What is the Difference Between Gelato & Ice Cream?

July 3, 2024
Two women eating ice cream cones at a table.

One of the most important differences between gelato and ice cream is the way they get their flavor. From the classics to the more creative, there are tons of options out there for both sweet treats, but you might have already noticed that they aren’t quite the same. Gelato is a type of Italian ice cream, and it has some key differences from regular ice cream. Let’s take a look.

Someone holding a pink ice cream cone with a cookie on top

#1 Fat Content

Gelato contains less fat than regular ice cream. While regular ice cream has a lot of cream, gelato has more milk and less cream.

#2 Air Content

Gelato contains less air than regular ice cream. Its production process involves less intense churning, resulting in a denser and creamier texture.

Close-up of assorted desserts on a table

#3 Serving Temperature

Gelato is served at a slightly higher temperature than regular ice cream, which makes it softer and melts more easily in the mouth. Since the gelato is less frozen, the flavors are also felt more intensely.

#4 Flavors

Gelato tends to have stronger and more precise flavors, thanks to the use of high-quality ingredients. This allows the flavors to come through more intensely, too.
Assorted ice creams in a display case

#5 Texture

Due to the lower fat and air content, gelato has a very smooth texture and melts perfectly in the mouth.

So, what is the difference between gelato and ice cream? Gelato is essentially a type of ice cream with a unique preparation method that results in a different taste and texture experience.

Real Flavor, Real Gelato at Anita

Next time you visit your favorite gelato shop, you’ll know exactly how to navigate your flavor choices. Of course, when you’re looking for a frozen sweet treat, there’s no better place to go than your local gelateria. We have a rotating list of 150 flavors with tons of toppings to choose from. All our offerings are made in-house and created with the best ingredients. So come and get yours – only at Anita’s!

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Dessert dreams calling? We have gelato shops across the globe – enjoy world-famous flavors no matter where you are!

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Denis Goutkin started in Neve Tzedek and now leads global product development – crafting the flavor combos you crave and overseeing gelato production teams worldwide. 

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Some desserts are just there for the moment. You enjoy them, and that’s that. Others linger a bit, and you find yourself thinking about them later. That’s where Anita Gelato fits in. It started small, in a family kitchen. Mama Anita and her son Nir making frozen treats, figuring things out as they went. People noticed. And then they kept coming back for more. More than 20 years later, that same spirit still shows up in every colorful tray, generous topping, and the first bite that makes you pause for a second.

Every scoop starts ahead of the game at Anita. The gelato is crafted by hand, churned fresh in-store, and offered in a dazzling rotation of over 150 flavors. Then come the toppings, turning each perfect scoop into a celebration. Suddenly, your gelato is not just creamy or cold, but it also crackles, sparkles, and shows off a personality all of its own. 🍦

You know that moment when your gelato arrives and you pause for a second before eating it? Not on purpose, just… it looks too good to eat! The scoop holds its shape well and the ridges are soft but defined, and the color feels almost too clean to be real. Someone at the table says “wait, don’t touch it yet,” and suddenly phones are out. That’s really all this is. Catching that moment before it melts into something else.

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