The 7 Best Substitutes For Media Crema

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure to learn more.

Media crema is a popular dairy product from the renowned food manufacturer Nestlé and it is used mainly in South American countries.

Also known as “table cream” in English, it has become an integral part of American cuisine due to its signature taste and texture and is easily available in the Latin food aisle of most supermarkets across the country.

It is used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes and, due to its uniquely rich and creamy flavor, it can often be difficult, although not impossible, to find substitutes for this delicious cream.

So, what are the best substitutes for media crema? Although media crema has a unique taste that cannot be replaced by other substitutes, there are a couple of great options you can use in its place such as half-and-half cream, evaporated milk, heavy cream, and crème Fraîche.

Read on to find out more about media crema, what it is used for, the best media crema substitutes, and how they compare to it!

What Is Media Crema?

Media crema, or table cream, is made from milk, cream, and preservatives, and contains between 18% to 30% fat.

There are several different varieties of cream such as half-and-half cream, light cream, whipping cream, and heavy cream, and the thing that sets them apart is their fat percentage.

Media crema can be used straight out of the can and offers a rich and creamy flavor to your recipes.

Its texture makes it easy to blend with most liquids and it goes really well with sweet and savory items such as desserts, drinks, sauces, meats, and vegetables.

How Is Media Crema Used?

Media crema’s thick consistency and sweet flavor make it the perfect ingredient for sweet and savory dishes that require a creamy, milky, and sweet taste.

Some of the most popular recipes where you can use media crema in place of milk are:

Sour cream
Macaroni and cheese
Clam chowder
Potato soup
Scalloped potatoes
Irish cream
Cream and cheese sauces
Fettuccine Alfredo
Pumpkin pies and squares
Salad dressings
Quiche
French toast
Cakes

The 7 Best Media Crema Substitutes

Due to its popularity in the US, media crema is easily available in almost all grocery stores in the country and you can also buy it from here on Amazon.

However, for times when you cannot get your hands on this delicious cream and need to use it for a recipe, you can substitute it with one of these 7 great alternatives!

1. Half-And-Half Cream

Half-and-half cream is half milk and half light cream and it contains around 10.5% to 18% fat. It has a lower fat percentage than media crema, but since it is similar to table cream, it can easily be used in its place in any recipe.

For 1 cup media crema, use 1 cup half-and-half cream. However, when using it in a sauce or gravy, you might notice that it will come out a bit lighter. To fix this issue, you may thicken the sauce by adding a bit of cornstarch.

Half-and-half is also used as a coffee creamer and is, in fact, a healthier alternative to commercial coffee creamers that contain large amounts of sugar.

2. Evaporated Milk

Evaporated milk, also known as unsweetened condensed milk, is a common product that you can easily find almost anywhere in the world.

It has around 60% of its water removed and contains only 6.5% fat, making it significantly less fatty than media crema.

In terms of its texture and taste, evaporated milk is sweet and gooey like condensed milk, but much less sugary, making it a great substitute for media crema.

When using it in place of media crema, you can use it in the same ratio, although you may need to add a little cornstarch to your recipe to make it thicker.

Nestle has a huge range of dairy products and if you can’t get your hands on their media crema, you can substitute it with their Carnation Evaporated Milk that has the same amount of fat as low-fat drinking milk, yet has a richer taste.

3. Heavy Cream

Heavy cream, also called heavy whipping cream, is a common ingredient made using cream, milk, sugar, thickeners, and stabilizers.

It contains 36% milk fat and is used in a variety of recipes similar to those made using media crema. It has a high level of creaminess and sweetness to it and, when compared to media crema, is a lot richer and sweeter.

Heavy cream can be substituted in place of media crema; however, since it is denser, it can whip up twice as much and you need to be mindful of the quantity you are using.

4. Condensed Milk

Condensed milk is very sweet, gooey, and rich and, similar to evaporated milk, it is cooked down to remove some of its water content along the way.

The difference is that condensed milk has plenty of sugar added to the mix, making it a thick, sweet liquid perfect for a variety of recipes.

When compared with media crema, condensed milk contains about only 8% of fat and gets its sweetness from the high amounts of sugar.

It can be used in place of media crema, especially if you don’t mind the extra sweetness. It is best used in sweet dishes where, to counter the added sweetness, you can cut back on any additional sugar added to the recipe.

5. Crème Fraîche

Although not as common as the other options in this list, crème Fraîche is a popular sweetener in France and can be substituted in place of media crema.

It is made from unpasteurized sour cream that has dried, matured, and thickened by the growth of bacterial cultures, and it has a rich, buttery, nutty, and tangy flavor.

Depending on the fermentation process, its taste may vary slightly but still retain its basic taste and texture. It not only adds richness and creaminess to a dish but also contributes a bit of acidity to it.

6. Greek Yogurt And Milk

Greek yogurt is regular yogurt that has been strained to remove the whey to make it thicker and denser. Its creaminess is what makes it such a good substitute for media crema.

On its own, Greek yogurt is too dense to replace media crema, which is why you must mix it with milk to make it smoother and easy to incorporate.

To substitute 1 cup of media crema, use 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt mixed with 2/3 cup whole milk.

7. Coconut Milk

While there are several dairy products that you can use in place of table cream, it can be a bit difficult to find a good vegan option.

Coconut milk is a high-calorie, flavorful milk that is made by mixing coconut flesh with water and has become increasingly popular as a vegan substitute for dairy products such as milk and cream.

It can be used in place of table cream in several recipes in pretty much the same way you would use evaporated milk and condensed milk.

Since it has a thick consistency, it does not need to be reduced or mixed with cornstarch and can be used at a 1:1 ratio.

To make it sweeter, you may add some sugar, honey, or vanilla extract. However, since it has a distinct coconut-y taste, it may have an overall effect on the taste of your dish.

Native Forest’s Simple Organic Unsweetened Coconut Milk is a great option that works as a vegan alternative for dairy-based creams and milk.