The difference between ice cream and gelato is not just the language

The difference between ice cream and gelato, call me a cuisine barbarian again, but I thought it was the language. It’s not, because our ice cream consists of about ten percent fat and gelato doesn’t even contain cream. If you want to know the details; our neighbors from FavorFlav explain it to you.

This is ice cream

The ‘normal’ ice cream that we often encounter in the Netherlands is made from egg yolks, sugar, milk, and quite a bit of cream. So much cream that our ice cream has a fat percentage of at least ten percent. The ingredients are whipped at high speed, creating a lot of air and volume in the ice.

This is gelato

The main ingredients of gelato and ice cream are similar, but the difference lies in the proportions and the preparation method. For gelato, fewer eggs are used, much more milk, and no cream. As a result, the fat percentage in gelato is lower, so you can eat more of it and it melts faster. Additionally, the ingredients for gelato are whipped at a much lower speed, resulting in less air.

Temperature

Due to the difference in air, ice cream and gelato are served at different temperatures. Ice cream contains a lot of air, which makes it melt faster and therefore is stored at a lower temperature, but can also be easily scooped at a lower temperature. Gelato is served at about -13°C, while ice cream is about seven degrees colder.

Taste difference

What do these differences mean for the taste? Gelato has a stronger flavor because it contains less air, and with fruit gelato, the fruit flavor comes through better because it is not overshadowed by the fat. Ice cream often leaves a greasy ‘film’ on the tongue. Besides the taste, the texture is also different. Because it contains less air, gelato has a very fine texture. That’s why they don’t scoop it into balls, but the ice is spread into a cone or cup.

Gelato: where can you find it?

Of course, you can also find delicious Italian gelato in the Netherlands; you don’t necessarily have to travel to Italy for that. For example, Roberto Gelato from Utrecht has already won quite a few international awards. My friends from Haarlem rave about Garrone, where delicious ice cream has been made for generations. And we previously mentioned the ice from Massimo Gelato as the best ice cream in Amsterdam with surprising flavors like ricotta with figs and vanilla with candied orange peel.

Feeling like having an ice cream too?

Text: FavorFlav

Image credits: Juliana Malta