Heavy Cream vs. Skim Milk

Nutrition comparison of Heavy Cream and Skim Milk


Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?

We compared the nutritional contents of heavy cream versus skim milk (100g each) below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].

For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in heavy cream and skim milk:

  • Both heavy cream and skim milk are high in calcium.
  • Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A.
  • Skim milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12.
  • Skim milk has signficantly less cholesterol than heavy cream.
Detailed nutritional comparison of heavy cream and skim milk is analyzed below. You can also visualize the nutritional comparison for a custom portion or serving size and see how the nutrition compares.

USDA sources for nutritional information: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Skim Milk (Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.


Image of Heavy Cream src
Image of Skim Milk src

Calories and Carbs

calories

Heavy cream is high in calories and skim milk has 90% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories per 100 grams and skim milk has 34 calories.

For macronutrient ratios, heavy cream is much lighter in protein, much lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to skim milk per calorie. Heavy cream has a macronutrient ratio of 3:3:94 and for skim milk, 39:58:3 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.

Macro Ratios from Calories:

Heavy Cream Skim Milk
Protein 3% 39%
Carbohydrates 3% 58%
Fat 94% 3%
Alcohol ~ ~

carbohydrates

Both heavy cream and skim milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of total carbs per 100 grams and skim milk has 5g of carbohydrates.

The carbs in heavy cream and skim milk are both made of 100% sugar.

sugar

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of sugar - heavy cream has 2.9g of sugar per 100 grams and skim milk has 5.1g of sugar.

Protein

protein

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of protein - heavy cream has 2.8g of protein per 100 grams and skim milk has 3.4g of protein.

Fat

saturated fat

Heavy cream is high in saturated fat and skim milk has 100% less saturated fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 23g of saturated fat per 100 grams and skim milk has 0.06g of saturated fat.

trans fat

Skim milk has less trans fat than heavy cream - heavy cream has 1.2g of trans fat per 100 grams and skim milk does not contain significant amounts.

cholesterol

Skim milk has signficantly less cholesterol than heavy cream - heavy cream has 113mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and skim milk has 2mg of cholesterol.

Vitamins

Vitamin C

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin C - heavy cream has 0.6mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and skim milk does not contain significant amounts.

Vitamin A

Heavy cream is an excellent source of Vitamin A and it has 574% more Vitamin A than skim milk - heavy cream has 411ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and skim milk has 61ug of Vitamin A.

Vitamin D

Heavy cream has 34% more Vitamin D than skim milk - heavy cream has 63iu of Vitamin D per 100 grams and skim milk has 47iu of Vitamin D.

Vitamin E

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin E - heavy cream has 0.92mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and skim milk has 0.01mg of Vitamin E.

Vitamin K

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - heavy cream has 3.2ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and skim milk does not contain significant amounts.

The B Vitamins

Skim milk has more niacin and Vitamin B12. Both heavy cream and skim milk contain significant amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.

Heavy Cream Skim Milk
Thiamin 0.02 MG 0.045 MG
Riboflavin 0.188 MG 0.182 MG
Niacin 0.064 MG 0.094 MG
Pantothenic acid 0.495 MG 0.357 MG
Vitamin B6 0.035 MG 0.037 MG
Folate 4 UG 5 UG
Vitamin B12 0.16 UG 0.5 UG

Minerals

calcium

Both heavy cream and skim milk are high in calcium. Skim milk has 85% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium per 100 grams and skim milk has 122mg of calcium.

iron

Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of iron - heavy cream has 0.1mg of iron per 100 grams and skim milk has 0.03mg of iron.

potassium

Skim milk has 64% more potassium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 95mg of potassium per 100 grams and skim milk has 156mg of potassium.

Omega-3 and Omega-6

omega 3s

For omega-3 fatty acids, heavy cream has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) and DPA than skim milk per 100 grams.

Heavy Cream Skim Milk
alpha linoleic acid 0.128 G 0.001 G
EPA 0.009 G ~
DPA 0.02 G ~
Total 0.157 G 0.001 G

omega 6s

Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, heavy cream has more linoleic acid than skim milk per 100 grams.

Heavy Cream Skim Milk
other omega 6 0.039 G ~
linoleic acid 1.294 G 0.002 G
Total 1.333 G 0.002 G



Customize your serving size


The comparison below is by weight, but sometimes 100g isn't that intuitive of a measurement for food. View a custom portion comparison (e.g. cups, oz, package).

You can try adding or subtracting the amount of either Heavy Cream or Skim Milk .

Note: The specific food items compared are: Heavy Cream (Cream, fluid, heavy whipping) and Skim Milk (Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)) .

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FAQ

Does heavy cream or skim milk contain more calories in 100 grams?
Heavy cream is high in calories and skim milk has 90% less calories than heavy cream - heavy cream has 340 calories in 100g and skim milk has 34 calories.

Is heavy cream or skim milk better for protein?
Heavy cream and skim milk contain similar amounts of protein - heavy cream has 2.8g of protein per 100 grams and skim milk has 3.4g of protein.

Does heavy cream or skim milk have more carbohydrates?
By weight, both heavy cream and skim milk are low in carbohydrates - heavy cream has 2.8g of carbs for 100g and skim milk has 5g of carbohydrates. the carbs in heavy cream and skim milk are both made of 100% sugar.

Does heavy cream or skim milk contain more calcium?
Both heavy cream and skim milk are high in calcium. Skim milk has 90% more calcium than heavy cream - heavy cream has 66mg of calcium in 100 grams and skim milk has 122mg of calcium.

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