Introduction
You are busy in the kitchen trying to recreate that signature whipped cream you had that was on top of a cupcake at a local bakery.
You’ve spent days trying. And then you spot the baker using a weird little metal capsule as he makes his whipped cream magically in seconds and finishes off his cupcakes in one go.
Yes. That’s just one of the many uses of cream chargers. But, what are these tiny bundles of joy and how have they revolutionized the baking industry?
Read on to know more!
What are cream chargers?
A cream charger is a small canister that is filled with nitrous oxide. It is used in a variety of ways, especially in making whipped cream, creating artistic foams, and making rapid infusions to dishes.
And here in Australia, they’re also known as ‘nangs.’
The outer layer is made up of steel, and can be easily screwed on top of a whipped cream dispenser. And that’s where the magic unfolds.
What magic, you ask?
Don’t worry, let’s learn how these cream chargers work.
Here’s how a cream charger works
These culinary tools work on the simple principle of gas infusion under pressure.
The charger is inserted into a cream dispenser, and then it releases nitrous oxide into the liquid cream.
The gas then dissolves into the cream fat, and once you pull the trigger of the dispenser – a sudden pressure drop occurs, and the gas expands. At the end, you get a rich and airy whipped cream!
Advantages of using cream chargers
There are many advantages when you use cream chargers. Here are some of them:
Speed
Whipped cream can take endless whisking for it to take its form. But with cream chargers, all of that is possible only with a press of the trigger on the dispenser! This is one of the biggest reasons out there that bakers are utilizing this tool in day-to-day baking.
Consistent results
Hand-whipped cream equates to different results every time. And, with the scientific principles that these cream chargers work upon, you can stay worry-free as all results will turn out to be the same.
Versatile usage
You can make a lot of things with these chargers apart from whipped cream. Things like foams and basically anything that requires rapid infusions. Though yes, the most common usage of these cream chargers is to make whipped cream.
Shelf life
Cream that’s stored in a dispenser post-charging can last several days in the fridge. Way longer than store brought whipped cream. And it also retains texture, flavor, and shape as well when you use a cream charger!
But, what are cream chargers used for?
Cream chargers have applications ranging from baking goods to culinary dishes. Find some of them here:
Whipped cream
The most common way in which cream chargers are used is in making whipped cream. You can also make flavoured variants of whipped cream by adding the flavouring before you infuse the dispenser with the nang.
Espumas
These are known as light, airy foams. Espumas can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes. With that, they can add a fine-dining touch to even the most simplest of recipes.
Cold-brew toppings
You can get café style results at home as you use cream chargers to make instant foam with it, topping coffee or any other cold brews.
Molecular gastronomy
Cream chargers can also be used to create textures and presentations like foams and gels. This is known as molecular gastronomy.
How to use cream chargers
First, you have a whipped cream dispenser.
This device has an attachment to which you can attach a cream charger.
Add the cream to the dispenser and twist the nozzle on the cream charger.
Once you’ve done that, the N2O is released. It is infused with the cream, after which it is dispensed through another nozzle (a part of the dispenser itself).
Read More: How to use cream chargers
Why using a cream charger is better
Bakers and chefs usually use cream chargers to get faster results. But, they also use them because they know that they’ll be getting the same results.
Imagine a texture and taste that stays the same batch-to-batch. Besides, you don’t have to clean-up much either – no whiskers, no big bowls, and no cleaning worries!
So, one can say that these cream chargers address many dilemmas at once. Also, you can use them in other things too. Like topping off a rich cappuccino. Or maybe a latte?
They’re widely available too now. Though, there was a time when they used to only exist in culinary kitchens. Not the case nowadays though.
Get your Nangs delivery from Nangs Canberra in only a couple of hours!
Conclusion
So, we went through the why, what, and how of cream chargers.
We also learned about the many uses that it has in the modern kitchen. From foams to whipped cream all the way to the top of delicious cups of coffee – cream chargers are widely used in today’s day and age.
By the way, if you’re looking for some Nangs in Canberra, we can help you with that! Get Nangs delivery straight at your doorstep.