With a large portion of the country suffering under a steamy heatwave, having a nice bowl of ice cream really hits the spot. Unfortunately, grabbing a carton from the grocery store is a little more complicated than it used to be, and not every brand is churning out the real deal. To be legally classified as ice cream in the U.S., a frozen dessert must contain at least 10% milkfat, at least 20% milk solids, and meet specific standards for air content and weight. If a product doesn’t meet those requirements, it must be labeled as a frozen dairy dessert. Frozen dairy desserts can still be delicious, but they’re not quite the same thing. They often use ingredients like coconut oil or vegetable oil in place of milkfat and may contain more air, which can give them a lighter, fluffier texture. They also tend to be less expensive than traditional ice cream, which is why it helps to know what you’re actually paying for. There are some brands that are still whipping up real ice cream, and here are just a few:
Häagen-Dazs
Ben & Jerry’s
Blue Bell Creameries
Jeni’s Ice Cream
Tillamook
Graeter’s
Hood
There’s still a little label-reading that has to be done, as some companies sell both ice cream and frozen dairy desserts. Breyer’s, for example, mostly sells frozen dairy desserts, but its Classics line features real ice cream. Turkey Hill and Friendly’s also make both types. Blue Bunny, Edy’s and Dreyer’s, on the other hand, sell only frozen dairy desserts. The freezer aisle may look straightforward, but there’s more going on behind those cartons than you might think, and that’s before you even consider gelato, froyo, sorbet, soft serve, and frozen Greek yogurt!
