What is the difference between ice cream and gelato?
Ice cream has a minimum of 10 percent fat, and gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk to cream, so it contains more like five to seven percent fat. Gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, so its denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture. (Gelato contains about 25 to 30 percent air, while ice cream can contain as much as 50 percent air) Finally, while ice cream is typically served frozen, gelato is typically stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature, so its not quite completely frozen.
Gelato, which literally means "frozen": is the Italian word for ice cream. The best gelato is made daily in small batches, has less air in it, and a lot less butterfat (0-8% as opposed to 16-30%) foundin premium commercial ice cream. While ice cream is kept at –10 farenheit, gelato is kept at a warm 7 degrees. Gelato is so dense that it requires a slightly higher serving temperature, a perfect point where your scoop is firm but not hard and not so soft that it melts immediately.
Premium ice creams are made with fresh cream, real eggs, and natural flavorings. Quality ingredients aside, ice creams may have air whipped in and is less dense than gelato. Ice cream is typically served frozen and is stored at -10F whereas gelato is stored at 7F.