Few Benefits of Whipped Cream Chargers and Dispensers in 2024

The actual use of nitrous oxide chargers and cream whippers may seem daunting at first but when you know the science and how the actual mechanism works, only then will you be able to appreciate what exactly goes on within each recipe you create, this allows you to broaden your culinary creativity.

Similar to using a soda siphon, employing a gas or (canned nitrous oxide) is just putting gas into a liquid. The gas you are really using makes all the difference.

Soda Siphon cartridge - a pressurized canister of carbon dioxide (CO2)

Cream Charger - a canister of Nitrous Oxide (N2O).

It is the diverse properties of these two gasses that provide an entirely different culinary purpose.  

Let's break down their differences.

1. CO2 is more soluble in water than N2O – exactly the reason why carbonated drinks are fizzy, the byproduct of cream whippers are not.

2. CO2 is acidic but N2o is neutral – the acidity is what produces fizzy drinks tangy. Nitrous Oxide, however leaves precisely no flavor to anything that it is passed through making it ideal for sweets, confectionery and drinks.

3. N2o will dissolve in fat when held under pressure – precisely why liquids with a fat content of approximately 27% can easily be whipped using a whipped cream charger this could be fat within whipping or a double cream or for some recipes, the mixing of another type of fat (usually butter)

4. Another benefit of using a Cream Whipper is you can control the fat and sugar content, and more importantly the flavor, for example adding vanilla essence’

What happens when you use a cream charger to prepare food or drinks? The process is quite simple. Whatever you intend to foam (or froth) is placed into the bottle of the dispenser; this is then made pressure-tight when the head is screwed down. The charger canister which contains 8 grams of gas is used to pressurize the liquid and force the N2O to dissolve into it.

Depending upon the recipe that you are making, adjustments need to be done while the contents are still warm to give the gas a chance to penetrate the substance at a molecular level. When the trigger is pulled; then the contents of the dispenser will be propelled out and simultaneously the pressurized N2o will expand.

In preparing your recipes using a cream charger, make sure that it includes some form of fat or thickening agent to make sure that the gas does not bubble out and disappear into the atmosphere.

Pro tips:

1. Give the contents of the cream whipper time for the gas to infuse,

2. Always shake the contents to ensure even gaseous distribution.

3. Try to avoid any lumps, seeds, pips or bits in your mixture that might block the dispenser nozzle.   

Frequently Asked Question

What Are Whip Cream Chargers?

Whipped cream chargers are small steel canisters that contain pressured nitrous oxide gas (N20). This N20 gas is used as a whipping agent within the food and drinks industry. The N20 gas reacts with fats and gelatin within the cream to create a foam. The result; whipped cream!

Are Cream Chargers Legal?

Yes, whipped cream chargers are legal. However, as of 2021 laws have passed making it illegal for New York businesses to sell whipped cream chargers - defined as “a steel cylinder or cartridge filled with nitrous oxide gas” - to anyone under the age of 21.

How old do you have to be to buy a whipped cream charger?

We will not sell to anyone under the age of 21 and will require confirmation of your age before creating an account with us. Whipped cream chargers from our website must only be used for food preparations. If we suspect that you intend to misuse our products we will refuse to sell any equipment to you, and potentially bar you from future business.

Are Cream Chargers Recyclable?

Yes, all of our whipped cream chargers are made from 100% recyclable steel. Always recycle our cream charger canisters when they are empty.

What size cream charger do I need?

Our 8 & 9g cream chargers are compatible with 0.25, 0.5 & 1-liter cream whippers and you can create up to six times the volume of your original ingredients for whipping cream.