Is It Ever Okay To Use Eggs When Making Gelato? - Tasting Table (2024)

Is It Ever Okay To Use Eggs When Making Gelato? - Tasting Table (4)

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ByAnna Staropoli/

Italy's sweet treat has long sparked a debate between the merits of gelato versus the merits of ice cream, whose fundamental differences come down to milk and eggs.Italy's dessert utilizes more milk (but less cream and eggs) than ice cream. This ratio of ingredients creates a much denser mixture that is ultimately responsible for the signature texture of gelato. Ice cream, in particular,tends to rely heavily upon the use of egg yolks, whereas gelato recipes, at their most traditional, avoid yolks entirely.Tasting Table's own recipe forcoffee gelato, for example, calls for water, ground coffee, sugar, milk, and whipping cream — no eggs in sight.Yet while yolks are not commonly used in gelato, it's more than okay to incorporate them into your next batch of stracciatella.

Eggs make iteasyto bind and stabilize your gelato mixture. The yolks essentially helpemulsify your gelato and create that silky, smooth consistency. Plus, eggs are easy to come by, so you don't have to look for more niche binding ingredients like guar gum or locust bean gum. And, to make matters all the easier, not only are eggs straightforward to find, they're equally straightforward to use.

Egg yolks are more than okay to use in gelato recipes

Is It Ever Okay To Use Eggs When Making Gelato? - Tasting Table (5)

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Crack open and separate some eggs, and you'll have Italian gelateria-worthy gelato in no time. To properly incorporate eggs into your gelato, you'll want to utilize just the yolks rather than whole eggs. You should also use them sparingly.You still want to maintain that perfect gelato ratio, so remember: more milk, less fat.

Generally, a few egg yolks should do the trick. Some recipes suggest using four egg yolks for every 2 cups of milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, and½ cup of sugar. Other recipes rely on slightly more sugar and slightly less milk for the same amount of eggs. While the exact amounts differ, the ratios and techniques are relatively consistent. You'll want towhip or beat those egg yolks together with the sugar for a few minutes, or until you're left with a creamy, thickened, and fluffy concoction. Separately, heat your milk and heavy cream over the stove. Add these two combinations gradually, and eventually place the whole mixture over heat until your ice cream base thickens.From there, cool or refrigerate it before adding to a gelato maker.

We promise: Even with eggs, your gelato will taste authentically Italian. All that's left to do is pick aflavor, though classic vanilla never disappoints.

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Is It Ever Okay To Use Eggs When Making Gelato? - Tasting Table (2024)

FAQs

Is It Ever Okay To Use Eggs When Making Gelato? - Tasting Table? ›

Egg yolks are more than okay to use in gelato recipes

Do you use eggs in gelato? ›

Like ice cream, gelato uses milk, cream, and sugar, but it differs in proportions. Gelato uses less cream and more milk than ice cream and typically contains no egg yolks or eggs at all. Gelato is served slightly warmer than American ice cream and is also churned at a slower rate, introducing less air into the product.

Does ice cream taste better with eggs? ›

Eggs boost the flavor of vanilla well, enough to make me rethink my standard vanilla bean ice cream recipe to better suit these results. And they complement others flavors too, enough so that I don't think chocolate or mint ice cream is really complete without them.

Is homemade ice cream better with eggs or without? ›

Homemade ice cream is a wonderful treat. Eggs add rich flavor and color, prevent ice crystallization and help create smooth and creamy ice cream.

Is it safe to use raw eggs in ice cream? ›

If your favorite ice cream recipes use uncooked eggs, it's time replace or revise them. Those raw eggs may contain salmonella bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. Freezing doesn't kill bacteria but cooking does.

Why does my gelato taste eggy? ›

This is most likely due to the cooking temperature being too high. When cooking your custard base, make sure the temperature of your custard does not go higher than 185°F (85°C). This will cook the custard enough to pasteurize your eggs, but will not result in an eggy flavor.

What is a substitute for eggs in gelato? ›

In Sicily eggs aren't used because gelato is easier to digest without the egg yolks and eggs also add a cost. But there is a secret ingredient that you can add to your gelato to give it a creamier, less icy texture: cornflour or fine cornstarch.

Do eggs enhance flavor? ›

Egg yolks are kind of like salt in that they enhance the richness of flavor in dishes they're added to. How does this happen? It all comes down to the fat content of the yolk, and fat's ability to boost flavor when it's added to a recipe. An egg yolk's other flavor-delivering secret is its lipids.

Do eggs thicken ice cream? ›

Pros: Egg yolks are magnificent emulsifiers; thus custard-based ice creams are rich, smooth, and creamy. The emulsification properties and thickening agents in egg yolk contribute to smaller ice particles in ice cream when churned, making this a popular style among commercial manufacturers and home churners alike.

What makes the creamiest ice cream? ›

As you churn ice cream, individual water molecules turn into ice-crystal seeds — which is what makes cream freeze. The higher the fat content, the more time you have to churn before these ice crystals congregate, resulting in creamier final texture.

Does homemade ice cream taste better than store bought? ›

Texture: Most people said the homemade ice cream seemed softer and fluffier, and it melted a little faster than the supermarket sample. Flavour: Our testers found the homemade sample's flavour was more subtle – which was considered a good or bad thing depending on the person.

What is the secret to good ice cream? ›

At the very least, chilling your base ensures it'll churn into ice cream as fast as possible, which translates into small ice crystals for creamier ice cream. Chilling your base also gives you the added advantage of tasting it in close-to-final form, so you can make final flavor adjustments.

Do Ben and Jerry's use raw eggs? ›

We are happy to remind parents-to-be everywhere that all of the milk, cream, and eggs used in our flavors are pasteurized during the production process. Pasteurized eggs are also used in all of our chunks and swirls, such as cookie dough or brownie batter.

What temperature kills Salmonella in eggs? ›

Cook egg dishes (frittata, quiche, casserole) to a safe internal temperature. Cook egg dishes that contain meat or poultry to 165°F. Cook egg dishes that do not contain meat or poultry to 160°F.

Is it OK to use raw eggs in desserts? ›

Egg mixtures are safe if they reach 160 °F (71.1 °C). For advice on safely preparing homemade ice cream, eggnog, dry meringue shell, divinity candy, 7-minute frosting, and meringue-topped pies, go to Shell Eggs from Farm to Table. Chiffon pies and fruit whips made with raw, beaten egg whites may not be safe.

Does gelato have dairy or egg? ›

This is a common question – does gelato have dairy. The answer is yes. If you're looking for a non-dairy alternative, order sorbet. Instead of cream and milk, sorbet uses fruit juice, fruit purée, and water to create a denser and more refreshing frozen treat.

What makes gelato so creamy? ›

Gelato is churned at a much slower speed, which introduces less air into the base—think whipping cream by hand instead of with a stand mixer. That's why it tastes denser than ice cream—it is.

Is Talenti gelato made with eggs? ›

Imagine having world class Belgian chocolate at your fingertips…or better yet always in your freezer. Using imported Belgian chocolate, fresh milk, cream, eggs, and a hint of vanilla, we created the decadent Talenti's Belgian Chocolate Gelato.

What is traditional gelato made of? ›

Gelato is made with milk, cream, various sugars, and ingredients such as fresh fruit and nut purees. It is simply the Italian word for ice cream, derived from the Latin word “gelātus” (meaning frozen).

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