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Cream chargers are small steel cylinders filled with nitrous oxide used as a whipping agent in whipped cream dispensers. They should be stored away from heat sources and never used for inhalation. Cream chargers can also be used for culinary purposes such as creating flavored foam and as a source of N2O for model rocket enthusiasts.
Cream chargers are small steel cylinders containing nitrous oxide (N2O), which is used in whipped cream and foam dispensers as a whipping agent. Whipping cream is added to a dispenser such as a siphon equipped with a nitrous oxide cartridge. The contents of the cartridge are injected into the whipping cream, creating a light, frothy foam. Cream chargers should be stored away from any heat sources and are typically bought in packs.
A typical cream charger barrel is approximately 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters) long and 0.7 inches (1.8 centimeters) wide. One end forms a narrow spike which is screwed tightly into the dispenser until it is punctured. Cylinder piercing releases the contents into the dispenser. When cooking with cream chargers, one cartridge is typically used and never more than two.
The dispenser should not be filled to capacity so that the contents have room to mix with the N2O from the creamer charger. After the cylinder has been punctured, the dispenser should be shaken for about 20 seconds to allow the ingredients to mix with the air injected inside. During this process, the fat-soluble gas dissolves into the contents of the dispenser.
The high pressure within the dispenser forces the contents through the nozzle when the lever or valve is depressed. The gas that has dissolved in the contents of the dispenser reverts to a gaseous state and creates foam with up to four times the volume of the original liquid. The foam produced in this way is not stable and will return to a liquid state in about half an hour. Cream fillers use N2O and not carbon dioxide because the latter is acidic in water and restricts the whipping cream.
The most common use of cream chargers is to make whipped cream using whipped cream or heavy cream. Adding sugar is optional. Colors and flavors can also be added if desired.
There are many culinary uses for chargers besides whipped cream. Purees and liquids can be mixed with some gelatin to create flavored foam. Custard, meringue and even cake batters can be whipped with cream chargers. The resulting foams can be served hot or cold. For cold foams, the dispenser is normally held in ice water for about 15 minutes before serving. To make hot foams, the dispenser is placed in hot water.
In addition to their culinary uses, creamer chargers serve as inexpensive sources of N2O for model rocket enthusiasts. N2O is the oxidizer for a solid fuel such as polyethylene in a microhybrid engine. The use of N2O improves combustion, thus allowing a cream charger-equipped rocket to fly higher than a conventional design.
The contents of the cream cartridges can be abused as an inhalant which produces psychoactive effects. Inhaling from a cream charger is a common way individuals abuse N2O. Cream chargers are inexpensive and widely available on the market, making them easy to obtain. Because they’re common in many kitchens, their presence in a home typically doesn’t arouse suspicion.
In the short term, inhaling N2O can cause heart palpitations, dizziness and headaches. Over time, the brain, heart and lungs, among other major organs, can be permanently damaged. Other typical inhalants include thinner, nail polish remover, and concealer liquid.
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