What do you do if Whipping Cream Won’t Whip?

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A person whisking a creamy white mixture in a metal bowl, illustrating whipping cream

What do you do if Whipping Cream Won’t Whip?

If you’ve ever made whipped cream, you know the delicate process involved that goes into making it. And you also likely know the annoyance when it isn’t coming out correctly. Maybe that’s why you are here?

For many, this means spending 20 minutes whipping the cream and having it still stay as a liquid.

Don’t worry if this has happened / is happening to you. There are lots of reasons that the inexperienced might be unaware of. In this post we hope to educate you & resolve your cream not whipping issues.

A graphic titled 'Post Contents' with sections numbered 01 and 02, listing 'Common Mistakes' and 'Another way to avoid these issues'

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes people make when their cream won’t whip is that the cream is not cold enough. To get to the proper fluffy texture, the cream has to be chilled.

There is not an exact temperature it has to be at, but it has to be cold. Leaving it out on the counter while everything else is being prepped can lead cream not whipping.

It’s the easiest thing to check on for those that find themselves whipping cream for a while, yet it continues to stay as a liquid.

Put the cream (plus the bowl and whisk) in the refrigerator for a bit and let everything cool down. This should be one of the first solutions to the problem to try out.

So, when planning ahead to make whipped cream, leave the heavy cream in the fridge until right before mixing.

Another typical issue is using the wrong kind of cream. Whipped cream gets its structure because air is mixed in with the fat contents of the cream, which leads to adding volume to the substance.

This requires the cream to have a certain level of fat in it. Typically, it is made from heavy cream or whipping cream. These usually have a fat range of 30-36%.

Using anything with less than that will likely never hold the proper form. Instead, it will continue to stay as a liquid regardless of how much it is whipped because the air does not have enough fat to combine with.

This can also occur with cream which has a fat content that is too high, but is not as common as using one that is too thin.

An additional problem some run into is whipping incorrectly. For some, this means using the wrong tool like a wooden spoon. A whisk is the proper thing to use because it allows for the most air to mix in with the cream.

Even with a whisk it can still be done incorrectly. Many people use an electric mixer to make whipped cream for convenience (who wants to get a full arm workout in while making dessert?).

But if the setting on the machine is too low, it will simply stir the cream and stay liquid. It needs to be on a high setting to really get enough air to mix in.

It can be irritating having to deal with all of this. Fortunately, there are other methods out there to work around these mistakes.


Two jars of layered dessert with biscuit base, lime, and whipped cream topping, with a siphon and ingredients in the background

Another way to Avoid These Issues

Some of these steps can be annoying if simple whipped cream is all that’s desired. It’s a lot of variables that can get frustrating for those that don’t know what they’re doing.

A much easier and more convenient method is to use a whipped cream dispenser and cream canisters.

These products are rather simple to use but produce the perfect airy whipped cream.

They work by infusing the heavy cream with nitrous oxide (which is what’s contained in the chargers), which instantly makes a perfect, fluffy whipped cream.

The nitrous oxide acts as the whipping agent. But instead of having to keep a careful eye on the texture of the cream, dispensers get the ideal form every time.

Like whipping in the traditional way, the right type of cream still needs to be used. However, using a dispenser is much more convenient.

Because the process is as simple as filling the container halfway with cream and loading one cream charger, there is no prep work needed other than keeping the dispenser clean & in the fridge.

The cream is ready on demand in just a few shakes rather than taking the extra time to prepare it manually.

Plus, whipped cream will naturally become runny after a few days of sitting after it’s made when stored in a bowl. With a cream charger dispenser it lasts much longer – For up to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator.

For those who like to add in a sweetener, whip cream dispensers also work better. Instead of the guesswork of adding it in while mixing, they are manufactured to produce consistent results. That means the same result can be enjoyed every time.

Whipped cream dispensers and charges are a wonderful alternative to making whipped cream by hand.

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