7/11/12

Do you ever wonder what is half and half? That’s all it’s called, whether you see it in a container in Starbucks or in the grocery store. Half and Half is actually just what it says – half milk and half cream! The fat content, which is really what defines cream products, is between 10-12%. Whole milk has about 3.5% butterfat while light cream has between 16-29% butterfat.

One ounce of half and half has about 40 calories. That’s about the serving size most often used, since it is most commonly used in a cup of coffee. Since half and half ranks low on the butterfat content scale, it is not often used in cooking. Not too many recipes call for it because it really doesn’t perform well in cooking or baking, but it does make for a smooth cup of coffee.

So beware – half and half will not hold a peak if whipped and it will not thicken your sauces if added.

To make half and half at home you can blend 1 part whole milk with 1 part light cream or check our substitution table for more ways to make half and half.