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SmartWhip vs Cream Deluxe vs Fast Gas: Which N2O Cylinder Should You Buy?
Quick answer: All three are large, food-grade N2O cylinders that do the same core job: they charge a cream whipper and replace boxes of small 8g chargers. SmartWhip is the best-known name and comes in a light aluminium version. Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas cost less and give you the same amount of gas. If you want a trusted brand and the lightest cylinder, pick SmartWhip. If you want the same food-grade gas for less, Cream Deluxe (666g) and Fast Gas (670g) are strong value. For very high volume, Fast Gas also comes in a 2kg size.
No single brand wins on everything. The right one depends on how much cream you make, how much you want to spend, and the kit you already own. This guide walks through it in plain terms.
We stock all three at Rapid Cream. Jump to the ones you want in our N2O cylinders range.
Written by Sabir Ali at Rapid Cream. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Contents
- What these three brands have in common
- The quick comparison table
- SmartWhip: where it fits
- Cream Deluxe: where it fits
- Fast Gas: where it fits
- How to choose: the five things that matter
- Which should you buy?
- Common mistakes to avoid
- What else you need to use them
- Safety and the law
- FAQs
What these three brands have in common
Before the differences, it helps to know how similar they are. SmartWhip, Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas are all large cylinders of food-grade nitrous oxide (N2O), the same gas used in whipped cream and culinary foams.
They share these things:
- Same gas, same job. Each one holds food-grade N2O to charge a cream whipper for whipped cream, foams, mousses and infusions.
- One cylinder replaces many small chargers. A 640g to 670g cylinder holds roughly the same gas as about 80 standard 8g chargers. SmartWhip and Cream Deluxe both state this on their sites.
- They need extra kit. A big cylinder does not whip on its own. You need a pressure regulator, an adapter and a cream whipper. More on that below.
- They are for professional and high-volume use. If you only whip cream now and then, a big cylinder may be more than you need. Plain 8g cream chargers are simpler for light use.
- UK legal for food use. N2O is an approved food additive (E942). It is sold for catering, to adults aged 18 or over.
So the choice is not really about what they do. It is about size, weight, price, and the brand you trust.
The quick comparison table
Here is the honest version. No brand wins every row.
| What matters | SmartWhip | Cream Deluxe | Fast Gas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common UK size | 640g | 666g (Black Cobra) | 670g, also 2kg |
| Cylinder material | Original steel, Silver aluminium | Steel | Carbon steel |
| Gas (brand’s own words) | N2O, E942 food-grade | “Food-grade, purity tested at 99.9%” | “European quality” food-grade N2O |
| Lightest to handle | Yes (Silver) | No | No |
| Biggest size for high volume | 640g | 2kg (Hydra MAXXI) | 2kg |
| Price at Rapid Cream (from) | £31.70 | £24.80 | £24.70 |
| Best known / most asked for | Yes | Growing | Popular value pick |
One-line read: SmartWhip is the trusted premium name, Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas are the value picks, and Fast Gas gives you an easy step up to 2kg for big kitchens.
SmartWhip: where it fits
SmartWhip is the most recognised cylinder brand, and it is the one many chefs ask for by name.
What you get. A 640g cylinder of food-grade N2O. There are two versions. The SmartWhip Original is stainless steel. The SmartWhip Silver is, in SmartWhip’s words, “made entirely from aluminium,” which makes it the lightest cylinder of the three. SmartWhip says its cylinder conforms to European laws, is pressure tested at 165 bar, and that its regulator and adapter “can be connected to any cream dispenser on the market.”
Where it fits: busy cafés, bakeries and restaurants that want a trusted name, and anyone who wants the lightest cylinder to lift and store (the Silver).
Where it does not fit: the tightest budgets, since it costs more than Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas for a similar amount of gas.
See both in our SmartWhip range.
Cream Deluxe: where it fits
Cream Deluxe is the value pick that still publishes a clear purity figure.
