Guides
How Many Cream Chargers Do You Need?
Short answer: use one 8g cream charger for a whipper of up to half a litre, and two for a one-litre whipper.
Chargers per whipper size
| Whipper size | Liquid cream (fill line) | 8g chargers needed |
|---|---|---|
| 250ml (1/4 litre) | 250ml | 1 |
| 500ml (1/2 litre) | 500ml | 1 |
| 1 litre | 1 litre | 2 |
Never fill past the maximum line on the bottle: the gas needs head space to dissolve into the cream. Whipped cream from a dispenser comes out at roughly two to three times its liquid volume, depending on the fat content of the cream.
How many chargers fit in a 500ml whipper?
One. A second charger in a half-litre whipper over-pressurises the cream and makes it dense and buttery. If the cream is still runny after one charger, the usual causes are warm cream, low-fat cream (use 30% fat or more), or too little shaking.
How many charges are in a cylinder?
| Cylinder | Equivalent 8g charges | Liquid cream whipped (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 615g | about 77 | 38 litres |
| 640g | about 80 | 40 litres |
| 670g | about 84 | 42 litres |
| 2KG | about 250 | 125 litres |
These figures divide the gas weight by 8g and assume one charge per half litre. In practice you lose a little gas each time you connect and disconnect, so allow a margin.
How many should a business order?
Work from the cream you use, not from the number of covers. Take your weekly litres of whipping cream, multiply by two, and that is the number of 8g charges you use in a week.
- Under 10 litres of cream a week: 8g chargers by the case are the simplest option. See Mosa cream chargers.
- 10 to 60 litres a week: one or two 640g-class cylinders a week. See 640g cream chargers.
- More than 60 litres a week: 2KG cylinders, or 640g cylinders by the 24 or 48 pack.
How long do chargers last?
Unused chargers and cylinders are sealed steel and keep for years if stored cool and dry; check the date printed on the box. Cream in a charged whipper should be kept in the fridge and used within a few days, following the use-by date of the cream itself.
Cream chargers are for culinary use only. See Are cream chargers legal in the UK?
