Differences between Gelato and Ice Cream The primary differences between gelato and regular ice cream are very important. First off, gelato is a lot denser than ice cream. Your regular everyday ice cream has quite a bit of air in it (over-run), which allows the finished product to nearly double in size. As you can imagine, this makes the flavor weaker, which means you need to eat more of it to get the same flavor effect. Gelato is much richer and creamier than ice cream, which means that every little bite packs a major punch of flavor. Less Butterfat Gelato also has far less butterfat than standard ice cream. Regular ice cream has anywhere from 12%-18% butterfat, while gelato has somewhere around 4.5% percent, depending on the flavor (this, of course, excludes toppings). The difference comes from the fact that gelato is made entirely with regular milk instead of cream. Since there is less fat, gelato does not need to be frozen as cold as regular ice cream, meaning that it actually melts in your mouth faster. Too much butterfat in ice cream actually masks the true flavor behind a "fatty" taste. This lingering fat flavor makes regular ice cream very rich, but does not lend anything to the flavorings of the dessert. Gelato, having less fat, gives you a more pure flavor experience. Frozen at Slightly Warmer Temperatures Since gelato is frozen at a warmer temperature, it is also kept at temperatures that are warmer than regular ice cream. There is a roughly 12 degree difference in the two, which means that gelato isn't frozen solid like most frozen desserts are. With a softer consistency, the flavors mingle over your tongue faster than regular ice cream and the tastes comes off as much stronger and more robust. Also, since there is less air in gelato and it is kept at a slightly lower temperature, it is much easier to scoop. In fact, you do not use a regular ice cream scoop to dish out gelato - you use a spatula that looks something like a slightly curved paddle.