What Is Ice Cream? (2024)

  • Article
  • 2 min read May 22, 2017

Sweet. Creamy. Delicious. Yes, ice cream falls into all three categories, but what exactly makes ice cream, well, ice cream?

While ingredients can vary from recipe to recipe or brand to brand, ice cream (whether homemade or commercial) includes at least three ingredients: milk (and/or cream), sweeteners and flavorings/mix-ins. Commercially made ice creams also include stabilizers and emulsifiers. Here’s what all of that means:

Of course, the main ingredients in ice cream come from milk–and the most important part of that is milkfat, which gives ice cream its smoothness and creamy texture. In fact, in order to be called ice cream, the USDA requires it to contain at least 10 percent milkfat, which can come from milk or cream.

When it comes to sweetening ice cream, ingredients can range from cane or beet sugar to sweeteners or even honey. Stabilizers, such as plant-based gums (e.g. guar gum) are sometimes used to help prevent the formation of ice crystals and to give the ice cream its smoother texture. Similarly, emulsifiers (originally egg yolks) keep fat and water together and make ice cream more uniform as it freezes.

And ice cream just wouldn’t be ice cream without your favorite flavorings and mix-ins. From vanilla to green tea, there’s no limit to how you can flavor your ice cream!

As we mentioned, ice cream needs to contain at least 10 percent milkfat in order to be called ice cream, and there are similar guidelines for other frozen dairy treats. For example:

  • Soft serve includes the same ingredients as ice cream, but the soft serve machine adds air while freezing, which makes it “softer” than ice cream.
  • Like ice cream, frozen custard needs to contain at least 10 percent milkfat and also has 1.4 percent egg yolk solids.
  • Sherbets contain a minimal amount of milkfat – usually 1 to 2 percent. (Meanwhile, sorbets don’t contain any dairy ingredients!)
  • Frozen yogurt is similar to ice cream, but the ingredients have been cultured.
  • Gelato, Italian-style ice cream, contains less fat (milkfat) and is churned slowly, which results in a denser taste.
What Is Ice Cream? (2024)

FAQs

What is ice cream short answer? ›

Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches.

What is the slang ice cream mean? ›

One of the most popular street names for meth is 'ice. ' The illegal drug also goes by the name 'cream,' Recently, people have been combining the two and calling it 'ice cream. ' If you ever hear that someone you know has been using 'ice cream,' there is a very good chance they have actually been using crystal meth.

What is ice cream made of answer? ›

About 70% of the ingredients in ice cream come from milk, although mixes often contain natural ingredients like sugar and fruit. Small quantities of stabilisers, flavours, colourings and emulsifiers may also be added to enhance flavour, texture or appearance.

What is ice cream definition for kids? ›

A food produced by freezing while being stirred, ice cream is a mix consisting of one or more milk products, sugar, and flavoring. It may also contain egg products; stabilizers, to achieve a consistent texture; emulsifiers, to keep the ingredients mixed; and other ingredients derived from non-milk substances.

Can you describe ice cream? ›

a rich, sweet, creamy frozen food made from variously flavored cream and milk products churned or stirred to a smooth consistency during the freezing process and often containing gelatin, eggs, fruits, nuts, etc.

What does ice cream mean in love? ›

You feel loved when someone else is willing to go to the freezer and bring you your favourite flavour and a spoon. Keep in mind, this is also how you like to show your love, so whoever is bringing you ice cream knows you're willing to do the same. Sometimes is the simplest act of love that is the sweetest.

Is ice a slang word? ›

Ice is a slang-term for diamonds, although it's commonly misinterpreted by many to mean jewelry or showing off.

What is an ice cream person called? ›

A person who makes ice cream is commonly referred to as an ice cream maker or an ice cream churner. These individuals are responsible for preparing and producing ice cream, either for commercial or personal use.

Who invented ice cream? ›

The emperors of the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 AD) are believed to have been the first to eat “a frozen milk-like confection.” This version was made with cow, goat or buffalo milk that was heated with flour. Camphor, an aromatic substance harvested from evergreen trees, was added to enhance the texture and flavor.

What country invented ice cream? ›

The earliest evidence of anything approaching ice cream being made was in China in the Tang period (A.D. 618-907). Buffalo, cows' and goats' milk was heated and allowed to ferment.

Why is ice cream so good? ›

A big reason why ice cream tastes so good is because of its high fat content. Unless it is labeled as light, low-fat or non-fat, ice cream must contain at least 10% fat, and this fat must come from milk.

Does ice cream have egg? ›

While commercially manufactured ice cream is typically made with pasteurized eggs or egg products, recipes for homemade ice cream often use raw eggs in the base mixture.

What's ice cream made of? ›

ice cream, frozen dairy food and common dessert made from cream or butterfat, milk, sugar, and flavourings. Frozen custard and French-type ice creams also contain eggs.

Why is ice cream two words? ›

However, ice cream is a compound noun because ice is not an adjective describing cream. The two words work together to create a single noun. To check the spelling of a compound noun, look it up in the dictionary.

What is ice cream also called? ›

"Gelato" means "ice cream" in Italian. But the two are not exactly the same. While gelato has a custard base like its American cousin, it also contains less milk fat and less air churned into it during freezing, which makes its texture denser.

What are words for ice cream? ›

What is another word for ice cream?
gelatosorbet
sherbetsundae
parfaitfrozen yogurt
iced creamice milk
rocky road

What is a fact about ice cream? ›

Ice cream was invented in China

In fact, ice cream made specifically with milk, the concept that we know of today, was a Chinese concoction from around 200 CE. It was brought to Europe (via Italy) over 1,000 years later by explorer Marco Polo.

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