There is nothing quite like homemade whipped cream to use as the perfect topping for strawberry shortcake, hot chocolate, and other desserts. This light and fluffy topping adds the perfect touch to many different foods, but if you’re thinking about making it ahead of time and using it later on, it’s not a good idea.
Why?
Whipped cream cannot and should not ever be rewhipped. Rewhipping it will completely change the taste and texture of the cream and essentially turn it into a pool of liquid.
What You Need to Know About Whipped Cream
Whipped cream can be made with any cream that has a minimum fat content of 30 per cent. The more fat in the cream, the fluffier and tastier your whipped cream will be. Many people add sugar to make the whipped cream sweeter, but if you do this, it’s recommended that you use powdered sugar instead of regular granulated sugar. Use 1-2 tablespoons of the sugar for every cup of cream you use in the recipe. Powdered sugar is also a smart choice because it contains cornstarch and therefore prevents the whipped cream from becoming too watery.
Whipped cream is very simple to make because all you do is beat it with a whisk or a mixer until soft peaks form. If you want stiffer peaks, just beat the mixture a little longer, but keep an eye on it so you don’t go overboard.
Whipping cream with stiff peaks is good for frosting cakes or as piping decorations. For use as a topping on various desserts, such as pecan pie or pumpkin pie, it’s best to beat the cream until soft or medium peaks of cream form and nothing stiffer than that.
How Long Does Whipped Cream Last?
Whipped cream is always best when used fresh, but if you don’t use it immediately, try to use it within an hour after making it. After an hour, it will start to liquefy and will start to lose both its texture and its taste. To make it last a tad longer and become a little more stable, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar for every cup of cream you make. This makes the cream a little stiffer so it’s able to last longer. Still, you’ll want to use the whipped cream within an hour of making it for the best results.
Don’t think that putting the whipped cream in the refrigerator will draw out its lifespan and make it last longer. The truth is, even when stored at cold temperatures, homemade whipped cream only lasts a certain amount of time before it starts to turn into liquid and basically disintegrate. When you think of whipped cream, you automatically think “fresh,” but you have to follow certain rules to keep it fresh.
Conclusion
Few things taste as good as homemade whipped cream, but keep in mind that this is a food that needs to be eaten immediately. That means using it within an hour of making it, and if you use it right away, it’s even better.