# Is there any real ice cream in stores anymore? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 8, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794 "2025-04-08T13:52:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/1 "2025-04-08T13:52:22Z")
Cream, cane sugar, maybe eggs. No corn syrup and especially no gums to thicken it or low-fat milk solids, &c.? I am so tired of finding the crap ice cream in stores. It doesn’t have the flavor of the real stuff never melts right (the gums) in sundæs or floats. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/2 "2025-04-08T14:05:10Z")
Sure, you’re just going to have to look carefully and/or pay more: > **[Turkey Hill Dairy | Vanilla Bean Simply Natural Ice Cream](https://www.turkeyhill.com/frozen/ice-cream/simply-natural-ice-cream/vanilla-bean)** > > Vanilla Bean Simply Natural Ice Cream from Turkey Hill Dairy is Vanilla ice cream with vanilla bean specks. > **[Vanilla — Adirondack Creamery](https://www.adirondackcreamery.com/flavors/p/vanilla)** > > Crafted with simply milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks and a special blend of vanillas from Tahiti and Madagascar, this ice cream has a rich vanilla flavor that is wonderful alongside fresh fruit, a slice of cake, or simply alone. Ingredients: Cream,... > **[Vanilla Bean Ice Cream | Häagen-Dazs®](https://www.icecream.com/us/en/brands/haagen-dazs/products/vanilla-bean-ice-cream)** > > Häagen-Dazs® Vanilla Bean Ice Cream features a blend of Madagascar vanilla and pure, sweet cream with flecks of real vanilla beans, for a spicy and sweet delight. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/3 "2025-04-08T14:07:33Z")
I don’t get it that often, bad for the waistline, but when I do I splurge on the good stuff: [Graeter’s](https://www.graeters.com/nutritional-information) ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/4 "2025-04-08T14:18:45Z")
Breyers seenms to qualify. [https://www.breyers.com/us/en/ingredient-pledge.html](https://www.breyers.com/us/en/ingredient-pledge.html) Another page gives a ‘no high fructose corn syrup’ pledge. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/5 "2025-04-08T14:21:24Z")
When I was eating ice cream I made my own and I new exactly what was in it. Nothing but whole natural ingredients and some kind of flavoring, usually vanilla extract or fresh berries if they were available. It takes a little time, but I was retired and had plenty of time. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/6 "2025-04-08T14:28:20Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Breyers seenms to qualify. No they don’t. They use gums to thicken the ice cream. Adirondack likewise fails due to the skim milk solids. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/7 "2025-04-08T14:28:27Z")
I used to like Breyer’s vanilla ice cream, but it went downhill. Supposedly it uses vanilla bean extract, but why do they list “natural flavor” as an ingredient? If having real vanilla in it isn’t enough, what “natural flavors” are you adding? Other products, not just ice cream promote “natural flavor” as well. Of course, “natural” is not synonymous with good, or safe. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/8 "2025-04-08T14:28:30Z")
Breyer’s does use “natural” gum in the ice cream, which the OP specifically doesn’t want. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/9 "2025-04-08T14:29:37Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > It takes a little time Not if you buy some food-grade liquid nitrogen, it doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/10 "2025-04-08T14:31:10Z")
Bah, My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/11 "2025-04-08T14:37:55Z")
Breyer’s hasn’t even been allowed to call itself “ice cream” for almost 10 years now. “Frozen dairy dessert”, whee. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/12 "2025-04-08T14:39:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > If having real vanilla in it isn’t enough, what “natural flavors” are you adding? Isn’t that [beaver ass juice](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/does-vanilla-flavoring-actually-come-from-beaver-butts-180983288/)? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/13 "2025-04-08T14:52:27Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Breyers seenms to qualify. > [Sustainable & Natural Ice Cream Ingredients Pledge | Breyers](https://www.breyers.com/us/en/ingredient-pledge.html) > Another page gives a ‘no high fructose corn syrup’ pledge. I used to love Breyers back when their ice cream consisted on cream, sugar, and flavoring stuff. But now they include gums, and I can’t stand the stuff any more. Breyers definitely does NOT qualify. The closest to real ice cream we get at the supermarket is Turkey Hill. (Haagen Dazs has gums, too) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/14 "2025-04-08T15:13:42Z")
> Häagen-Dazs® Vanilla Bean Ice Cream I love Häagen-Dazs Vanilla ice cream, but in case it’s not obvious, “vanilla” and “vanilla bean” are two different flavours and not the same thing at all. It’s the traditional vanilla that I like. I checked the ingredients list and there are no gums or other artificial ingredients, just all natural ones, but man, gotta watch that fat content. The combination of saturated and unsaturated fats is enormous! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/15 "2025-04-08T15:17:55Z")
I’ll second this - Graeter’s is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/16 "2025-04-08T15:18:30Z")
Breyers was once better, as were a variety of ice creams. It’s difficult for them to compete at grocery stores which must store a large volume of ice cream containers over time, subject to changing temperatures which are less than ideal to maintain consistency. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/17 "2025-04-08T15:19:00Z")
My two go-to’s: Häagen-Dazs and Oberweis. If your gonna sin, go top shelf! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/18 "2025-04-08T15:19:48Z")
Freakin’ Breyers pisses me off, it used to be so good. And don’t even get me started on the shrinkflation: [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/JAXKY8G.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/JAXKY8G) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/19 "2025-04-08T15:30:58Z")
Van Leeuwen’s starts with milk, cream, cane sugar, egg yolks, and vanilla extract and then adds other ingredients based on the flavor. Jeni’s is really good and has similar ingredients but they also use tapioca syrup so not sure how the OP feels about that. Both of these are definitely more expensive ($6-$9 per pint) than most of the others listed and typically only come in pints. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794/20 "2025-04-08T15:38:34Z")
Sorry, I can’t answer your OP but I’m curious, is this a bias against anything but ‘pure’ ice cream or are you saying unless it’s pure, it doesn’t taste good? Because, personally, I only care about taste and texture, I could care less what it’s got in it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-real-ice-cream-in-stores-anymore/1016794.md?page=2)