There is no doubt about it that, here in the United States, we love various frozen desserts. From ice cream to frozen yogurt to gelato, up to 90% of all households in the United States enjoy some variety of frozen dessert at least every once in awhile. And when it comes to ice cream, up to 87% of all people will have ice cream containers in their freezer at any given point in time – and will have ice cream at least once in a two week period (something that holds true for up to 40% of the American population – certainly an impressive amount).
There are many ways in which to enjoy a frozen treat, after all. For one thing, going to an ice cream parlor is common and very popular, especially during summer months. More and more ice cream parlors are offering more and more unique flavors, though chocolate and vanilla still reign supreme (making up 19% and 33% of all ice cream sales respectively). These unique flavors can be enticing, but it might be hard to take the leap to try one. Fortunately, asking for a tasting spoon is an option at most ice cream parlors. A tasting spoon – or more than one tasting spoon, for that matter – will allow you to sample a variety of different flavors and get a sense of what you might like – and might not. While it’s important to not go overboard with the tasting spoon, a tasting spoon can certainly be a useful tool on any ice cream related outing.
The tasting spoon can be found in frozen yogurt shops as well, which are still hugely prevalent all throughout the United States. As a matter of fact, there were already more than 2,500 of them by the time that we had reached the year of 2013. In the years that have transpired since, frozen yogurt has remained a popular choice. Like ice cream, frozen yogurt comes in many flavors (here is where the tasting spoon comes into play). Many a frozen yogurt shop is self serve, offering a number of different flavors (often rotating) as well as a buffet of toppings, which typically range from fresh fruit to candy pieces, meaning that there is something for just about anyone and everyone. Depending on the toppings you choose (and the flavors you select), frozen yogurt can often present a healthier option.
So too, actually, can gelato. Gelato, if you ever used a tasting spoon to try some or treated yourself to a full to go cup of gelato, is very rich. This is due to the fact that it is more dense than ice cream. While ice cream will have more than 50% air churned into it. For gelato, however, no more than 30% air will be introduced during the churning process – and sometimes as little as 25%. But the milk fat content of gelato is quite low in comparison to ice cream, with no more than 8% milk fat found in any gelato – and sometimes as little as 3% milk fat being common. This is certainly, there is no doubt, much healthier for you than ice cream. Of course, the exact milk fat content and overall health profile of any given flavor – ice cream or gelato – will vary based on the flavor of the ice cream, the brand, and perhaps even other factors as well.
At the end of the day, there is just no denying the importance and prevalence of ice cream as we know it, nor of gelato and even frozen yogurt. For a great many people, having a frozen treat is an ideal way to cap off a day – or sometimes, who knows, even start it off. Ultimately, the prevalence and importance of these frozen desserts will certainly not fade away anytime soon – and might even increase in the years that are ahead of us, especially as new and interesting flavors become more and more widely available in all parts of the country. There is no doubt about it, nearly all frozen desserts are hugely delicious.