What's The Difference Between Custard And Soft Serve Ice Cream?

While custard and soft serve are similar, they’re also unique. There are plenty of differences between custard and soft serve in terms of ingredients, preparation, and taste.

Unlike soft serve, custard must contain eggs, which lend it a richer, fuller mouthfeel compared to other frozen treats that are made primarily with milk.

There are strict guidelines set by the USDA as to what qualifies as a custard. A recipe must contain 1.4% egg yolk solids, and milk fat must make up at least 10% of the recipe.

Soft serve is smooth, soft, and light. It’s made from the same ingredients as ice cream (and doesn’t use eggs) but whipped up with less milk fat, which gives it its light texture.

The treat is made inside a soft serve machine that churns while it freezes the ingredients, which creates a final product that stays soft without being melty.