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.
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.
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)) .
Heavy Cream g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Skim Milk g
()
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
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5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
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.