Cream vs. Paste — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 16, 2024
Cream is a smooth, spreadable substance with a soft consistency, often used in cosmetics or food, while paste is thicker, used for adhesion, cooking, or as a concentrated product.
Difference Between Cream and Paste
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Cream typically refers to a dairy product with high-fat content or a product with a similar consistency used in cosmetics or cooking, characterized by its smooth texture and ease of spreading. Whereas paste is a thick, often sticky mixture with a higher viscosity, used in various contexts including culinary, artistic, and industrial applications, where a denser consistency is required for binding or concentrated flavor.
In the culinary world, cream adds richness and texture to dishes, contributing moisture and flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in sauces, soups, and desserts. On the other hand, culinary pastes, such as tomato paste or almond paste, provide intense flavor and thickness to recipes, serving as a base or an enhancer in cooking.
In cosmetics, creams are designed to hydrate, protect, or treat the skin with a light, absorbable texture, suitable for daily use. In contrast, cosmetic pastes, like hair styling paste or exfoliating paste, offer specific treatments with a focus on adherence and targeted application, often requiring washing out due to their heavier texture.
Creams in industrial and medical applications offer lubrication, protection, or healing with a formula that's easy to apply and spread over large areas. Pastes in these contexts, such as thermal paste or medical paste, provide a concentrated solution with specific properties like conductivity or medication delivery, requiring precise application.
The production process for creams involves emulsification to combine oil and water components into a stable, homogenous mixture. In contrast, making a paste often requires grinding or mixing until a thick, uniform consistency is achieved, sometimes requiring the addition of a binder to maintain its form.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Consistency
Smooth and spreadable.
Thick and sticky.
Usage
Moisturizing, enriching, or culinary applications.
Binding, thickening, or concentrated applications.
Application
Easily spread over large areas.
Requires precise application due to thickness.
Production Process
Emulsification of oil and water.
Grinding or mixing to achieve thickness.
Common Types
Dairy, cosmetic, medical creams.
Culinary, adhesive, cosmetic pastes.
Compare with Definitions
Cream
A cosmetic product for skin hydration.
He uses a moisturizing cream every night.
Paste
A thick mixture used in cooking.
She added tomato paste to deepen the sauce's flavor.
Cream
An industrial product for lubrication.
The mechanic applied grease cream to the gears.
Paste
An adhesive substance.
The children used paste for their paper collage.
Cream
A dairy product with a high-fat content.
She topped the pie with whipped cream.
Paste
A medical application for specific treatments.
The dentist applied a fluoride paste during the cleaning.
Cream
A spreadable component in cooking.
The recipe calls for cream to enrich the sauce.
Paste
A concentrated cosmetic treatment.
The styling paste kept his hair in place all day.
Cream
A medical ointment for skin treatment.
Apply the antifungal cream twice daily.
Paste
An industrial material for bonding or sealing.
The technician applied thermal paste to the processor.
Cream
Cream is a dairy product composed of the higher-fat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, the fat, which is less dense, eventually rises to the top.
Paste
A thick, soft, moist substance typically produced by mixing dry ingredients with a liquid
Blend onions, sugar, and oil to a paste
Cream
The yellowish fatty component of unhomogenized milk that tends to accumulate at the surface.
Paste
Coat with paste
When coating walls with fabric, paste the wall, not the fabric
Cream
Any of various substances resembling or containing cream
Hand cream.
Paste
Beat or defeat severely
He pasted the guy and tied his ankles together
Cream
A pale yellow to yellowish white.
Paste
A smooth viscous mixture, as of flour and water or of starch and water, that is used as an adhesive for joining light materials, such as paper and cloth.
Cream
The choicest part
The cream of the crop.
Paste
The moist clay or clay mixture used in making porcelain or pottery. Also called pâte.
Cream
To form cream.
Paste
A smooth dough of water, flour, and butter or other shortening, used in making pastry.
Cream
To form foam or froth at the top.
Paste
A food that has been pounded until it is reduced to a smooth creamy mass
Anchovy paste.
Cream
To have an orgasm.
Paste
A sweet doughy candy or confection
Rolled apricot paste.
Cream
To be excited or delighted about something.
