What Is The Difference Between Gelato and Ice Cream
Gelato is Italy’s version of ice cream. The main difference between the two is the milk fat content. Traditional Italian gelato has about 1/3 the fat content of traditional American ice cream and tends to be served at higher temperatures than American style ice cream. Ice cream is served above 40 degrees fahrenheit while gelato, depending on the style, is served at 10 to 20 degrees fahrenheit.
It has been said that gelato tastes better than ice cream due to it’s lower fat content and higher amount of air in it. Ice cream is churned more to make its texture smoother and thicker. Gelato has less air beaten into it, giving it a denser texture and more intense flavor. This makes gelato smoother since the ice crystals are smaller in size.
Is Gelato Better Than Ice Cream?
It has been said that gelato tastes better than ice cream due to it’s lower fat content and higher amount of air in it. Ice cream is churned more to make its texture smoother and thicker. Gelato has less air beaten into it, giving it a denser texture and more intense flavor. This makes gelato smoother since the ice crystals are smaller in size. While it is largely up to individual taste, it is generally agreed upon that gelato offers a fuller flavor and richer texture than ice cream.
History Of Gelato
The word gelato is now used to describe the Italian version of ice cream. The first written account of gelato was in 1686 by Bernardo Buontalenti, who was the personal pastry chef for Cosimo de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1590-1637).
History Of Ice Cream
Ice cream was actually invented in the United States by a frontier doctor named Thomas Perry. He was walking along the banks of the Susquehanna River in 1747 when he saw a Native American man eating an ice cream made of fermented ground corn and milk. The doctor took this as a health food which prompted him to try his own version of ice cream.
In his first attempt to make ice cream, he mixed flour with water and salt. He also added butter to a portion of the mixture and churned it until it turned into what he called “poor man’s cream”.
Bottom Line
So is Gelato better than ice cream ? I think so. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love ice cream! I make homemade ice cream far more than I do gelato and my family agrees that ice cream is no slouch when compared to gelato.