A scoop of something creamy and sweet is one of life’s great pleasures. Fans of frozen desserts have plenty of options to satisfy a sweet tooth, including ice cream and gelato. Although these summer staples are both made with a base of milk, cream, and sugar that is churned by hand or machine, they’re not the same. Ice cream typically has a higher fat content than gelato, thanks to a higher ratio of cream to milk. It also has an airier, fluffy texture from the faster speed at which it’s churned. On the flip side, gelato often has more milk than cream in the base and may be described as denser, softer, more intense in flavor, and even elastic.
Note that these are all generalizations (although ice cream does have a legal definition in the U.S. — more on that later). Artisans around the world may make their gelati and ice cream according to different specifications, and if we’re really getting technical, gelato is the Italian word for ice cream.
Here’s everything you need to know when picking between these frozen treats.
What is ice cream?
Ice cream is generally made with a base of heavy cream, milk, sugar, and sometimes eggs and/or egg yolks. The base is churned in an ice cream maker before mix-ins are added. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), ice cream must contain at least 10% milk fat by weight, though most brands will have a fat percentage of 14 to 25%. (Note that we’re talking about traditional hard ice cream. Soft-serve ice cream contains less milk fat, usually 3 to 6%.)
The style of ice cream itself also varies widely. French-style ice cream incorporates egg yolks into the base, while American or Philadelphia-style ice cream might omit eggs entirely. You’ve also probably seen pints in the aisle with the label “frozen dairy dessert.” These contain less than 10% milk fat by weight or more “overrun” (air pushed into the ice cream during churning) than permitted by the FDA.
What is gelato?
This beloved Italian dessert in fact translates to “ice cream,” but it’s not necessarily the same thing. Gelato has a lower milk fat content than ice cream, usually 4 to 9%, yielding a softer, denser texture and smaller ice crystals. That’s a result of the base, which typically includes less cream and more milk, as well as a slower churning process that introduces less air into the final product. The base generally does not include eggs, but it can. Gelaterias also keep their cases at a warmer temperature than most ice cream shops, which contributes to gelato’s silkier texture. Although there’s no legal standard for gelato in the U.S., the Italian government requires a milk fat content of at least 3%. At home, you can make gelato in an ice cream maker on the slow-churn setting.
But what about frozen custard?
While many ice cream recipes include eggs in the base, frozen custard must legally include at least 1.4% egg yolks, according to the FDA. Like ice cream, it must also include a minimum of 10% milk fat by weight. At retail shops, however, frozen custard is usually made in a machine that incorporates minimal air, creating a richer, silkier product that is more gelato-like in texture, but with a pronounced custard flavor from the egg yolks.
The main differences between ice cream and gelato
Ice cream and gelato are mostly differentiated by the proportion of ingredients in the base and the rate at which they’re churned. Gelato contains less milk fat than ice cream, is churned at a slower rate, and is typically served at a warmer temperature, introducing less air to the dessert and yielding a softer and denser texture. Frozen custard, meanwhile, is always made with egg yolks, and is most often made in a machine that introduces very little air, resulting in a denser, richer texture.
FAQs
Gelato contains less milk fat than ice cream, is churned at a slower rate, and is typically served at a warmer temperature, introducing less air to the dessert and yielding a softer and denser texture.
What is the difference between ice cream and gelato Quizlet? ›
Gelato is more smooth and creamy than ice cream because it is denser-- it contains less cream and more milk -- is turned more slowly, and is served at higher temperatures.
Does gelato have __________ calories than ice cream? ›
In general, gelato has half the amount of calories as the same scoop of ice cream. Gelato is therefore the lighter of the two, since it has much less fat than its creamier alternative ice cream. Below is the nutritional value for 100ml of vanilla gelato: 117 kcal.
Is one of the difference between gelato and ice cream is the amount of overrun? ›
Gelato usually contains about 15 to 30% overrun (the percentage of air incorporated into the product during the freezing process), which makes it denser than ice cream. Many argue that this makes the flavor more intense.
What's the difference between gelato and ice cream on Reddit? ›
I hope you don't mind :) additives than ice cream. Gelato has a smoother, silkier texture than ice cream, partly due to its lower fat content and the way it is churned. It is also denser and more compact than ice cream, which can be light and fluffy.
Is there really a difference between gelato and ice cream? ›
The main differences between ice cream and gelato
Gelato contains less milk fat than ice cream, is churned at a slower rate, and is typically served at a warmer temperature, introducing less air to the dessert and yielding a softer and denser texture.
What is the difference between gelato and ice cream lactose? ›
Lactose is a naturally occurring sugar and the major carbohydrate in milk. Both ice cream and gelato contain lactose at about 3-6 grams/125 ml serving. [1] Overall, gelato has more added sugar than ice cream resulting in higher carbohydrate content compared to ice cream.
What is healthier, ice cream or gelato? ›
The main difference between ice cream and gelato is their fat content. With only 4-9% fat to the usual 10-25% of ice cream, gelato usually is lighter and healthier. Per portion, however, the answer is clear, gelato is typically healthier than ice cream.
Is gelato unhealthy? ›
Gelato has about 160 calories and 17 grams of sugar in an equal serving of 88 grams. These sweet treats are both high in sugar and calories, so they are best consumed only once in a while in moderation.
Is talenti gelato healthy? ›
Talenti is lower-fat, lower-calorie, and just as satisfying and indulgent as any full-fat dairy ice cream out there. A 2/3-cup serving of Talenti Madagascan vanilla bean gelato contains 260 calories, 30 total grams of sugar, 13 total grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. Each container includes 3 servings.
What's the difference in fat content? Ice cream typically contains at least 10% fat, while gelato has between 4-8%. Sherbet has a low fat conect at 1-2%, and sorbet has none.
Is gelato cheaper than ice cream? ›
Because gelato is filled with less air than ice cream, it contains more actual ingredients per serving, hence it's often more expensive. Does gelato contain eggs? Some gelatos may contain egg or egg yolks, as traditional recipes were made using eggs, but today most gelato is entirely milk-based.
Does gelato have less air than ice cream? ›
Denser, Smoother Texture: Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, incorporating less air into the mixture. This results in a denser, smoother texture that coats your palate with creamy perfection with every spoonful.
Why can I eat gelato but not ice cream? ›
Using more milk and less cream is the main reason gelato tends to have lower fat and caloric content. Eggs are another differentiating ingredient; ice cream often contains small amounts of eggs, while gelato is usually completely void of them.
Is Talenti real gelato? ›
Talenti gelato is particularly special because we make it from scratch with the finest ingredients from around the world, and use an old world process that involves slow cooking our ingredients and making our gelato in smaller batches than most other ice cream in the US is made.
Are there eggs in ice cream? ›
While commercially manufactured ice cream is typically made with pasteurized eggs or egg products, recipes for homemade ice cream often use raw eggs in the base mixture.
Why do Italians call ice cream gelato? ›
Name. In Italian, gelato means simply 'frozen' and is the generic word for any type or style of ice cream.
Why do Americans call ice cream gelato? ›
Gelato – the facts
Although gelato is basically the Italian word for ice cream it's not quite the same in terms of ingredients and eating experience. Gelato has a basic custard base – which is largely the same as ice cream. However, it's then made with much more milk than you'll find in an ice cream recipe.
Which is thicker, gelato or ice cream? ›
Gelato is the Italian word for ice cream. It starts out with a similar custard base as ice cream, but has a higher proportion of milk and a lower proportion of cream and eggs (or no eggs at all). It is churned at a much slower rate, incorporating less air and leaving the gelato denser than ice cream.
