Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, and Gelato, Oh My!

What is the scoop on frozen yogurt, ice cream, and gelato? They are all delicious, cold, and creamy desserts, but what is the difference between these three frozen treats? There are various differences between their ingredients, health benefits, and flavor that everyone should know about.

Frozen Yogurt

Compared to regular yogurt, which has been around for thousands of years, frozen yogurt was not created until the early 1970s. However, being a recent invention does not stop it from becoming a staple in many people's homes and many frozen yogurt shops from opening all over.

The dairy component in frozen yogurt is usually not made from cultured milk. Because of this, frozen yogurt has a tart flavor since it contains bacteria. This specific bacteria is good and is beneficial to a person's health. The way frozen yogurt is made is different depending on the type. Sometimes the specific freezing process limits the effects of the probiotic in the yogurt. It also can be made so those with lactose allergies can enjoy this creamy frozen dessert.

There are also certain health benefits to frozen yogurt that ice cream and gelato do not have. For example, there are good bacteria and probiotic effects that can improve a person's digestive health, boost immunity, and lower cholesterol. The flavoring is also a big difference since it has a signature tart flavor and is sometimes compensated by adding ingredients to sweeten it up.

Ice Cream

The invention of ice cream is believed to have been introduced as early as the second century B.C. but did not get introduced to America until the mid-1700s and was considered an exotic delicacy. However, once it became more accessible, it became a staple in American households. It can be eaten in various ways, such as ice cream in sodas, ice cream in waffle cones, and ice cream cups with lids.

As it shows through its name, ice cream is made from cream. For it to be considered ice cream, it must have at least ten perfect milkfat. Because of this, the fat count is much higher when compared to frozen yogurt. A typical serving of ice cream contains water, cream, milk, and sugar. The ingredients are then rapidly churned together, producing the light and creamy concoction known as ice cream. It is definitely not the healthiest choice, but there are low-fat options, and there are times when the ice cream has less sugar in it because there is no tart flavor they are trying to cover up with extra sweeteners.

Gelato

The Italian word for ice cream is gelato. This frozen treat was created during the Italian Renaissance in the fourteenth century and was not brought to America until the late 1700s. During this time, there were two types of gelato introduced. The first was made by mixing water with various fruits, also known as a sorbet. The second was made by mixing milk with a variety of flavors.

Like ice cream, gelato uses cream and has a thicker consistency when compared to frozen yogurt. The difference between gelato and ice cream is that gelato does not require a minimum percentage of milk fat. This makes it, so gelato uses considerably less cream. The ingredients are churned together, similar to ice cream, but it is churned together slowly, so less air is incorporated. This makes gelato much denser and more flavorful while containing less fat per serving. Although it has less fat, because of gelato's density, the serving size is significantly smaller than ice cream's. It may appear smaller, but it is only because it has much less air incorporated.

Whether someone chooses frozen yogurt, ice cream, or gelato, each choice is delicious and has various flavor options.