Paste
A hard, brilliant, lead-containing glass used in making artificial gems.
Cream
To remove the cream from; skim.
Paste
A gem made of this glass. Also called strass.
Cream
To take or remove (the best part)
Creamed off the highest-paying jobs for her cronies.
Paste
A hard blow.
Cream
To take the best part from
Creamed the whole department to form his management team.
Paste
To cause to adhere by applying paste.
Cream
To beat into a creamy consistency.
Paste
To cover with something by using paste
He pasted the wall with burlap.
Cream
To prepare or cook in or with a cream sauce.
Paste
(Computers) To insert (text, graphics, or other data) into a document or file.
Cream
To add cream to.
Paste
(Computers) To insert text, graphics, or other data into a document or file.
Cream
To defeat overwhelmingly
Creamed our rival on their home court.
Paste
To strike forcefully.
Cream
To damage severely; destroy
My camera got creamed when I dropped it.
Paste
To defeat soundly.
Cream
Vulgar Slang To have an orgasm in (one's pants, for example).
Paste
A soft moist mixture, in particular:
Cream
The butterfat/milkfat part of milk which rises to the top; this part when separated from the remainder.
Take 100 ml of cream and 50 grams of sugar…
Paste
One of flour, fat, or similar ingredients used in making pastry.
Cream
The liquid separated from milk, possibly with certain other milk products added, and with at least eighteen percent of it milkfat.
Paste
(obsolete) Pastry.
Cream
The liquid separated from milk containing at least 18 percent milkfat (48% for double cream).
Paste
One of pounded foods, such as fish paste, liver paste, or tomato paste.
Cream
(tea and coffee) A portion of cream, such as the amount found in a creamer.
I take my coffee with two cream and three sugar.
Paste
One used as an adhesive, especially for putting up wallpapers, etc.
Cream
A yellowish white colour; the colour of cream.
Paste
(physics) A substance that behaves as a solid until a sufficiently large load or stress is applied, at which point it flows like a fluid
Cream
(informal) Frosting, custard, creamer, or another substance similar to the oily part of milk or to whipped cream.
Paste
A hard lead-containing glass, or an artificial gemstone made from this glass.
Cream
(figuratively) The best part of something.
The cream of the crop
The cream of a collection of books or pictures
Paste
(obsolete) Pasta.
Cream
(medicine) A viscous aqueous oil/fat emulsion with a medicament added, used to apply that medicament to the skin. (compare with ointment)
You look really sunburnt; you should apply some cream.
Paste
(mineralogy) The mineral substance in which other minerals are embedded.
Cream
Semen.
Paste
(transitive) To stick with paste; to cause to adhere by or as if by paste.
Cream
(obsolete) The chrism or consecrated oil used in anointing ceremonies.
Paste
To insert a piece of media (e.g. text, picture, audio, video) previously copied or cut from somewhere else.
Cream
Cream-coloured; having a yellowish white colour.
Paste
To strike or beat someone or something.
Cream
To puree, to blend with a liquifying process.
Cream the vegetables with the olive oil, flour, salt and water mixture.
Paste
To defeat decisively or by a large margin.
Cream
To turn a yellowish white colour; to give something the color of cream.
Paste
A soft composition, as of flour moistened with water or milk, or of earth moistened to the consistence of dough, as in making potter's ware.
Cream
(slang) To obliterate, to defeat decisively.
We creamed the opposing team!
Paste
Specifically, in cookery, a dough prepared for the crust of pies and the like; pastry dough.
Cream
To ejaculate used of either gender.
Paste
A kind of cement made of flour and water, starch and water, or the like, - used for uniting paper or other substances, as in bookbinding, etc., - also used in calico printing as a vehicle for mordant or color.
Cream
To ejaculate in (clothing or a bodily orifice).
Paste
A highly refractive vitreous composition, variously colored, used in making imitations of precious stones or gems. See Strass.
Cream
To rub, stir, or beat (butter) into a light creamy consistency.
Paste
A soft confection made of the inspissated juice of fruit, licorice, or the like, with sugar, etc.
Cream
(transitive) To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
Paste
The mineral substance in which other minerals are imbedded.
Cream
To take off the best or choicest part of.
