SOUTHERN LIVING – Ten of our editors participated in a taste test and tried nine different store-bought vanilla ice creams to determine which brand was best.
I pre-scooped the ice cream to ensure no one was biased after seeing the container.
With the playing field leveled, they tasted and recorded their comments about each brand, ranked each 1 to 5, and picked an overall favorite.
Brands We Tried
- Talenti Organic Oak-Aged Vanilla Gelato
- Edy’s Slow Churned Classic Vanilla
- Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla
- Mayfield Vanilla Bean
- Walmart Great Value Vanilla
- Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla
- Breyer’s Extra Creamy Vanilla
- Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean
- Publix Premium Vanilla
The Best Vanilla Ice Cream: Publix Premium Vanilla
Many testers were shocked when I revealed that Publix Premium Vanilla was ranked as a favorite by half of the crew.
With visible flecks of vanilla, “It is the perfect complement to any cake,” one editor noted while another claimed, “Spot on vanilla flavor with the perfect texture.” Not to mention, for a half-gallon tub, it’s quite a good deal.
First Runner-Up… Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean
Testers ranked Häagen-Dazs second overall with two editors claiming it as their favorite.
One tester noted, “The yellowish, creamier color makes it seem more natural,” while another claimed that though it has good vanilla flavor, it is not strong enough. The consistency is smooth and tastes old-fashioned.
In third place: Breyer’s Extra Creamy Vanilla
Breyer’s is about as classic as it gets. It earned high marks as third (and most popular for one tester), although it didn’t secure the title of the favorite vanilla. Testers rated this as a good creaminess with a subtle and standard vanilla that has less vanilla flavor than Breyer’s Natural Vanilla but is one they’d eat all day.
