Half and Half vs Heavy Cream in Pasta

Pasta is the kind of dish that’s perfect for any occasion. If you like to try different pasta recipes, you may have noticed that some call for half and half, while others call for heavy cream. Have you ever wondered how using half and half vs. heavy cream in pasta will change the taste or consistency of your meal?

Heavy cream is a single-ingredient cream while half and half is half cream and half whole milk. Half and half and heavy cream can both be used in pasta and they can usually be used interchangeably. However, since half and half have a slightly lower fat content, it’s more likely to curdle in the sauce.

Let’s take a closer look at the best cream to use in pasta and whether you can substitute half and half for heavy cream in your favorite pasta dishes.

Half and half and heavy cream can both be great additions to a pasta recipe.
©iStock.com/Mladenovic

Half and Half vs Heavy Cream in Pasta: What Is the Difference?

There are few dishes more comforting than a big bowl of pasta with homemade sauce. If you’re used to making sauces yourself, you know that heavy cream is often one of the ingredients for cream-based sauces. But what happens when you run to the fridge for your ingredients and realize you don't have heavy cream?

Half and half and heavy cream can both be used in pasta dishes. The difference between the two products is half and half includes equal parts milk and cream while heavy cream is cream only. Additionally, half and half and heavy cream have different levels of milk fat. While half and half has only 10.5-18% milkfat, cream must contain at least 36% milkfat to be considered heavy cream.

Both types of cream can be used in pasta sauces, but you may have to slightly adjust your recipe. Due to the lower fat content of half and half, it will sometimes curdle when heated. The best way to avoid this is to cook the sauce at a lower temperature. Half and half is also thinner than heavy cream, so you pay attention to the thickness of your sauce and add a smaller amount of half and half if necessary.

What is Half and Half?

Half and half is a dairy product that comes from mixing equal parts heavy cream and whole milk. You might use it mostly for cooking or for your morning coffee, but no matter what you use it for, half and half is always useful to have on hand.

Compared to heavy cream, the fat content of half and half is much lower. This is because the whole milk portion of half and half is only about 3% fat. To be considered half and half, this dairy product must contain between 10.5% and 18% milkfat.

Half and half is used in a variety of recipes from soup to mashed potatoes. It can also be used in pasta and is a great substitute for heavy cream.

Even though the fat content is lower than heavy cream, half and half still has enough fat to thicken your pasta sauce when cooked long enough. It is, however, more likely to curdle because it’s lower in fat.

If your half and half does curdle, it’s not usually unsafe to eat since the curdling is caused by a reaction to the heat. But if you do want to avoid curdling, heat the sauce at a lower temperature for a longer amount of time. You can also add a tablespoon of melted butter to the half and half to increase the fat content.

What is Heavy Cream?

Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is a dairy product that’s used for various purposes from cooking to making whipped cream. The only ingredient in heavy cream is the cream itself.

Due to its high fat content, heavy cream is best for making rich foods such as butter, ice cream, or sour cream. It's also great for making sauces and you can use heavy cream to thicken a creamy pasta sauce.

The high fat content of heavy cream also prevents it from curdling when heated, which means you can cook your pasta sauce at a higher temperature. Out of all the milk products and creams, heavy cream is the thickest. It adds a thick, creamy texture, which makes it the perfect choice to add to sauces, soups, and ice cream.

Pouring white cream sauce over plate of pasta. — Heavy cream makes a richer and creamier pasta sauce, but half and half can be a good substitute.
©HKE studios/Shutterstock.com

Can You Substitute Half and Half for Heavy Cream?

Half and half and heavy cream are both great to use in pasta. If you're making homemade pasta and you realize you ran out of heavy cream, you can substitute half and half for your cream.

If you choose to substitute half and half for heavy cream, pay attention to the consistency and heat of your sauce. Because half and half is cream mixed with whole milk, it has a lower fat content than heavy cream and is thinner than heavy cream as well. When you're adding it to pasta, keep in mind that it may need a little bit less than the amount of heavy cream necessary.

The lower fat content may also cause the half and half to curdle due to the heat. If the cream does curdle, it’s still safe to eat although it may look a bit unappetizing. You can prevent this by adding melted butter to the cream ahead of time.

Half and half works well in pasta and sauces, but you can't always substitute it for heavy cream in other recipes. For example, if you're making whipped cream, you'll need heavy cream since half and half doesn't have enough fat to achieve the necessary stiff peaks.

Is Half and Half Healthier Than Heavy Cream?

If you're using half and half instead of heavy cream in your pasta, you might wonder which one is healthier. While there is a difference in their nutritional value, which one is healthier may depend on your diet.

Since half and half is equal parts cream and whole milk, it has lower calories and more sugar than heavy cream. Heavy cream has higher calories and a higher fat content than half and half. When measuring one cup of each, half and half has 10 g of sugar compared to the 3.5 g of sugar in a cup of heavy cream. Also, half and half contains about 20 calories per tablespoon while heavy cream contains 51 calories in the same amount.

Half and Half Recipes

Heavy Cream Recipes

Takeaway

Both half and half and heavy cream are great to put in pasta as well as many other recipes. Half and half is equal parts cream and whole milk, which makes it a much lighter product. It’s perfect for mixing in lighter sauces that aren’t as rich.

On the other hand, heavy cream has a much higher fat content so it thickens pasta sauces easily and it doesn’t curdle when heated. Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream, is also excellent for making homemade whipped cream.

When you don't have heavy cream on hand for your pasta recipe, half and half is a great substitute. You may need to slightly adjust the amount of half and half you use to keep the consistency of your pasta right, but typically the amount will be the same. To prevent the half and half from curdling, don’t forget to add some melted butter.