What Are Cream Canisters?
A cream canister is a small metal cylinder that contains nitrous oxide (N2O), a colorless, odorless gas. The canister is designed to be inserted into a whipped cream dispenser, which uses the pressurized gas to create whipped cream. The dispenser, when activated, releases the gas into the cream or other liquids inside, causing them to aerate and form a light, fluffy texture.
While whipped cream is the most common use for cream canisters, their applications extend into many culinary realms, including savory dishes, foams, sauces, and even cocktails.
Whipped Cream for Desserts
The Classic Application: Whipped Cream
The most obvious use for cream canisters is in making whipped cream. When nitrous oxide is added to cream in a dispenser, the gas creates tiny bubbles that turn the cream into a light, fluffy texture. This is perfect for topping pies, cakes, ice cream sundaes, and many other desserts. The whipped cream produced is usually more stable than manually whipped cream and can hold its texture for longer, especially if you add some sugar or stabilizers.
Flavored Whipped Cream
One of the great advantages of using cream canisters is the ability to easily infuse flavor into whipped cream. By adding flavoring ingredients such as vanilla extract, chocolate syrup, fruit purees, or even spices like cinnamon, you can create a wide variety of flavored whipped creams. Simply add the desired flavor to the cream, insert the cream canister, and shake. The result is a deliciously flavored whipped topping ready for any dessert.
Creating Foams for Culinary Dishes
Savory Foams
Whipped cream chargers are not limited to sweet applications. They are also used to create savory foams that can enhance a variety of dishes, adding texture, flavor, and visual appeal. For example, you can use a cream canister to create savory foams using ingredients such as broth, olive oil, or even pureed vegetables. These foams are commonly used in fine dining to elevate dishes like soups, sauces, or meats.
For instance, a butternut squash soup can be topped with a light foam made from the same squash, creating a rich, creamy texture that complements the dish’s flavor. Similarly, a foam made from a savory stock can be added to a protein like steak or fish to provide an airy garnish that adds both flavor and a sophisticated touch to the plate.
Beer or Wine Foam
Another creative use of cream canisters is the creation of beer or wine foams. Using N2O canisters, you can create light foams from beverages such as beer, wine, or even cocktails. This foam can be used as a garnish for drinks, enhancing the overall drinking experience. For example, a beer foam can add a frothy, flavorful layer to a beer cocktail, while a wine foam can complement a fine wine pairing by offering a different texture and additional taste.
Carbonating Liquids
Carbonated Beverages and Cocktails
Cream canisters, particularly those with additional accessories such as soda chargers, can be used to carbonate liquids, adding effervescence to beverages. This process works similarly to how soda machines carbonate water, but it’s much faster and can be done on a smaller scale. For instance, you can carbonate fruit juices, flavored waters, or even cocktails. The carbonation adds a refreshing, bubbly texture to the drink and can be customized to suit your taste.
In mixology, the ability to carbonate cocktails can elevate the drinking experience, turning a simple cocktail into something more complex and sophisticated. A sparkling margarita or a bubbly mojito made with a cream canister can be a showstopper at any party or event.
Fruit Infusions
Another creative way to use cream canisters in carbonating liquids is by infusing fruits into carbonated drinks. By placing fresh fruit or herbs into the cream canister and carbonating them, you can create naturally flavored fizzy drinks. For example, you can carbonate water with slices of lemon or lime, or add herbs like mint to create a refreshing, fizzy drink. This is a perfect way to enjoy naturally flavored sparkling water without any added sugars or artificial sweeteners.
Textured Sauces and Soups
Airy Sauces for Fine Dining
The whipped cream canister’s ability to add air to liquids doesn’t stop at whipped cream or foams. You can also use it to create light, airy sauces. For example, a traditional hollandaise sauce, which is usually thick and rich, can be made lighter and more delicate using a cream canister. The process of incorporating air into the sauce gives it a fluffy texture while maintaining the creamy flavor.
Similarly, you can use a whipped cream dispenser to aerate a béchamel sauce or a cheese sauce, creating a lighter texture without sacrificing the rich flavors. This technique is often used in fine dining to make sauces appear more refined and visually appealing.
Creamy Soups
Using a cream canister to create foamy or creamy soups is another innovative application. After cooking a base soup, such as tomato, mushroom, or butternut squash, you can place it in a cream canister to create a silky, smooth, and creamy texture. The gas from the canister adds volume to the soup, making it appear more luxurious without needing to add large amounts of cream or other dairy products.
Whipped Butter and Other Dairy Products
Whipped Butter
For those who enjoy a lighter, airier texture to their butter, whipped cream canisters can also be used to create whipped butter. By adding softened butter to a cream canister and charging it with nitrous oxide, you can easily make butter that’s lighter, fluffier, and easier to spread. This technique is especially useful when serving butter with bread or rolls, as it improves the spreadability and mouthfeel.
Cream Cheese and Other Dairy Variants
In addition to butter, you can use cream canisters to create whipped cream cheese, ricotta, or mascarpone. The process of aerating these dairy products transforms their texture, making them softer and easier to spread. This can be used in both savory applications, such as spreads for crackers, and sweet applications, like fillings for cakes or pastries.
Modernist Cuisine and Molecular Gastronomy
Spherification and Gelification
In the world of molecular gastronomy, the cream canister is often used as a tool for more advanced techniques like spherification or gelification. These methods allow chefs to create new textures, such as spheres filled with liquid or gels with unusual consistency. While a cream canister isn't directly used for these techniques, it can be an essential part of the process by helping to prepare certain components or by aerating substances that will be used in molecular dishes.
For example, a whipped cream charger can be used to aerate a gel-like substance, giving it a more delicate, mousse-like texture. Similarly, you could use a cream canister to create foams or air-infused textures that accompany spherified liquids, contributing to the overall modernist dining experience.
Nitrogen Infusions
Another fascinating use of cream canisters in molecular gastronomy is nitrogen infusion. Nitrogen, when combined with N2O, can be used to infuse flavors and aromas into food quickly. This process creates an intense sensory experience, where flavors are released immediately upon consumption. For example, you can infuse herbs into an oil or broth using a cream canister and then use that infused liquid to enhance the flavor profile of a dish.
DIY Beauty and Health Recipes
While not strictly a part of cooking and baking, it's worth noting that some people use cream canisters for DIY beauty and health recipes. For example, whipped oils or lotions can be created using N2O chargers. These applications may not be common in the culinary world, but they do demonstrate the versatility of cream canisters.
Conclusion
Cream canisters, while often associated with whipped cream, have a broad range of uses in cooking, baking, and desserts. They are an invaluable tool for creating whipped toppings, foams, sauces, carbonated beverages, and more. Whether you're a home cook looking to experiment with new textures or a professional chef creating modernist dishes, a whipped cream charger can open up a world of culinary possibilities. With its ability to aerate liquids and infuse flavors, the cream canister is a must-have tool for anyone interested in enhancing the texture, flavor, and appearance of their dishes.