The Reason You Should Never Buy Fat-Free Half-And-Half

Half-and-half may be a common addition to your morning cup of java whether you pour it in at your favorite local coffee shop, at the diner, or in the comfort of your own home. But this ingredient isn't only to sweeten and jazz up your coffee; it's often used in quiches, omelets, soups, and even sauces to give them a creamier texture.

But have you ever asked yourself why it's called "half-and-half"? Half-and-half is a combination of cream and milk. To be exact, according to Bon Appetit, "Half whole milk, half heavy cream. Boom: half-and-half!"

So you may be wondering what happens when companies make a fat-free version? Or how do they make cream fat-free? Well, if you have been buying a fat-free version in an effort to have the delicious taste with fewer calories, you're likely never going to want to buy a non-fat again because the truth isn't very yummy.

Fat-free half-and-half is basically skim milk with plenty of additives and sweeteners, such as corn syrup (via The Kitchn). Eck! Now you know that's what has been giving it that sweeter flavor, but those additives aren't good for you. You may have been trading a reduction in calories without realizing you were adding lots of hidden, not-so-great for you ingredients.

According to Bon Appetit, "It looks the same on the shelf, but tastes completely different: artificial, not creamy." It turns out that it's a marketing ploy because it's not made with cream, which is half of what half-and-half is. "It's nonfat milk that's been treated with corn syrup and thickeners to approximate the taste and texture of regular half-and-half, according to The Kitchn.

You likely noticed that the non-fat version had significantly less calories, but it's possible you completely overlooked that the sodium content is double, states The Kitchn. The next time you reach for a the fat-free version of half-and-half, think again because you're likely paying a lot more money for far less liquid, and on top of that, you're getting fat-free milk with additives.