Cool Whip facts for kids
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Pumpkin pie topped with a dollop of Cool Whip
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| Type | Whipped topping |
|---|---|
| Owner | Kraft Heinz |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1966 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | General Foods Kraft General Foods Kraft Foods |
Cool Whip is a popular American brand of whipped topping. It's made by a company called Kraft Heinz. People in North America often use it on top of desserts, like pies and cakes. It's also used in some no-bake pie recipes. Cool Whip is a handy ingredient because it doesn't need to be whipped. It also stays firm without melting easily.
You buy Cool Whip frozen. You need to let it thaw in the refrigerator before you use it. When frozen, it lasts longer than regular cream. However, it tastes and feels different from real whipped cream.
What is Cool Whip?
Cool Whip was first introduced in 1966. It was created by the Birds Eye part of General Foods, which is now part of Kraft Heinz. Within just two years, it became a very successful product. Today, Cool Whip is the most popular whipped topping brand in the United States.
A food scientist named William A. Mitchell invented Cool Whip. His big idea was that the product could be sold and kept frozen. This made it easy to store and transport.
Cool Whip for the American and Canadian markets is made in Avon, New York. It comes in plastic tubs, usually 8 ounces (about 226 grams) or larger. You keep it refrigerated after it thaws. A small serving of nine grams has about 25 kcal of energy.
Different Kinds of Cool Whip
Cool Whip comes in several varieties. These include Original, Extra Creamy, and Light. There are also "Free" (which means fat-free) and "Sugar-Free" options. The Sugar-Free version uses a sugar substitute called NutraSweet. In Canada, the fat-free kind is called Ultra-low Fat.
Sometimes, special seasonal flavors are available. These have included French vanilla, chocolate, and sweet cinnamon. Other flavors like strawberry, peppermint, and cheesecake have also been offered.
Cool Whip is still the top whipped topping brand in the U.S. Another popular choice is Reddi-wip, which is whipped cream in an aerosol can. There's also Dream Whip, but that one is sold as a powder you mix yourself.
What's in Cool Whip?
The main ingredients in Cool Whip Original are water, hydrogenated vegetable oil (like coconut and palm kernel oils), and different kinds of corn syrup. It also contains skimmed milk and light cream. Other ingredients help with its flavor, texture, and color. For example, it has xanthan and guar gums to make it thick.
Cool Whip was first advertised as "non-dairy". However, it has always contained sodium caseinate, which comes from milk. Today, it also includes skimmed milk. Because of these milk ingredients, some Jewish dietary traditions consider Cool Whip to be a dairy product. You can also find Cool Whip in an aerosol can. This version uses nitrous oxide to spray it out.
See also
- Dream Whip, a whipped topping that comes as a powder
- Miracle Whip, a Kraft-brand mayonnaise substitute
- Non-dairy creamer, a product with similar ingredients
- Reddi-Wip, whipped cream sold in a spray can
