Upon entering fast food restaurants, it’s common to see menu cards displaying various smoothies and milkshakes available as dairy cold drinks. Sometimes, these terms may be used interchangeably when they should be specifically referring to different types of dairy treats. This article aims to examine the differences between a smoothie and a milkshake based on the presence or absence of certain ingredients.
Milkshake
A milkshake is a cold beverage primarily made from milk and ice cream. It is always sweet, with added flavors such as chocolate syrup or powder. Sometimes, concentrated fruit syrups are used to alter the milkshake’s flavor. Milkshakes are served in most fast food establishments and restaurants, with a wide range of options depending on the added flavors.
Smoothies
On the other hand, a smoothie is a cold, almost icy beverage made with fruits, and sometimes milk is added. Nowadays, vegetables are also used in smoothies. Ice is an essential component of smoothies, and automatic blenders or mixers are necessary for crushing the ice.
Key Takeaways
- The main ingredient in a milkshake is milk and ice cream, while fruits are the basic ingredients of smoothies.
- Milkshakes have a higher fat content than smoothies due to the presence of milk.
- Smoothies contain natural fruit sugar and therefore have less added sugar than milkshakes, which often include fruit syrups or chocolate flavors.