As the name implies, heavy cream should be at least somewhat thick; otherwise, utilizing it may not turn out just right. But, this does not imply that you must discard your heavy cream as soon as you notice it has become thinner.
That’s because, thankfully, there are various solutions to this problem. Here are our top recommendations for getting heavy cream to thicken:
Contents
How do you thicken heavy cream?
It might be really disheartening to open a package of heavy cream only to discover that it is not very thick. Yet, did you know that in many circumstances, you don’t have to throw away the heavy cream?
You may thicken your heavy cream to make it useful again as long as there are no other indicators of spoiling, such as an unpleasant odor or mold growth. Here are some suggestions:
It should be refrigerated.
Keeping your heavy cream cold is one of the easiest methods to ensure it thickens. As a result, keep your heavy cream in the refrigerator at all times; everything should be OK. But, if the cream has already thickened, you will most likely need to utilize another approach.
Mix in the flour
It may include, for example, combining heavy cream and flour; however, keep in mind that doing so may somewhat affect the final product’s flavor. That being said, this approach is really fast and safe, and it doesn’t need you to do anything other than combine the heavy cream and the flour.
It’s obviously not as easy as that, since if you don’t want your heavy cream to thicken too much, you’ll have to be extremely cautious and just add a tiny amount at a time until you’re pleased with the texture. Moreover, you should combine a little water with the flour, preferably blending it in before putting it all into the bowl with heavy cream.
Mix in the gelatin.
If you can’t use flour for any reason, try thickening the heavy cream with some flavorless gelatin. The technique is essentially same since, even when combining gelating into heavy cream, you must be extremely cautious and add just a little quantity at a time. While this is not always the case, with most types of gelatin, you need also use water.
Cornstarch should be added.
But what if even gelatin isn’t safe for you? So, then you may use cornstarch. Again, the technique of incorporating it into the heavy cream is straightforward: first, combine the cornstarch with some water, and then gently pour in this combination until you’re pleased with the results.
Cook it
There’s also an option if you don’t want to combine the heavy cream with anything. At the conclusion of this table, we will introduce you to a technique that is diametrically opposed to the one we began with for thickening heavy cream; you may also try boiling it.
But, you must be patient and cautious while doing so, and whisk the cream throughout the procedure; otherwise, it will burn.
Why isn’t my heavy cream thickening up?
Now you know how to thicken heavy cream, but what was the cause of the problem in the first place? There are many possibilities, but the most prevalent is that you are not refrigerating it. Similarly, if you place your heavy cream in a very hot dish, it will not thicken.
How long does heavy cream take to thicken?
The time it takes for heavy cream to thicken depends on the technique you choose, however adding flour or cornstarches will make it thicken almost instantaneously. If, on the other hand, you choose the boiling approach, it will take around half an hour or so, depending on how much heavy cream you are using.
Summary
Heavy cream may rapidly become too thin if not refrigerated, rendering it virtually useless. Nonetheless, as long as there are no evidence of real rotting, this may still be corrected. The only thing you’ll need to do to thicken heavy cream is to combine it with flour or cornstarch.
But, since many people believe that these items modify the taste of the heavy cream, you may also use flavorless gelatine. If you don’t have any, you may just boil the heavy cream, which should thicken it again.
- How to Thicken Japanese Curry
- How to Thicken Pesto Sauce