Gelato, Ice Cream, Mochi Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt—What’s the Difference?

The world of ice cream is a large and complicated place. There are many different forms of ice cream that can have us all scratching our heads wondering, “What’s the difference?”

With summer here and in full swing, you’re most likely crowding the frozen section of the grocery store, trying to choose which of these types of frozen treats will work best for your ever-changing taste buds.

There’s gelato, there’s frozen yogurt, there’s sorbet, and there’s just plain ol’ ice cream.

So, how do they all differ from each other? Keep reading to find out!

Ice Cream

Ice cream is typically known as the most popular frozen treat. To be qualified as ice cream, the frozen mixture must be made with no less than 10% milkfat, sometimes referred to as butterfat. It can also me no more than 100% overrun.

This means that the base can’t increase in volume by over 100% in the churning process. If it does, this results in a mixture that is over 50% air.

As you already know, staring at the frozen section of your local grocery store, there endless variations of ice cream.

Mochi Ice Cream

Of course, Mochi Ice Cream is our favorite. We take premium ice cream and wrap it in delicious, authentic Mochi dough, allowing you to ditch the spoon and take your ice cream with you wherever you go.

Gelato

Gelato, Ice Cream’s Italian cousin, is made with whole milk, without using added cream. This makes the milkfat percentage much lower than traditional ice cream. Also, gelato is often made without eggs and stabilizers. While it is being churned, there is little to no air whipped into it, leaving a dense, thick texture.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt, or Fro-Yo, is a very popular form of ice cream right now. This frozen treat is made using some of the same ingredients as ice cream, but with a much lower percentage of fat. There is also yogurt mixed in, which gives it more of a tart taste.

Sorbet

Sorbet is frozen treat that contains little to no dairy. Because it is made by using frozen berries and sweetened water, it is very light in texture and flavor.

Many people believe that all sorbets are vegan, but this isn’t always the case. In some sorbets, egg whites are used to hold the mixture together a bit better.

Sherbet

Sherbet, similarly to sorbet, is a fruit-based frozen dessert, but it does contain dairy. It is made with fruit juice, milk or cream, egg whites, and in some cases, gelatin.

Sherbet ice cream is defined as a frozen dessert that contains no more than 1-3% milkfat. If the mixture goes over 3%, it is considered ice cream. If it is under 1%, it is considered water ice.

Choosing the Right Ice Cream Variation for You

Sherbet, sorbet, frozen yogurt, Mochi ice cream, and gelato are all equally delicious, but have unique ingredients. Because these different variations are all extremely close to one another, they are often referred to as ice cream. Now you know the differences between each so you can shop for the right ice cream for your taste buds.

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