But nowadays, ice cream is no longer just “ice cream.” You have typical ice cream, soft serve, gelato, custard, and Frozen Yogurt. But what really is the difference between them all?

I’m pretty sure all of you have tried ice cream, soft serve, gelato, custard and fro-yo at some point in your lives. That being said, you can probably identify the slight differences in texture and flavor that make each one unique.

While some people claim “they’re all the same thing,” there’s evidence to support that there really are differences between these frozen delicacies.

1. Ice Cream

According to USDA, the standards for ice cream consist of  20% cream and 10% milk. Also, ice cream will usually contain at least 10% fat (although some of the luxurious, sinful ice cream will contain 15-20%…so worth it). When compared to the other ice creams, this classic kind will be less dense and is often served very frozen.

With all the new trends, a lot of people neglect original ice cream when going out for a treat. Don’t do this. There’s always a time and place for classic ice cream. Check out Melt for incredibly unique flavors that will have you craving ice cream any day of the week.

2. Soft Serve

This sounds super obvious, but only because it is. Soft serve ice cream is ice cream that is…well, soft. It contains the exact same ingredients as regular ice cream, but comes from a machine that results in a smoother texture. The machine incorporates more air and doesn’t allow the ice cream to harden as much.

Most often, soft serve ice cream is found at buffets since the machine makes it is easy to keep cool. As you may know, there’s a soft serve machine just steps away from your very own home (aka the good ole’ BLUU). Go ahead and get yourself some soft serve in your jammies.

Perhaps the standard for cooling off in the summer heat, soft serve ice cream is just as delicious whether in a cup, cone, or between two ends of a cookie sandwich. Usually offered as chocoloate or vanilla, soft serve also comes in more exotic flavors and is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10°F-20°F. Most soft serve machines enable users to choose between two individual flavors or go with a twist option. With less milk fat than traditional ice cream, soft serve features more air than its counterpart and has a texture that’s predictably soft, creamy, and delicate.

3. Gelato

“Gelato” means “ice cream” in Italian. But the two are not exactly the same. While gelato has a custard base like its American cousin, it also contains less milk fat and has less air churned into it during freezing, which makes its texture denser. Also, because gelato is traditionally served at a slightly warmer temperature than ice cream, it feels a bit softer and looks glossier.

This Italian ice cream always seems more fun and luxurious than regular ice cream. The flavors are always fancier and unpronounceable (stracciatella, anyone? Hint: it’s just chocolate chip).

One of the main components of gelato production is that it is churned very slowly, making it much more dense than regular ice cream. However, it contains about 5-7% less fat, due to the higher ratio of milk to cream.

Another factor that makes it taste creamier is the fact that it is served at warmer temperatures. Instead of it being super icy, the creamy texture melts into a pool of happiness as soon as it hits your tongue.
Gelato places can be more difficult to hunt down compared to the other types of frozen treats (unless you’re in Italy, of course). But at the price of a 5 minute car ride (and a few bucks), you can get fabulous gelato to satisfy your taste buds.

This Italian treat is made mostly of milk, cream, sugar, and flavorings. This quality means gelato weighs more than ice cream, so servings of the Italian treat are usually smaller than that of ice cream. To achieve perfect gelato consistency, you’ll want to serve cups at 10°F. If gelato is served at a colder temperature than that, there’s a chance it will be too frozen and won’t have that unique soft consistency that sweet tooths crave.

Featuring between 3%-8% milkfat as opposed to traditional ice cream that has 14%-18% milkfat, gelato also has less air than ice a cream. As a result, the Italian treat has distinct richness and requires less flavoring and added sugar to achieve its desired taste. The dessert comes in dozens of flavors and looks perfect on display, helping to prompt countless impulse purchases. Gelato is often served by the scoop, and customers frequently combine two or more different flavors to make their own personalized creation.

While a gelato dipping cabinet might look similar to an ice cream dipping, it’s not. Gelato dipping cabinets are specifically designed to hold gelato. Investing in the wrong type of cabinet can result in you serving a product that’s not up to par. Always be sure to research cabinets beforehand so you know exactly what you’re getting..

4. Custard

The key ingredient to this delicious dish is egg yolk. All other ingredients are the same as regular ice cream, but the yolk creates a thicker product.

Having lived in Milwaukee, I know and love my custard. If you’re feeling SUPER adventurous, take a trek up north just to try Kopp’s Frozen Custard. Nothing compares, trust me. Luckily, Fort Worth does have some frozen custard places that (almost) match up to my beloved custard capitol of the world.

5. Frozen Yogurt.

Instead of milk or cream, yogurt gives this frozen dairy dessert its creaminess. But besides that, it’s made the same way as ice cream. There are millions of ways to dress it up; here’s one of our favorite.

The Frozen Yogurt has seemed to die down the last couple of months, but having worked at a fro-yo shoppe, this frozen treat holds a special place in my heart.

This “ice cream” is definitely the most unique out of all the different frozen treats. That is because in addition to the mixture of ice cream, yogurt is added (duh) that makes the taste more tangy.
Since yogurt is added, this dessert will contain probiotics that help aid digestion. Good news for you, there is a place right on campus that has self-serve Frozen Yogurt. And yes, they take Frozen Yogurt.

Also known as frozen yogurt is exactly what it sounds like. Yogurt is mixed with milk, cream, sweetener, and sometimes even live cultures that can aid in digestion then served at a temperature between 17°F-19°F via a soft serve machine. Frozen Yogurt  mixes vary in regards to whether they utilize pure fruit sugar or cane sugar, and consequently the ideal serving temperature of frozen yogurt differs on a case-by-case basis. Always be sure to read the label on your frozen yogurt mix before serving.

Since frozen yogurt does not contain cream, the frozen dessert has significantly less fat content than traditional ice cream. However, toppings are extremely popular among customers when it comes to frozen yogurt. By adding sauces, fruits, and other toppings atop cups of Frozen Yogurt, the delicious treats can quickly approach the fat level of a regular cup of ice cream.