Paste
To unite with paste; to fasten or join by means of paste.
Cream
(transitive) To furnish with, or as if with, cream.
Paste
Any mixture of a soft and malleable consistency
Cream
(intransitive) To gather or form cream.
Paste
An adhesive made from water and flour or starch; used on paper and paperboard
Cream
The rich, oily, and yellowish part of milk, which, when the milk stands unagitated, rises, and collects on the surface. It is the part of milk from which butter is obtained.
Paste
A tasty mixture to be spread on bread or crackers
Cream
The part of any liquor that rises, and collects on the surface.
Paste
Join or attach with or as if with glue;
Paste the sign ont the wall
Cut and paste the sentence in the text
Cream
A delicacy of several kinds prepared for the table from cream, etc., or so as to resemble cream.
Paste
Hit with the fists;
He pasted his opponent
Cream
A cosmetic; a creamlike medicinal preparation.
In vain she tries her paste and creams,To smooth her skin or hide its seams.
Paste
Cover the surface of;
Paste the wall with burlap
Cream
The best or choicest part of a thing; the quintessence; as, the cream of a jest or story; the cream of a collection of books or pictures.
Welcome, O flower and cream of knights errant.
Cream
To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
Cream
To take off the best or choicest part of.
Cream
To furnish with, or as with, cream.
Creaming the fragrant cups.
Cream
To form or become covered with cream; to become thick like cream; to assume the appearance of cream; hence, to grow stiff or formal; to mantle.
There are a sort of men whose visagesDo cream and mantle like a standing pool.
Cream
The best people or things in a group;
The cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War
Cream
The part of milk containing the butterfat
Cream
Toiletry consisting of any of various substances resembling cream that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin
Cream
Make creamy by beating;
Cream the butter
Cream
Put on cream, as on one's face or body;
She creams her face every night
Cream
Remove from the surface;
Skim cream from the surface of milk
Cream
Add cream to one's coffee, for example
Common Curiosities
What is cream?
Cream is either a dairy product known for its high-fat content and smooth texture or a cosmetic product designed for skin hydration and treatment.
How are creams and pastes similar?
Both can be applied topically and serve specific purposes in cooking, cosmetics, and other applications, but differ significantly in consistency and use.
What distinguishes a culinary paste from other pastes?
Culinary pastes are edible and used to add flavor or thickness to food, made from concentrated ingredients like tomatoes, nuts, or spices.
Can cream be used in cooking?
Yes, cream is widely used in cooking to add richness, moisture, and flavor to various dishes.
What is paste?
Paste refers to a thick, often sticky mixture used in cooking for flavor, in arts as an adhesive, or in various applications for its binding and concentrated properties.
How does the consistency of cream and paste differ?
Creams are smooth and spreadable, while pastes are thicker and stickier, often requiring more precise application.
Why choose cream over paste for skin care?
Creams are chosen for skin care for their moisturizing properties and lighter texture, suitable for everyday use and easier application over large areas.
Are all pastes edible?
No, not all pastes are edible. While some pastes are used in cooking, others are intended for industrial, cosmetic, or medical purposes.
Can paste be used on the skin?
Yes, certain pastes are designed for skin application, often for specific treatments or exfoliation, but typically have a different application and removal process than creams.
What role does cream play in cosmetics?
In cosmetics, cream serves as a hydrating, protecting, or treating agent, offering a light, easily absorbed texture for skin care.
What is the significance of the production process for cream and paste?
The production process is crucial for achieving the desired consistency and properties of creams and pastes, with creams relying on emulsification and pastes on grinding or mixing.
How do you choose between cream and paste for a specific application?
The choice between cream and paste depends on the intended use, desired consistency, and specific application needs, considering factors like ease of spreadability, thickness, and treatment goals.
What are common uses for paste in industrial applications?
In industrial settings, paste is used for bonding, sealing, or as a conductive agent, depending on its formulation.
How is cream produced?
Cream production involves the emulsification process, blending oil and water components into a stable mixture.
Can paste be used in hair styling?
Yes, styling pastes are used in hair care for their hold and texture, suitable for specific styling needs.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Judgment vs. Perception
Next Comparison
Foreman vs. JourneymanAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
