We are often asked what is the difference between gelato and ice cream?  There’s a big difference between the smooth texture and clean taste of gelato compared to American-style ice cream. So what's the difference? It comes down to these factors: fat, sugar, air and serving temperature. Gelato compared to American-style ice cream has less fat and less air churned into it during the freezing process. These differences give gelato a dense, milky and more rich texture that's more creamy than American-style ice creams.