Whether it's on a cone or in a bowl, nothing says summertime like a cool, creamy ice cream. Sure there are flavors like banana cream pie, and cotton candy, but vanilla and chocolate rule.
"I like vanilla better."
"Chocolate's my favorite!"
Consumer reports just tested chocolate and vanilla ice creams from names like Ben and Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyers.
"A high-quality vanilla ice cream should have a strong, complex real vanilla and full dairy flavor," Erin Gudeux said.
And a quality chocolate ice cream can have a more chocolate flavor than dairy, and it should taste more like chocolate than just sweet.
Among the 24 ice creams tested, there was fat-free, light, and premium full-fat ones.
"Not surprisingly, the better tasting, fuller-fat ice creams didn't do as well nutritionally and they tend to cost more, but for a special treat they're really worth it," Gudeux said.
Of course if you're trying to cut back on calories and fat, full-fat ice creams are real diet breakers. Consumer Reports says two fat-free vanillas worth trying are Breyers Smooth and Dreamy Creamy Vanilla and Walmart's Great Value Fat-free vanilla. Both have just 90 calories per serving. But remember that serving is just a half-cup.
Consumer reports says you can't go wrong with the Ben and Jerry's or Häagen-Dazs chocolate or vanilla ice creams.
And the Archer Farms Belgian Chocolate from Target also rated excellent.
"This ice cream had an intense, complex chocolate flavor enhanced with bits of dark chocolate flecks. And costs just a fraction of what you'll pay for Häagen-Dazs and Ben and Jerry's," Gudeux said.
If vanilla is your preference - you can save some money with Breyers extra creamy vanilla - which rated very good.
