Cream

Fresh single cream is used in sauces or as a pouring cream to have with puddings. I don’t use it very much – if I am going to use cream I prefer to go for it and use double. Single cream contains less fat than double so is lower in calories and cannot be whipped.

Whipping cream has slightly higher fat content than single and can be whipped thickly.

Double cream has a higher fat content and can be whipped easily. I usually use this in my recipes.

Longlife cream can be bought as single or double. The double can be whipped. It is useful to keep one in your cupboard to use in an emergency when you can’t get fresh cream, but it has a slightly custardy flavour.