What is the difference between ice cream and gelato?

When going out for dessert, choosing between ice cream and gelato may seem redundant. Most people don’t even know the difference between both! Even though gelato technically means ice cream in Italian, there are key differences. With gelato there tends to be a softer, smoother texture whereas American style ice cream is a heavier, creamier consistency. The factors that create this difference between the two are a few simple things like sugar, fat, air, and serving temperature.

The difference between ice cream and gelato mainly has to do with the process of how it is made and the ingredients used. Ice cream is made with mainly water and freezing cold temperatures so it makes crystals and to keep these crystals as small as possible through different ingredients while also making a great flavor. The fat and sugar help create a barrier in between the water molecules as it freezes to make a syrup type substance that will never actually freeze. Then the air comes into play when it is being churned, the more air in it, the fluffier and less dense it becomes. Throughout this whole process of making the ice cream, gelato has less fat and has less air in it when it is being churned. Gelato also uses more milk than cream so it isn’t as fattening and it is churned at a much slower rate than American ice cream so not a lot of air gets into it. This gives gelato a very pleasant, dense and milky texture; gelato is also kept at a warmer temperature so it has more flavor than American ice cream, which is kept at very cold temperatures. This is why it is so important to eat gelato at the correct temperature because if it is served cold it will be way too hard and not as enjoyable.

The slight variations in how gelato and ice cream are made can make all the difference. They have two totally different tastes and textures, so if you are tired of the same old American ice cream a try be sure to give gelato a try because you certainly will not be disappointed. Here at La Bottega Farmingdale, we serve Gelato daily in order to satisfy your sweet tooth. Whether you enjoy a cup after a delicious panini, or you stop by just for our gelato, our quality and selection is perfect for you!