangy flavor. Sour cream is a dairy product that you can use as an ingredient in cooking and baking.

You can bake cakes and cookies with it, or even use it in savory dishes like soups and sauces. You can make sour cream at home with buttermilk and some vinegar.

What is Whipping Cream?

Whipping cream is a creamy substance that is created when raw milk is exposed to high pressure. This process causes the cream to become a lot thicker and trap more air into the cream.

At this stage, it is called whipping cream. It’s made by using whipping siphons or churners to whip heavy cream and other ingredients that thicken it.

You can whip cream yourself or buy it pre-whipped. It is used in several different foods, and it was created to replace the previously used egg whites.

The process of whipping it requires a tool called a whisk which is twirled in a circular motion. This causes the whipping cream to be transformed from a liquid cream into a thick one.

Whipping cream is a dairy product that can be used to enrich the flavor of food. Usually, with a fat content of about 30 percent, it is a common dairy product that is used to make many different kinds of food.

You can use it to make desserts and to add some creaminess to sauces.

You can even whip it up into a frosting. To make whipping cream at home, you need two cups of heavy cream and two tablespoons of sugar.

Put the cream and sugar in a bowl and mix until it forms stiff peaks. Whipping cream is a popular spice that is used mainly in deserts and can be used as a topping for many different types of cookies, pies, and more.

Main Differences Between Sour Cream and Whipping Cream

1. Sour cream is thicker and contains less air, whereas whipping cream is thinner and contains more air.
2. Sour cream is made from cultured cream, which does give it a different flavor than regular cream. Whipping cream, which is also called heavy cream, is a dairy product made by allowing the cream to thicken at a slower rate; however, it does not have any different taste.
3. Compared to sour cream, whipping cream is lighter and has more air whipped into it, which is why it has a fluffy texture.
4. Sour cream contains less than 10 percent milk fat. On the other hand, whipping cream contains 30 percent milk fat.
5. Sour cream is used as a topping for foods such as nachos, tacos, and even smothered on baked potatoes. On the other hand, whipping cream is used for desserts, but also toppings for some foods.

References

1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=MnG50g_P0VUC&oi=fnd&pg=PA235&dq=sour+cream&ots=ObQbgclZef&sig=zMLMzvQRmOCcDJTtG6EUwWu3otI
2. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1130&context=foodmicrostructure
3. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=9h9dnGz7aP0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA61&dq=whipped+cream+and+sour+cream+shelf+life&ots=612tA5kYNB&sig=7ED6G2sYsgruseYIWMzWlNEyClM

Last Updated : 22 July, 2023