What Makes Hard and Soft Serve Ice Cream Different?

If you love ice cream, you have dozens of options any time you go to an ice cream shop. One of the most obvious differences is hard versus soft serve ice cream. Both are delicious, but they are made in different ways to give them very different textures. Many people prefer one over the other, but some enjoy both.

Differences between Hard and Soft Serve Ice Cream

The two types of ice cream have some major differences in the way they are made. Soft serve ice cream has less milk fat and more air than harder ice cream. If soft serve ice cream has the right amount of air, it will have a whitish color. When air is added, the ice cream becomes fluffy and the large molecules allow it to reflect white light, which gives it a white color. This white color means the ice cream is of a better quality than soft serve ice cream with less air. If the ice cream does not have enough air, it will take on a yellowish color.

When air is added to soft serve ice cream as it is frozen, it also affects the taste and texture. Soft serve ice cream with more air is smoother and creamier.

A machine freezes the soft serve ice cream quickly to the optimal temperature. The machine does not allow soft serve ice cream to freeze as much and get as hard as regular ice cream. Hard ice cream is usually served at -12 degrees Celsius. Soft serve ice cream is served at -6 degrees Celsius. A difference of only 6 degrees makes soft serve ice cream much softer and creamier than its harder cousin.

Try Some of Praline’s Delicious Ice Cream

If you are craving a delicious frozen treat to cool down on a hot summer day, stop in at your local Praline’s. We serve many tasty classic flavors along with some that are uniquely our own. Try some of our favorite flavors, including traditional chocolate and vanilla, Donnatella, orange pineapple, black cherry, Swiss chocolate almond, and many others. We can serve your ice cream on a cone or in a dish with your choice of toppings. Bring your family into your local Praline’s today.