light cream
Noun: A type of dairy cream that contains a specific, relatively low percentage of milk fat, typically around 18-20%. It is thinner and less rich than heavy or whipping cream. In some regions, this product has a different common name.
"Light cream" is used as a countable or uncountable noun to refer to this specific dairy product. It is commonly used in cooking, baking, and coffee. - The recipe calls for one cup of light cream. - Do you prefer light cream or half-and-half in your coffee? - I need to buy some light cream for the sauce.
- Regional Terminology: In different English-speaking countries, the same product may be known by different names due to local regulations and conventions.
- In England they call light cream 'single cream'.
- Single cream (n): The British English term for light cream.
- Half-and-half (n): A different dairy product typically containing about 10-12% milk fat, which is lower than light cream.
- Whipping cream (n): A cream with a higher milk fat content (usually 30-36%) that can be whipped into a foam.
- Heavy cream (n): The richest cream, with a milk fat content of 36% or more.
- Single cream (Specifically in British English)
- Coffee cream (A less common term in some contexts)
The primary meaning of "light cream" is defined by its milk fat content. It is "light" in comparison to heavier, richer creams, not in terms of calories or fat in an absolute sense. The term is standardized in some countries (like the United States) but may not be used identically everywhere.
- cream that has at least 18% butterfat
- in England they call light cream `single cream'