A cream charger, also known as a whipped cream charger or nitrous oxide charger, is a small metal canister filled with nitrous oxide (N2O) gas. It is primarily used in culinary applications to create whipped cream. Cream chargers are commonly used by professional chefs, bakers, and bartenders in restaurants, cafes, and other food establishments.
The cream charger is used in conjunction with a whipped cream dispenser, also known as a cream whipper. The charger is inserted into the dispenser, and when the gas is released into the dispenser, it pressurizes the liquid cream, allowing it to be dispensed as light and fluffy whipped cream.
Apart from culinary uses, it's worth noting that nitrous oxide has other applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals and dentistry. However, in those contexts, it is not typically referred to as a cream charger.