What’s the difference between ice cream and gelato?
August 18, 2011
By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist
Tonight, we stopped by a gelato store in Seattle, D’Ambrosio Gelateria, after dinner for a treat. It had exhibits on the wall explaining how gelato and ice cream differ.
The difference between gelato and ice cream is a combination of fat content, amount of air inside, and serving temperature. Gelato has a lower fat content, less air trapped inside, and is not served frozen compared to ice cream with the higher fat, more air, and frozen serving temperature.
In the United States, ice cream is required to have a minimum of 10 percent fat, and most ice creams contain 14 to 17 percent. Gelato has between 3 to 8 percent fat.
On air content, ice cream is usually about 50 percent air, while gelato, which is churned at a lower speed, has 25 to 30 percent.
And, the difference in temperature for the two; ice cream is stored and served frozen, while gelato is served not quite completely frozen, about 5 degrees.
Gelato was first made in Rome when snow was brought down from mountaintops and stored underground with flavorings. Ice cream was created later.
What’s your favorite place to buy gelato? Ice cream?
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