For the average person, searching for a dessert to satisfy their craving can be as simple as selecting their favorite ice cream flavor. For those who know ice cream, butterfat is one of the key things that they look for when they look for something to indulge. But what is butterfat and why is it important?
Why should I be more picky when it comes to choosing a more premium ice cream brand? We’ll explain.
First off, you might be asking, what is butterfat? Butterfat, or milkfat, is the fatty portion of the milk that you buy.
Milk is purchased from the grocery store according to the amount of butterfat it contains. These can range from milk with a high butterfat content (whole milk) all the way down to milk with a very low butterfat content (skim milk). When you purchase milk front the store, and you get 2% milk, you’re technically getting 2% butterfat.
Skim milk contains little or no butterfat in it, for all of you health-conscious milk drinkers out there.
Lots of premium ice cream companies use a 14% butterfat, which has a few advantages over a lower butterfat content. A higher butter fat creates a creamier, more delicious product. It also creates a much heavier product, allowing store owners to get more product out of a 3-gallon tub. With a lower butterfat, the product tends to taste icy and not very smooth, which isn’t nearly as delicious as a high butterfat product. Now, too much butterfat can taste a little greasy and stick to the inside of your mouth, so premium ice creams tend to range in the 14-16% range, while less premium ice creams (and custards) are between 10-12%. Now, in order to call ice cream the name everyone knows and loves, it has to have at least 10% butterfat. The low-fat products, including gelato and ices, contain around 1-2% butterfat. Frozen yogurt, a new trend in the dessert industry, contains either low-fat or no-fat in many of its products, causing a product that isn’t nearly as creamy.
The next time you’re at a dessert store, ask them what percent butterfat they use. If it’s a higher quality product containing a higher butterfat, you’ll know when you taste it. The ice cream is much creamier, richer, and more delicious than lower butterfat products. It will taste less icy, and give you a much better experience. Butterfat is one of the most important things when choosing a dessert place!