In today’s fast paced society, it is safe to say that many people are not necessarily aware that there is a difference between soft serve ice cream and frozen yogurt. It is not hard to see why there is such a misnomer. Both are smooth and creamy in texture and both are frozen. However, there are several distinctions between the two.
The Distinguishing Elements
When it comes to discerning the difference between the two, it can be said that the distinctions are in the details. Let’s take soft serve ice cream, for instance. The smooth and creamy concoction is made up of 3-6% milk fat, and a much higher air content than normal ice cream. This air content is what actually makes it light and smooth as well as a bit more flavorful than regular ice cream. Yogurt of the frozen variety is completely different than ice cream. It is a cultured and fermented milk product that is infused with milk solids, milk fats, sugar, gelatin and both artificial and natural colors and flavors.
The Look
To the untrained eye, both desserts look the same. Subtle differences can be discerned through taste but more often than not both frozen yogurt and soft serve seem identical on the palate. The truth is there are live and active bacteria cultures in frozen yogurt that make it better for the digestive system. Many frozen treat connoisseurs feel that the yogurt is a healthier option as opposed to ice cream, due in part to the lower fat content.
How It’s Made
Most companies use an assembly line method in order to manufacture a frozen yogurt product. Homogenization happens when the milk products and stabling agents are added. Live and active cultures are added at 32 degrees Celsius. It is cooled at 0-4 degrees Celsius before sweeteners, fruit, colors and flavors are added. In a store setting a frozen yogurt premix is available and mixed with water and poured into a soft serve machine. Soft serve made in-store also has a pre-mix or a powdered mix that is added to water and poured into a soft serve machine.
For the most part, in a shop setting both frozen yogurt and soft serve ice cream are made in a similar manner – with a premix. However, for many companies the premix is comprised of a powder whereas with a company like , the premix is a healthy, frozen mix that need only be thawed out and poured into a soft serve machine.