Frozen Yogurt vs Ice Cream vs Soft Serve
There are numerous types of desserts enjoyed by people after meals and whenever they crave something sweet. These treats are adored by individuals of all ages, particularly children. Ice cream, soft serve, and frozen yogurt are the most popular of these desserts, and often confuse people due to their similarities. When standing in an ice cream parlor, gazing at the variety of options displayed on the counter, one might mistake one dessert for another without knowing their differences. This article aims to explore the distinctions between ice cream, soft serve, and frozen yogurt.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is perhaps the most popular and beloved dessert made from milk. It is created using milk and cream, along with added sugar and flavors, and is served frozen. The ingredients are stored in the refrigerator after introducing air to prevent the formation of ice crystals during freezing. Ice cream is neither solid nor liquid, and can be consumed with ease due to its smooth texture.
In the US, the term “ice cream” can only be applied to the frozen dessert if it contains at least 10% milk fat. Ice cream is predominantly eaten in cones, though it is also served in glasses and plates.
Soft Serve
Soft serve is a unique type of ice cream that is incredibly soft because air is introduced during its production. Soft serve is primarily served in cones. Since it contains more air than milk and cream, soft serve is of lower quality than an ice cream and is relatively inexpensive. In the US, an ice cream is considered soft serve if it contains only 3-6% milk fat. Soft serve is made at higher temperatures than ice cream. Consumers may feel that they are enjoying a creamier product when eating soft serve, although they are actually consuming a large amount of air. Many manufacturers add air up to 50-60% by volume, but this reduces the taste of the product. The air content should remain around 40% to maintain the quality of this dessert.
Frozen Yogurt
As the name suggests, frozen yogurt is a dessert made of yogurt that has been frozen. It is not ice cream and has a tart taste that distinguishes it from an ice cream. Since it uses yogurt instead of cream, the milk fat content in frozen yogurt is lower than in ice cream. There is no regulation on the production of frozen yogurt by the FDA, although some states in the US impose regulations. Frozen yogurt contains bacteria culture that differentiates it from other types of ice creams.
Key Takeaways
– Of the three desserts, ice cream has the highest milk fat content, while frozen yogurt has the lowest milk fat content.
– Soft serve is a type of ice cream that feels creamier due to the air introduced into it during freezing.
– Frozen yogurt has a tart taste, while ice cream and soft serve are very sweet.
– Frozen yogurt contains bacteria culture that is not present in ice cream and soft serve.
