The ice cream glossary you need to know RIGHT NOW!
Whether you are spending these hot Michigan days at the beach, at the park, or even just in your living room with the fan on high, ice cream is always a good idea. But which dairy treat to choose? From gelato, custard, frozen yogurt, to soft-serve, there are so many options. Are these just fancy words for ice cream or are they actually different?
The answer is YES, these treats are all unique. Get your scoop (pun intended) with our ice cream glossary below.
Hard vs. Soft Ice Cream
Ice cream is a mixture of milk, cream and sugar. It can be served either soft or hard. Soft serve ice cream is much lower in milk fat (between 3-6%) than hard ice cream (10-18%). Another key difference is that hard ice cream is usually served at 5°F to 8°F, whereas soft serve ice cream is served at 10°F to 18°F. The slightly warmer temperature of soft serve makes it softer and creamier than hard ice cream.
Image via: US Dairy
Gelato
If you have ever visited Italy, then we hope you tried gelato. Gelato is much different than ice cream. First, gelato is made from milk instead of heavy whipping cream. Also, gelato contains 5% butterfat, which is a third less than premium ice cream. It is also churned at a higher temperature and a slower rate, incorporating less air and making it much denser than ice cream. The last difference is gelato is served at a slightly warmer temperature than hand-dipped ice cream (10°F to 12°F compared to 5°F to 8 °F).
Image via: US Dairy
Affogato al caffe
This dairy treat is simple and perfect for coffee addicts. Affogato al caffe is a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream. “Affogato” means “drowned” in Italian.
Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt is made from yogurt, so it typically contains less fat than ice cream. Frozen yogurt may or may not contain live and active bacterial cultures from the yogurt, which can help regulate your digestive system. Most shops are self-serve and are available in a variety of flavors and toppings.
Image via: US Dairy
Custard
Like gelato, custard is denser than ice cream because it contains less air. Custard is made from milk, cream, AND egg yolks, which makes it unique from ice cream.
Image via: US Dairy
Be sure to indulge and enjoy some ice cream before summer comes to an end! Milk Means More has many delicious ice cream recipes posted on our recipes page, so be sure to check them out here.
Sweet. Creamy. Delicious. Yes, ice cream falls into all three categories, and our friends from US Dairy have awesome ice cream stats if you are interested in learning more here!
Do you have a favorite flavor or an undeniably dairy ice cream story to share? Head over to @MilkMeansMore on social media and let us know! We love hearing from our undeniably devoted fans.
