Soft Serve vs. Hard Ice Cream: What’s the Difference?

Ice cream is one of Canada’s most popular desserts. Whether you’re eating it plain on a cone or smothering it with hot fudge, there’s a lot to love about this treat. Ice cream is a versatile dessert that pairs well with cake or cookies. Pour espresso over ice cream to make an affogato, or enjoy ice cream on its own in a dish or cone. As ice cream trucks increase in popularity, so do the options for customizing this delicious dessert. You can find ice cream trucks that offer gourmet flavours and unique toppings. Although ice cream is available in many forms, the two classic options are soft serve and hard ice cream. Many people assume soft serve and hard ice cream differ only in the way they are served. Ice cream enthusiasts know that these two treats have a different preparation process, texture, and serving style.

What Is Soft Serve?

Before you purchase your favourite flavour of soft serve from one of our trucks, take a closer look at how we make this treat! Soft serve ice cream usually comes from a powder or liquid mix. This mix consists of a base of milk, cream, and sugar. It also contains an emulsifier and a stabilizer to get that perfect texture. The stabilizer prevents the ingredients from separating and forming ice crystals, which ensures that every bite is silky smooth.
A soft serve ice cream machine churns all the ingredients together. Inside this machine, the cold liquid base mixes with the desired flavour. As the mixture churns, the machine pumps it through a cylinder that adds in air. This air gives soft serve its name. The result is a lighter, creamier ice cream that almost melts the instant it touches your tongue.
Our ice cream trucks sell soft serve that is freshly churned and dispensed from the machine. It is never pre-scooped or stored, which means you always enjoy it at peak freshness. When served, soft serve is between -4 and -6°C. This is approximately five degrees warmer than hard ice cream, making it easier to eat right away without needing to thaw or soften.

What Is Hard Ice Cream?

Like soft serve, hard ice cream combines cream, milk, sugar, and flavourings. Hard ice cream makers start with a liquid base, pasteurize it, and homogenize it to ensure safety and consistency. They cool the mixture and churn it in a batch freezer, blending and aerating it to add air. Once the ice cream reaches the right firmness, they add mix-ins such as chocolate chips, cookie dough, or fruit chunks that create fun bursts of flavor.
Hard ice cream is stored in tubs at -12°C. When it’s time to serve the ice cream, servers scoop it directly from the large tubs. By keeping the tubs at a temperature below freezing, hard ice cream keeps its dense, rich texture and doesn’t melt as quickly as soft serve. It also lasts longer in storage, which makes it perfect for packaging, selling in stores, and enjoying at home over several weeks.

Key Differences Between Soft Serve & Hard Ice Cream

Before you choose the perfect dessert for your next gathering, you should understand the differences between soft serve and hard ice cream. Soft serve is smooth and creamy, while hard ice cream is dense and rich. While soft serve melts in your mouth easily, hard ice cream can be a little tough when you bite into it.

You’ll also notice that soft serve is slightly warmer than hard ice cream. The warmer temperature means this treat melts evenly. It feels light and airy in your mouth. Since hard ice cream is stored and served much colder, it takes longer to melt and can sometimes harden around added ingredients.
Soft serve ice cream is churned fresh and served directly from the machine. You’ll enjoy a fresh, airy taste, free of ice crystals. Hard ice cream can be stored for weeks or months in tubs, so it may not taste as fresh as soft serve.

Soft serve’s higher air content means it generally has lower fat. Hard ice cream’s richer texture comes from the higher butterfat content. While soft serve generally has around 5 percent fat, hard ice cream’s fat content may be as high as 15 percent, giving it a heavier mouthfeel and richer taste.

With soft serve, you can enjoy it plain in a dish or on a cone. Many people love their soft serve dipped in chocolate, strawberry, or caramel syrups. You can top it with sprinkles, nuts, and candy. You can get hard ice cream plain or topped with hot fudge, hot caramel, whipped cream, and more. For both styles, the choice of toppings makes a big difference in the experience.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re looking for a rich, heavy dessert, then hard ice cream might suit your tastes. If you want a dessert that tastes light and airy, then soft serve is a clear winner. Soft serve is refreshing and fun, especially on a hot day. It’s a great choice for kids, families, and parties. Everyone can customize their soft serve dessert with their favourite toppings, from candy pieces to syrups, which makes it feel more interactive and exciting.

Why We Think Soft Serve Is Better Than Hard Ice Cream

Soft serve is a fresh and fun dessert made on the spot for the freshest taste. This treat offers endless opportunities for customization. You can place it between two cookies for the perfect ice cream sandwich, or top it with syrup or candy for added richness. If you can’t decide on a flavour, you can swirl two flavours together and get the best of both worlds. With soft serve, you’ll enjoy consistent flavour in every bite. You won’t have to worry about ice crystals or freezer burn taking away from the fresh taste.

Treat Yourself with Soft Serve

While both soft serve and hard ice cream are great dessert options, soft serve offers a fresher taste. Kids and adults will enjoy customizing their soft serve. When you hear the jingling of the ice cream truck in your neighbourhood, don’t forget to ask for soft serve! If you’re booking an ice cream truck for a block party, wedding, or child’s birthday party, you can add an extra touch of fun with an ice cream truck. Your guests will love the nostalgic charm, and everyone can walk away with a cone tailored exactly to their taste.

Hire an Ice Cream Truck Today!

Ready to wow your guests with fresh, creamy soft serve ice cream made right on the spot? Mega Cone Creamery’s trucks are serving up cones (dipped and sprinkled), sundaes, and ice cream sandwiches, providing something special for everyone. Perfect for backyard birthdays, corporate events and even weddings, we’ll make dessert the highlight of your day. Don’t settle for just ordinary ice cream. Book a Mega Cone truck today and turn your celebration into something unforgettable.