Yes, Trader Joe’s does carry heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream. Heavy cream is a dairy product with a high fat content, typically around 36-40% milkfat. It has a thick, creamy texture and is used to add richness and body to dishes like sauces, soups, desserts, and more. At Trader Joe’s, you can find heavy cream sold under their house brand labels like Trader Joe’s Organic Heavy Whipping Cream. It is available at all Trader Joe’s locations nationwide.
What is Heavy Cream?
Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is a dairy product made from the higher fat layer skimmed off the top of milk before homogenization. It contains 36-40% milkfat, compared to 12-30% in whipping cream and 3.5% in whole milk. The high fat content gives heavy cream a much thicker, richer texture than other creams.
Heavy cream has a smooth, velvety mouthfeel and tends to be less airy than whipping cream when whipped. The fat content also allows it to be cooked without curdling or separating. Due to its rich dairy flavor, heavy cream is used to enhance the taste of savory dishes like alfredo sauce, creamed soups, and vegetable purees. It’s also popular in sweet desserts and cream-based drinks.
Uses for Heavy Cream
Here are some of the most common uses for heavy cream:
Whipped Cream
While heavy cream won’t whip up quite as light and airy as whipping cream, it can still be whipped into soft peaks for topping desserts, drinks, and more. The higher fat content makes heavy cream whipped cream more luxurious.
Cream Sauces
From bechamel to vodka sauce, heavy cream is ideal for making smooth, rich cream sauces. The fat emulsifies beautifully into the sauce, creating a silky texture. Heavy cream-based sauces pair well with pasta, seafood, chicken, and vegetables.
Soups
Stirring a bit of heavy cream into soups like potato, tomato, and chowders adds extra body and a touch of dairy richness. Just a splash can make the soup taste more velvety.
Custards and Puddings
Heavy cream is commonly used as a base or added to custards, creme brulee, panna cotta, and other creamy desserts. It provides dense texture and rich flavor.
Coffee Drinks
Heavy cream can be used in place of milk or half-and-half to make decadent, creamy coffee drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and bulletproof coffee.
Ice Cream
Making ice cream with heavy cream instead of whole milk results in an ultra-rich, creamy treat. It gives homemade ice cream a texture similar to premium store-bought versions.
Ganache
For making smooth, decadent chocolate ganache to pour over cakes and fill truffles, heavy cream is ideal. When mixed with chocolate, the higher fat content makes an extremely silky ganache that sets up firm.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for a 1 tablespoon (15ml) serving of heavy cream:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 51 |
| Total Fat | 5.5g |
| Saturated Fat | 3.4g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 10mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 0.6g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g |
| Sugars | 0.4g |
| Protein | 0.4g |
As you can see, heavy cream is high in fat, particularly saturated fat. It also contains a small amount of cholesterol and minimal carbs, protein, and micronutrients. The calorie count is moderate per serving but can add up quickly if using large amounts for cooking and baking.
Heavy Cream Options at Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s sells a variety of heavy cream products:
Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
Trader Joe’s popular house brand organic heavy cream comes in a pint carton. It contains 40% milkfat and is pasteurized, not ultra-pasteurized, meaning it has a shorter shelf life but whips up better. It’s a great all-purpose heavy cream.
Grass-Fed Heavy Whipping Cream
For an extra rich dairy flavor, Trader Joe’s also offers organic grass-fed heavy cream from pasture-raised cows. Grass-fed dairy tends to be higher in beneficial omega-3s.
Shelf-Stable Heavy Cream
Trader Joe’s shelf-stable Ultra Pasteurized Heavy Cream is sold in convenient 8oz Tetra Pak cartons that don’t require refrigeration until opened. It has a longer shelf life but still whips and performs like fresh heavy cream.
Irish Heavy Cream
During the holidays, Trader Joe’s carries Irish Heavy Cream flavored with whiskey for making boozy winter drinks and desserts.
Reduced Fat Heavy Cream
Trader Joe’s also offers reduced fat versions of its organic and grass-fed heavy creams, with around 20% milkfat. These have a bit less richness than full-fat heavy cream.
Price of Heavy Cream at Trader Joe’s
Heavy cream prices at Trader Joe’s are very affordable compared to other grocery stores. As of 2023, a pint of Trader Joe’s Organic Heavy Whipping Cream sells for $2.99 – $3.49, depending on location. The grass-fed and seasonal versions may be slightly more expensive. Even the shelf-stable Tetra Pak heavy cream cartons are only $1.99 each.
For comparison, a national brand like Land O’Lakes Heavy Whipping Cream can cost $4 – $6 per pint at regular grocery stores. So buying heavy cream at Trader Joe’s can save about 25-50% compared to other stores.
How to Find Heavy Cream at Trader Joe’s
Heavy cream is stocked with the rest of the refrigerated dairy products at Trader Joe’s. Typically, you’ll find the fresh heavy cream cartons on the upper shelves in the back dairy cases, near the sour cream, whipping cream, half-and-half, and eggs. The shelf-stable Tetra Pak cartons may be displayed on a separate endcap or with the canned/bottled beverages.
If you can’t locate the heavy cream, ask for assistance from a crew member. Let them know you’re looking for the refrigerated heavy whipping cream cartons, not the smaller coffee creamer cups. With multiple house brand varieties plus seasonal creams, the heavy cream selection changes frequently based on availability.
Tips for Using Heavy Cream from Trader Joe’s
Here are some tips for working with Trader Joe’s heavy cream in recipes:
– For whipping, make sure cream is very cold and use a chilled bowl. Whip until soft peaks just start to form, don’t overbeat.
– Add cream at the end when heating soups and sauces to prevent curdling.
– Irish and other flavored creams may slightly thin custards; compensate by adding extra egg yolks.
– Shake cartons well before each use, heavy cream separates easily.
– Once opened, store in the coldest part of the fridge and use within 1 week.
– To extend life of opened cream, portion into smaller containers to limit air exposure.
– When baking, take cream straight from fridge to mixer; soft cream whips up too loose.
– Reduce oven temperature by 25°F when using heavy cream in custards and cake batter.
Conclusion
In summary, heavy cream is readily available at Trader Joe’s for low prices year-round. They offer a variety of options including organic, grass-fed, and seasonal creams. Heavy cream can be used to make whipped topping and rich, creamy sauces, soups, baked goods, custards, drinks and more. At Trader Joe’s, you’ll find this versatile pantry staple in the refrigerated dairy section for making delicious home cooking recipes. With proper storage and handling, Trader Joe’s heavy cream provides quality and value. Check your local Trader Joe’s dairy case for heavy whipping cream to elevate both sweet and savory recipes.