# ice cream

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 19, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751 "2002-07-19T02:58:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pianoguy50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@Pianoguy50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pianoguy50)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/1 "2002-07-19T02:58:40Z")

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Why do some half gallon ice cream containers appear smaller than others?

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/2 "2002-07-19T03:19:02Z")

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Welcome to the SDMB.

Perhaps the shapes of the containers differ giving the illusion or appearance of one being smaller than another ?

ice-cream eating scientists will be here soon…

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/3 "2002-07-19T04:36:51Z")

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Could it be that some ice cream is packed harder than others? For instance you can get hand packed ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Just a guess. 🙂

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**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/4 "2002-07-19T05:05:01Z")

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I’m going to support the shapes-provide-optical-illusion hypothesis. A rectangular package placed with a long side facing the aisle is liable to appear larger, to a casual glance, than a cylindrical container. (There are also varieties of boxes where the lid is a separate piece of cardboard and it “enlarges” the appearance of the container.)

**HOWEVER** , I will also point out that several dairies have begun selling ice cream in 56 oz containers that are _actually_ 12.5% smaller than a half gallon, so that there _is no_ optical illusion–they are truly smaller. (Read the actual labels on the next carton that appears smaller–perhaps it is smaller.)

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**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2002, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/5 "2002-07-19T12:47:07Z")

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ok, so let’s enhance the shapes theory and add to it the volume theory. kinda like different sized coke/pepsi bottles. so a shorter container need not be smaller, as long as it holds more volume.

and i’ll second **kniz** ’s packing theory. and **tomndebb** ’s lid theory.

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**Author:** ![Pianoguy50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@Pianoguy50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pianoguy50)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/6 "2002-07-24T00:02:05Z")

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Thanks for the great response…gave me some possible solutions to my quandary.

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**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ice-cream/119751/7 "2002-07-24T02:03:16Z")

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The packing theory makes no sense; ice cream is sold by volume, not by weight; packing “harder” does not make a half-gallon any bigger or smaller.