The best sour cream in 2022
Sour cream is a healthy product with a mild taste and delicate texture. To obtain quality products, the manufacturer should choose natural raw materials and follow the manufacturing technology. Healthy Food Near Me consulted with an expert and prepared a rating of the best sour cream producers in 2022

The traditional product of Slavic cuisine has been known since the time of Kievan Rus. At that time, to obtain sour cream, sour milk was defended, after which the upper fermented layer of cream was removed (or “swept”) from it – hence the name of the well-known product. Until the end of the XNUMXth century, sour cream was known only to peoples living in Eastern Europe. And only the first waves of emigrants introduced Western countries to the product that foreigners so quickly fell in love with.

Today we use sour cream in cooking, cosmetology and even as a folk remedy. The product contains many vitamins, micro and macro elements, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, beta-carotene and folic acid. In addition, sour cream is rich in zinc, iodine, selenium and lecithin, which prevents the deposition of harmful cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. The product normalizes metabolism, improves digestion and restores the water balance of the body. Together with an expert, we figure out which sour cream should be preferred in 2022 in order to get the maximum benefit for the body.

Top 10 brands of sour cream according to KP

1. Brest-Litovsk (20%)

Sour cream “Brest-Litovsk” is made in the Republic of Belarus. The product does not contain preservatives and vegetable fats. Laboratory studies have confirmed the absence of antibiotics and harmful impurities in the composition. Sour cream is recognized as high quality and absolutely safe. Shelf life – 1 month.

Roskachestvo evaluates the product for a solid five. Buyers also give a high rating and note a mild taste with a slight sourness, a viscous and uniform texture. Sour cream “Brest-Litovsk” is available in most chain stores and marketplaces, you can often buy it at a good discount.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, does not contain preservatives and vegetable fats, made from high quality raw materials, nice price
Extended shelf life
show more

2. Rostagroexport (20%)

Rostagroexport sour cream is made from high-quality pasteurized milk in the Moscow region. Microbiological indicators are within the normal range, antibiotics, pesticides and heavy metals are absent in the composition. Sour cream has a homogeneous thick consistency, a uniform white color, a glossy surface and a pure sour-milk smell without foreign impurities. Expiry date – 3 weeks.

Rostagroexport is manufactured in accordance with GOST (1) and is the winner of the Control Purchase in 2018. The product has been awarded the Quality Mark. Buyers rate the product on average at 4,9 points out of 5 possible and note a delicate creamy taste, thickness and pleasant sourness.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, does not contain preservatives and vegetable fats, manufactured in accordance with GOST, highly appreciated by customers
There is a suspicion of the addition of phosphates
show more

3. B.Yu.Aleksandrov (20%)

Sour cream “B.Yu. Alexandrov” has excellent organoleptic properties, the consistency is thick and uniform, without lumps. The product is made from quality milk, free of pesticides, antibiotics and non-dairy fats. The nutritional value and weight of the product correspond to the labeling on the package. Sour cream is made in accordance with GOST (1), and Roskontrol assigns the highest score for all indicators. The shelf life of the product is 3 weeks. 

The disadvantages include the high cost. In addition, this brand is not so easy to find on store shelves.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, does not contain harmful impurities and non-dairy fats, made in accordance with GOST
High price, hard to find in stores
show more

4. VkusVill (20%)

Before evaluating sour cream under the VkusVill trademark, it should be mentioned that products for them are produced by different suppliers. In this regard, the taste from purchase to purchase can be very different. Buyers especially highlight sour cream from the following manufacturers: NIKON LLC, Lebedyanmoloko LLC, Bryansk Dairy Plant OJSC.

According to research by Roskontrol, VkusVill sour cream meets the necessary requirements for microbiological and physico-chemical parameters, does not contain starch and non-dairy fat. In addition, the brand itself claims that all products undergo mandatory certification in their own laboratories, where organoleptic, microbiological and physical and technical indicators are also checked. And before concluding a contract with a supplier, the store requests all the necessary documents confirming the quality of the products. Thanks to such careful control, there is every reason to believe that really high-quality goods will be on the shelves. 

Sour cream “VkusVill” – the only one of the entire rating – is stored for no more than 7 days. It does not contain anything superfluous in its composition, suitable for both baking and cooking second courses. Buyers rate the product highly. 

Of the minuses – the labeling of nutritional value was not entirely reliable.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, made according to GOST, has good organoleptic properties
Different manufacturers, you can buy only in one chain of stores, labeling is not always reliable
show more

5. Bezhin Meadow (20%)

Sour cream “Bezhin Lug” is made in Tula in accordance with all safety requirements. It contains no heavy metals, yeasts, molds or preservatives. The product is made from high-quality raw materials in accordance with GOST (1) without the addition of antibiotics and vegetable fats. The nutritional value corresponds to the labeling.

Bezhin Lug was awarded the Quality Mark. Buyers give a high rating and especially highlight the “sour cream” consistency – the absence of excess liquid and lumps, which, in turn, indicates the absence of starch.

Roskontrol, however, revealed that the mass fraction of protein is underestimated, and the organoleptic properties do not quite correspond to the norm – a weak “yeasty” smell is captured.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, no preservatives, made according to GOST, low price
The mass fraction of protein is underestimated, the deviation of organoleptic indicators
show more

6. Large Mug (20%)

No heavy metals, radionuclides and molds were found in the Big Mug sour cream. The product is made from high-quality raw materials, which do not contain antibiotics and GMOs. Laboratory studies have proven the safety of sour cream and compliance with both the mandatory requirements of the law and the advanced standard of Roskachestvo.

Buyers give a high rating, note the pleasant taste and texture, highlight the low price. Sour cream has been awarded the Quality Mark. 