What you get. A 666g steel cylinder. Cream Deluxe describes its gas as “pure food-grade nitrous oxide purity tested at 99.9%” and says 666g holds the “same as 80 cream chargers.” The cylinder you will see most in the UK is the Cream Deluxe Black Cobra 666g. Cream Deluxe has since upgraded this design into its Sixth Wave edition, which is the same plain food-grade cylinder in a new casing. The brand also makes a larger Hydra MAXXI (2kg class) and a separate flavoured edition, though plain food-grade N2O is what most kitchens use for whipped cream and foams.
Where it fits: cafés and catering kitchens that want the same food-grade gas as the big names, with a stated 99.9% purity, at a lower price.
Where it does not fit: buyers who specifically need the SmartWhip name on the shelf, or the lightest aluminium cylinder.
See the full range in our Cream Deluxe collection.
Fast Gas: where it fits
Fast Gas is the value brand that also scales up to 2kg.
What you get. A 670g carbon steel cylinder, which is a few grams more gas than a 666g. Fast Gas calls it “European quality” food-grade N2O for “whipped creams, espumas for cocktails, sauces, and more.” The one we stock is the Fast Gas Original 670g. Fast Gas also makes a 2000g (2kg) cylinder for very high-volume kitchens. Note that Fast Gas does not publish a purity percentage on its product pages, so we do not quote one here.
Where it fits: value-focused kitchens, and operations that may want to step up to a 2kg cylinder later without changing brand.
Where it does not fit: buyers who want a published purity figure (Cream Deluxe states one), or the lightest cylinder (SmartWhip Silver).
See the full range in our Fast Gas collection.
How to choose: the five things that matter
Run each brand through these five questions. They are listed roughly in the order most buyers should weigh them.
1. Size and how fast you use it
All three common sizes (640g, 666g, 670g) are close enough that the gas amount is nearly the same. The real question is how fast your kitchen gets through a cylinder. A high-volume site that empties a cylinder quickly may be better on a 2kg option, which Fast Gas and Cream Deluxe both offer. A smaller kitchen is better with a single 640g to 670g cylinder, so it does not sit half-used for weeks.
2. Weight and handling
If your team lifts and swaps cylinders often, weight matters. The SmartWhip Silver is aluminium and the lightest of the three. The steel cylinders are a little heavier. A 2kg cylinder is heaviest of all, so make sure someone can handle it safely.
3. Purity and paperwork
All three are food-grade. They state it differently. Cream Deluxe publishes “purity tested at 99.9%.” SmartWhip states its gas is E942 food-grade and that the cylinder is pressure tested at 165 bar and meets European law. Fast Gas describes food-grade, European-quality N2O but does not publish a purity figure on its product pages. If you need a clear purity number for your records, Cream Deluxe states one plainly.
4. Price and value
For a similar amount of gas, Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas cost less than SmartWhip. If the gas is food-grade and does the job, the cheaper cylinder saves money on every swap. If brand recognition matters to your customers or chefs, SmartWhip may be worth the extra.
5. Fit with your kit
All three need a pressure regulator and an adapter that fit the cylinder. Do not assume a regulator from one brand fits another without checking. SmartWhip says its regulator and adapter connect to any cream dispenser. Whichever brand you pick, match the cylinder to the regulator and whipper you already own.
Which should you buy?
A few simple cases.
A busy café or bakery that wants a trusted name. Go with SmartWhip. Pick the Silver if you want the lightest cylinder to handle through a shift.
A kitchen watching costs that still wants food-grade gas. Go with Cream Deluxe 666g or Fast Gas 670g. Same job, lower price per cylinder. Cream Deluxe states a 99.9% purity if you like seeing the number.
A high-volume or central kitchen. Step up to a 2kg cylinder (Fast Gas 2000g) or buy your 640g to 670g cylinders by the case, so you swap over less often.
A home cook who whips cream once in a while. You may not need a big cylinder at all. Standard 8g cream chargers are cheaper to start with and need no regulator.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying the biggest cylinder just for the lowest price per gram. A 2kg cylinder is great value only if you use it fast and can store and lift it. If it sits half-used for weeks, the saving is gone.
