Tips for Great Gelato at Home
Gelato is by far one of my favorite desserts.
You just can’t beat that smooth, creamy, rich texture and the burst of cold flavor.
Here are the 3 Steps to making amazing gelato right at home.
#1: Use the right ingredients
A true gelataio (ice-cream maker) pays close attention to detail and only uses the highest quality ingredients.
In Italy, gelato is considered a “Real Food.”
A basic recipe uses whole fresh eggs, whole high-quality milk, and a small amount of sugar.
Depending on the flavor, fresh nuts, fruit juice and puree (from the freshest fruit, of course), or dark chocolate and cacao powder are added.
Very little added sugar is needed in gelato, and the flavors are so vivid and intense that a modest-sized portion will leave you satisfied.
Authentic gelato does not contain fillers, coloring, additives, or emulsifiers.
When making gelato at home, think like a gelataio.
Don’t settle for the 2% milk in your refrigerator or flavor extracts.
Splurge on the high quality, real ingredients.
Trust me, you’ll taste the difference.
#2: The right recipe
Your recipe will vary depending on your flavor preference, but no matter what type you make, start with a good base.
A basic Crema Gelato base contains nothing more than milk and/or cream, egg yolks, sugar, and perhaps a pinch of salt.
This you cook into a custard, then cool in an ice bath before mixing in the flavorings.
Whether adding a fresh raspberry puree or cacao powder and espresso, it’s always a good idea to pour your mixture through a strainer or cheesecloth to strain out any seeds or chunks.
What’s left is a smooth custard that will make the creamiest, most decadent gelato.
Add it to your gelato maker, and you’ll enjoy fresh, smooth gelato in a matter of minutes.
#3: The right machine
It is said the Italians can taste the difference between an authentic gelato and an industrial version.
The perfect gelato is creamy and rich, yet light. Gelato has much less air whipped into it than ice cream.
When choosing your gelato maker, you’ll want to look for one that specializes in gelato.
There are many good ice cream makers in the market, but if you’re looking to make authentic gelato, look no further than the Italian made Lello frozen dessert maker.
Lello makes all stainless steel, self refrigerating gelato machines that make gelato like you wouldn’t believe!
With the right ingredients, you’ll think you’re back in Italy.
Using the Lello Musso Pola 5030, you’ll have the best gelato frozen and ready to serve in a mere 20 minutes (30 minutes with the Lello 4080 Musso Lussino).
Lello makes two machines that are perfect for home use:
The Lello 4080 Musso Lussino has a 1.5 quart capacity and fits well in a kitchen pantry.
The Lello Musso Pola 5030 has a large 2 quart capacity and is the smallest of the commercial machines.
You’ll want a more permanent place or roll away cart for this one.
Whether you choose the Musso Lussino or Musso Pola, you’ll get smooth, high-quality gelato every time.
So there you have it!
The 3 steps to the best gelato.
Start with the fresh, real ingredients, follow a trusty recipe, then mix and cool your gelato in a high quality, self-refrigerating frozen dessert maker.
Now go try out your favorite flavors and have fun!