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, no antibiotics and GMOs, low price
There are lumps
show more

7. Prostokvashino (20%)

Prostokvashino sour cream is one of the most frequently purchased items in this segment. It is safe, made without unnecessary additives and does not contain impurities harmful to the body. Microbiological and organoleptic properties are within the normal range. The composition does not contain preservatives, starch and vegetable fats. The color of sour cream is white and uniform, the surface is glossy, the taste and smell are sour milk. The shelf life of sour cream is 1 month. You can buy a product in almost any store and on marketplaces; there are often promotions for it.

Buyers note a dense and homogeneous structure, delicate taste. Roskachestvo rates sour cream at a solid five. Roskontrol also gives a high rating, but points to unreliable nutritional information and notes the possible presence of phosphates.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, has good organoleptic properties, available in most stores, nice price
Extended shelf life, possible presence of phosphates, inaccurate information on the package
show more

8. Ruza sour cream (20%)

Sour cream from the Ruzskoye Moloko holding is absolutely safe and does not contain antibiotics, starch or preservatives. The mass fraction of fatty acids is normal, no harmful impurities and heavy metals were found. The markings on the packaging are correct. Expiry date – 14 days.

Sour cream was awarded the Quality Mark. Roskontrol noted the product for good organoleptic characteristics and a high content of lactic acid organisms, however, laboratory tests revealed the possible addition of a small amount of non-dairy fats and phosphates.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, short shelf life, reliable labeling
May contain phosphates and non-dairy fats, high price
show more

9. Korovka from Korenovka (20%)

Sour cream “Korovka from Korenovka” is made in the Krasnodar Territory in compliance with GOST from natural high-quality raw materials. Laboratory studies have proven the safety of the product and the absence of harmful impurities in it. The marking on the packaging matches the actual indicators. The shelf life is less than 3 weeks, which indicates the absence of preservatives and antibiotics in the composition. The consistency of sour cream is tender and moderately thick, the color is white, the surface is glossy. The taste is pleasant, but some may find it a bit sour. The smell is saturated, which can both please and repel the buyer.

Roskachestvo awarded the product with the Quality Mark. On average, buyers rate sour cream at 4,9 points out of 5, not only for organoleptic properties, but also for a pleasant price. However, finding goods in stores is not so easy – it is better to use delivery from marketplaces.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, short shelf life, no impurities and preservatives
Difficult to find in stores, strong smell
show more

10. Cheburashkin brothers (20%)

Cheburashkin Brothers sour cream did not contain any preservatives, heavy metals or harmful impurities. The marking on the packaging corresponds to the actual indicators, all organoleptic properties are within the normal range. Sour cream is made in accordance with GOST, does not contain non-dairy fats. The consistency of the product is thick, the color is white, the surface is glossy without excess liquid on top, the taste is creamy. Expiry date – 3 weeks.

Roskachestvo assigns the highest score for all indicators. Customers rate the product highly, but complain about the overpricing.

Advantages and disadvantages

Natural composition, pleasant taste and color, a large number of lactic acid organisms, design
May seem too thick, high price
show more

How to choose the right sour cream

How to choose the right sour cream tells Catherine Kurbatova, head of CA Rostest Ural.

– To understand whether a quality product is really in front of you, you need to evaluate it by eye and taste it. You won’t be able to do this in the store, so I offer a few universal tips to help you navigate:

  1. always pay attention to the storage conditions of the product and the integrity of the packaging;
  2. carefully check the expiration date and date of manufacture;
  3. check the composition of sour cream – it is not allowed to use stabilizers, thickeners, etc. in the production of the product.

If you trust a particular manufacturer, keep these simple precautions in mind. In addition, if an unpleasant odor, heterogeneity of consistency, a suspicious color or a violation of the packaging was found during the opening of the product, then its use should be discarded. 

The content of lactic acid bacteria must be at least 10 million CFU/g (CFU is an indicator of the number of viable microorganisms per unit volume). By the way, it is not always good when the spoon is standing. If you stir thick sour cream for a few minutes, it should become more liquid. Has the consistency changed? It is almost certain that stabilizers are added to the sour cream. 

Popular questions and answers

How to store sour cream?

In addition to observing the expiration date indicated on the packaging, you need to pay attention to a few more nuances. First, it is best to store the product on the middle shelf of the refrigerator in a glass or ceramic container. Secondly, you should not take sour cream out of the refrigerator for a long time – at room temperature it can go bad in just a couple of hours. Finally, only a clean spoon can be immersed in the product container so that crumbs and other food do not get there. Remember that it is advisable to use open sour cream within three days.

Sour cream with what percentage of fat to choose?

There are several types of sour cream: low-fat (from 10% to 14%), low-fat (from 15% to 19%), classic (from 20% to 34%) and fat (from 35% and above). The percentage of fat content affects the consistency and taste of the product – the higher it is, the thicker the consistency and richer the taste. But there will also be more calories. The best option is sour cream with a fat content of 20% – it is suitable for baking, salad, and hot dishes.

Who Should Limit Sour Cream?

Ekaterina Kurbatova, head of the Rostest Ural CA, will help answer this question:

– Of course, as with the use of any product, sour cream has a number of limitations and even contraindications, especially for people:

• with a stomach ulcer;

• with high cholesterol;

• with gastritis.

The presence of the above diagnoses does not mean a complete contraindication to the use of this product, but requires the advice of specialists to identify a safe daily allowance, percentage of fat content and combination with other products.

Sources of

  1. Sour cream. Specifications. Interstate standard. GOST 31452-2012. URL:https://docs.cntd.ru/document/1200098818

Leave a Reply