Semi-Random Ice Cream Comparisons
Last Updated: 08/28/2026
Introduction
Who does not like ice cream? We definitely do. For the most part, we stick to basic flavors, but we enjoy trying different brands, where even the same "flavors" can differ noticeably. So, we thought it would be interesting to document some of our thoughts on what we taste-tested. But since one of us is an engineer, these reviews will include a bit more technical information.
There are many "listicle" pages scattered across various websites that taste-test different brands of a particular flavor. The better ones use review panels of "experts" to reach a consensus opinion. But tasting ice cream and rating it is still mostly subjective and largely a matter of personal preference. So, just for fun, we thought we'd try as many ice creams as possible to see what our non-expert opinions were. We've also compiled and compared some technical aspects of each ice cream, including the quality and quantity of the ingredients, the cream-to-air ratio (aka overrun), and a little bit on relative cost. We started down this path by randomly picking ice creams from the store, and we also added a few flavors from local shops. As we went, we eventually decided to organize our "semi-randomness" into review flavor categories. These are shown in the menu bar and buttons below.
(Note: The comparison pages are still a work in progress. Initially, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry pages are available. We are adding more brands to these pages over time, and this will impact the list ordering.)
On these pages, we compare the density and ingredients of various ice creams, then provide short individual reviews that include flavor comparisons and rankings of the various brands in each category. In some cases, where the flavors are similar but different (for example, comparing Chocolate to Chocolate-Chocolate Chip), we try to comment on these differences in the review.
Rant: Sneaky Ice Cream Container Shrinkage
Related to price is package size; over the years, most ice cream makers have been subtly reducing package size without lowering price. This obscures the true cost of supermarket ice cream. Many years ago, mass-market ice cream was sold in half-gallon containers, and premium ice cream was sold in pints. Today, mass-market ice cream is sold in 1.5-quart (48 oz.) containers, although Turkey Hill now sells some in 46 oz. containers. Interestingly, Blue Bell still sells half-gallon-sized containers, which most brands abandoned in the 2000s. Premium ice cream is sold in either 1 pint (16 oz.) or 14 oz. containers, depending on the brand. If price is a concern, then these different package sizes can obscure which ice cream is the better deal.
For us, all else being equal, if a brand is trying to sneak in a smaller container instead of raising prices, we tend to prefer brands that don't shrink their container.