How does ice cream stay soft in the freezer instead of becoming totally solid?

Question

By soft I mean still scoopable and not rock hard.

In: 515

Answer 1

Fat freezes at a lower temperature than water. The fat doesn’t fully freeze solid at regular freezer temps. It just becomes harder.

While at lower temps (dip-n-dots come to mind). It takes on a harder texture until it is warmed by the mouth.