- Treating “food-grade” as the only question. They are all food-grade. The next questions are price, weight, and whether the cylinder fits your regulator.
- Assuming all brands swap into the same regulator. Check the fitting before you switch brands.
- Forgetting the rest of the kit. A cylinder still needs a regulator, an adapter and a cream whipper to work.
- Chasing flavoured gas. For whipped cream and foams, plain food-grade N2O is what you want. The flavour comes from your recipe, not the gas.
What else you need to use them
A large cylinder is one part of a set. To whip cream you also need:
- A pressure regulator that fits the cylinder, to control how much gas goes into the whipper.
- An adapter so the regulator connects to your cream whipper.
- A cream whipper (dispenser) that holds the cream.
New to this? Our guide on how to use a cream charger walks through the whole process step by step, and what SmartWhip is used for covers the recipes these cylinders are made for.
Safety and the law
These cylinders are legal to buy and use for food in the UK. Nitrous oxide is an approved food additive, listed as E942 by the Food Standards Agency, and the government names catering, “as a whipped cream propellant,” as a legitimate use.
A few points:
- Never inhale nitrous oxide. Since 8 November 2023, it has been a Class C drug in the UK if you have it and intend to inhale it. These cylinders are sold for food use only, to adults aged 18 or over. For the full rules, see is SmartWhip legal in the UK?
- Store cylinders safely. Keep them upright in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight.
- Recycle empties. The cylinders are steel (SmartWhip Silver is aluminium). Make sure a cylinder is fully empty, then recycle it where your local facility accepts it. See how to dispose of N2O canisters safely.
FAQs
Is SmartWhip better than Cream Deluxe or Fast Gas?
Not in a simple way. SmartWhip is the best-known brand and has a light aluminium version, but it costs more. Cream Deluxe and Fast Gas give you the same food-grade gas for less. “Better” depends on whether you are paying for the name and the lighter cylinder, or for value.
What is the difference between 640g, 666g and 670g?
Very little. The gas amounts are close, so in daily use the difference is small. SmartWhip is 640g, Cream Deluxe is 666g, and Fast Gas is 670g. Pick on price, weight and brand rather than those few grams.
Which brand has the purest gas?
All three are food-grade. Cream Deluxe publishes “purity tested at 99.9%.” SmartWhip states its gas is E942 food-grade. Fast Gas describes food-grade, European-quality N2O but does not publish a purity percentage on its product pages.
Can I use one brand’s cylinder with another brand’s regulator?
Only if the fittings match. Do not assume they do. Check that your regulator and adapter fit the cylinder valve before you switch brands.
Which is best for a high-volume kitchen?
A 2kg cylinder changes over less often. Fast Gas makes a 2000g size, and Cream Deluxe makes a larger Hydra MAXXI. Just make sure your team can lift and store it.
Do these cylinders come with a regulator?
No. The cylinder holds the gas only. You buy the pressure regulator, adapter and cream whipper separately.
Related guides
Ready to choose? Compare all the options in our N2O cylinders range, or go straight to the SmartWhip Original, SmartWhip Silver, Cream Deluxe Black Cobra 666g or Fast Gas Original 670g. Fast UK delivery. We sell to adults aged 18 or over, for culinary use only.
Sources
- SmartWhip (official): What is SmartWhip? and home page (640g; Original steel and Silver aluminium; E942 food-grade; 165 bar pressure test; regulator and adapter fit any dispenser)
- Cream Deluxe (official): CDL Black Cobra Edition and CDL Sixth Wave Edition 666g (666g; “food-grade nitrous oxide purity tested at 99.9%”; same as 80 cream chargers)
- Fast Gas (official): FastGas Original 670g and FastGas Original 2000g (670g and 2000g; carbon steel; European-quality food-grade N2O; UN 1070)
- Food Standards Agency / GOV.UK: Approved additives and E numbers (E942 nitrous oxide)
- GOV.UK: Nitrous oxide ban: guidance