Uses for Parve Cream

• Parve cream can stand in for real dairy cream in recipes such as stroganoff or in parve desserts such as crepes or ice cream. Because parve cream isn't exactly like real dairy, it is best used judiciously, giving recipes extra creaminess without necessarily standing out, as it would if you attempted a parve version of fettuccine Alfredo, with parve cream and nondairy cheese.

Parve Cream Designation

• Parve cream products targeted toward the market of kosher shoppers have label designations verifying their kosher status. Certification agencies such as OK Kosher provide third-party verification for commercially produced products, inspecting regularly to ensure that all ingredients are compliant. A "K" or "U" symbol on a product label along with the word "parve" or "pareve" indicates that the facility has been inspected and the product approved. Creamlike products that contain neither meat nor dairy but have not been officially certified are acceptable for eaters who choose a less strict protocol. These observers follow the regulations without necessarily needing the official certification. However, such products cannot be considered parve if they have been produced on equipment also used for meat or dairy products.

Types of Parve Cream

• Parve cream can be made from any ingredient that can be processed into a creamy liquid. Commercially available nondairy milk and creamer products such as soy, almond, rice, hemp and coconut milks can be used as parve creams, although you may opt against using a particular nondairy product if you rely on kosher certification labels and the particular product doesn't have one. Coffee Rich and Rich Whip are examples of commercially available imitation cream products labeled with third-party kosher designations.

Cross Contamination

• Parve cream can be served on dishes that are used for either meat or dairy products. As a neutral ingredient, it can also be mixed with either meat or dairy products although it makes more sense to mix it with meat because, if you're already preparing a dairy meal, you don't need a dairy substitute for kashrut, or kosher, purposes. If you mix parve cream with a meat ingredient, such as in a chicken with parve cream sauce, you should still serve it on dedicated meat dishes.