What's The Difference Between Crème Fraîche And Cream Cheese?

Picture it: you're taking some time to try something new in the kitchen. You begin browsing cookbooks for inspiration, or maybe browsing online. Finally, you find something that sounds nourishing and delicious and you want to give it a try. Glancing down the list of ingredients, it all seems good until your eyes fall on something unfamiliar: crème fraîche. But hold on — there's no need to start to panic and completely write dinner off.

Not wanting to be deterred on your culinary quest, you start to assess what other options you have and the block of cream cheese in the fridge looks inviting. So what is crème fraîche anyway? And what's the difference between it and the block of Philadelphia in the fridge? The truth is they are both very similar but not exactly the same. There are a few key differences between these two dairy cooler staples.

Let's start with the basics, like explaining what crème fraîche is and where it comes from. Crème fraîche is cream that's been allowed to sour. If you're thinking that sounds a lot like sour cream, you're not wrong. Crème fraîche comes from the same basic process, but the result is a richer and thicker texture because it has a higher fat content.

Crème fraîche has a bright, tangy flavor that punctuates dishes. The velvety texture means it's great to dollop on top of things as an accent. It's also beautifully utilized when blended into soups and stews, adding a level of creaminess that makes them richer and more robust. Crème fraîche is also all you need to really kick up your scrambled egg game. The thick cream keeps your eggs delicate and fluffy while still being luxurious. Chef Val Cantu shared with Insider that his secret for eggs is specifically a "big scoop of crème fraîche." If a Michelin chef says it's good, you know it is.

We've established that crème fraîche is similar to sour cream. But where does it fall when compared to cream cheese? The most obvious difference between the two is the texture. Cream cheese is obviously much, much thicker. Cream cheese has a familiar tang to crème fraîche, but is a bit milder in overall flavor.

That said, cream cheese can still come in handy when you realize that you don't have crème fraîche in the fridge. It can't be used in everything, though. A dollop of cream cheese isn't going to work, for instance, as cream cheese is not known to dollop well. It can be used in soups and stews though, if you add it in small portions and mix it in while it melts. Cream cheese has its own benefits too. It's much easier to spread than its creamier cousin. For all their differences though, cream cheese and crème fraîche have a lot in common — and both should be staples in your kitchen.