Frozen treats like ice cream and frozen yogurt (and don’t forget about gelato) are incredibly popular in the United States – and always have been. The majority of children who grew up or are growing up in the United States have fond memories related to frozen treats, such as ice cream after dinner or ice cream on hot summer days. Frozen treats like frozen yogurt supply a healthier alternative to those who are looking to watch their consumption of frozen treats, and gelato cups as well provide an ice cream alternative (though not necessarily a healthier one).
Though ice cream is popular all year around, with nearly half of all people in the United States eating ice cream at least once every two weeks (and many will eat it more often) and will eat ice cream nearly thirty times in just one year, the most popular time for the production and consumption of not just ice cream but all frozen treats is most certainly during the summer months, when it is warm out in most parts of the country and ice cream and other frozen treats present a delicious way to cool off and beat the heat. In fact, in June more ice cream is produced than in any other month during the year, more even than any other summer month (namely July and August).
Ice cream and other frozen treats can be found in a variety of places. For instance, more and more shops selling primarily frozen yogurt are springing up all over the United States. By the end of 2013 alone, there were nearly three thousand frozen yogurt stores. In the years since, that number has only increased in the years since – many people in the United States have become fond of frozen yogurt as one of their favorite frozen desserts. Ice cream parlors and gelato shops are of course still popular, and many stores selling frozen treats will offer a combination of all of the above, an option for every member of the family.
However, an ice cream shop is not the only place to consume ice cream. In fact, the majority of households in the United States regularly consume their frozen treats at home, buying yogurt cups and disposable ice cream cups to take home with them, either from grocery stores or from a local ice cream parlor – which is likely to offer cartons to take home – itself, therefore supporting a local business while enjoy a frozen treat from the comfort of their homes. With one and a half billion gallons of ice cream produced every year in the United States alone, there are no shortage of options for those looking to consume ice cream and other frozen treats on a regular basis, be it in an ice cream or frozen yogurt shop or from home.
Many people may be wondering what the difference between these frozen treats are, particularly the difference between ice cream and gelato (as the difference between the above mentioned and frozen yogurt is relatively obvious – and comes down to the primary ingredient). The main different between ice cream and gelato comes down to the churning process and the quantities of milk fat included. For instance, gelato typically has as much as eight percent milk fat and only around twenty five percent to thirty percent air. On the other hand, ice cream is made up of about fifty percent air due to the churning process it goes through and a significantly lower quantity of milk fat included.
No matter what type of frozen treat you prefer, be it gelato, ice cream, or frozen yogurt, there are a multitude of options all throughout the United States, all different flavors from many different brands and parlors. Gelato, ice cream, and frozen yogurt are all immensely popular in the United States, especially during the long summer months and are a popular way to beat the heat. All of the above options are readily consumed at home just as often as they are consumed in an ice cream or frozen yogurt parlor.