The 6 Best Ice Cream Scoops To Give You The Perfect Cone posted by Taylor Munsell Pin Share Tweet Email SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. There is probably no more universally beloved treat than a nice scoop of ice cream. It’s sweet, it’s refreshing, and that perfectly round ball of deliciousness is just as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds… that is, if the scooping is done properly. As a bit of an ice cream-aholic myself, I can attest that a badly scooped bowl of ice cream really hurts the experience. It also melts faster, since thinner scoops (like those you get when you dole out ice cream using a regular spoon) melt more quickly than spherical scoops. To preserve aesthetics and maximize the ice cream experience, therefore, it’s important you not only have one of the best ice cream scoops money can buy but also know how to scoop ice cream properly with it. This quick guide will help you find the best ice cream scoop for you and start scooping like a pro. Table of ContentsWhat to Look For When Buying an Ice Cream ScoopSharpnessScoop ShapeHandleScoop ReleaseEase of CleaningBest Ice Cream Scoops1. Overall: Midnight Scoop2. Retro: Rösle Ice Cream Scoop3. Ice Cream Spade: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Ice Cream Spade4. Best Design: Zyliss Ice Cream Scoop5. Jumbo: Met Lux 4.66 oz Portion Scoop6. Spring-Loaded: OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie ScoopIce Cream Scoop FAQ What to Look For When Buying an Ice Cream Scoop If you are the type to “go rogue” and look for an ice cream scoop to buy rather than go by the recommendations in the next section, just make sure to consider all these factors: Sharpness The tip of the ice cream scoop needs to be sharp enough to cut through ice cream, even if it is frozen. That does not necessarily mean the tip of the ice cream scoop needs to actually be pointed; it could be that the edge of the scoop just has a sheer edge like the sharp lid of a just-opened aluminum can. Scoop Shape To get the most perfect rounded scoops possible, the ice cream scoop will need to have a semi-spherical shape. Watch out for ice cream scoops that have an oval shape, because their scoops won’t be round. There are a few non-rounded ice cream scoops like the Zyliss Ice Cream Scoop that do a great job producing beautiful scoops, but they’re rare. Handle You want a handle that feels comfortable in your hand and allows you to get a good grip on the scooper. Trust me, scooping ice cream can make your wrist very tired very quickly if you don’t have an ergonomic ice cream scoop handle. A handle with a rubberized grip may be more comfortable and a bit less cold. Scoop Release If the scoop falls to pieces when you try to plop it into your bowl, then all the other factors that go into helping you get a nice round scoop are for naught. That’s why it’s important your scoop releases easily. While a rubber grip on the handle might be comfortable, it might make release harder. That’s because some models of ice cream scoop have heat-conducting bands that run from the handle into the bottom of the scooper itself. If you actually grip the bands when you are scooping, the body heat will help the ice cream to unstick more easily. The other option is to find a model with a portion scoop, a narrow metal band that dislodges the contents of the scooper when you push a button. Ease of Cleaning It’s nice to have an ice cream scooper you can reliably clean just by running it under warm water. Make sure a scoop doesn’t have any deep cracks or other parts that ice cream can get stuck in, because ice cream will get pretty nasty if you let it sit for too long outside the fridge. Best Ice Cream Scoops After many years of ice cream fandom, I’ve settled on the six ice cream scoops in the table below as my favorites. I’ve tried to include a bit of diversity in the list so that all of the items have their own distinct uses, and I’ve reflected that with the “category” label I’ve given each pick. Below the table, I go into a bit more detail about each model and what it does better than the rest. CategoryNameOverall[amazon link=”B01MQYZV0Z” link_icon=”none” title=”Midnight Scoop” /]RetroRösle Ice Cream ScoopIce Cream Spade[amazon link=”B088P6BGVR” link_icon=”none” title=”OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Ice Cream Spade” /]Best DesignZyliss Ice Cream ScoopJumbo[amazon link=”B06XYNQHWL” link_icon=”none” title=”Met Lux 4.66 oz Portion Scoop” /]Spring-Loaded[amazon link=”B0000CDVD2″ link_icon=”none” title=”OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop” /] 1. Overall: Midnight Scoop by [amazon link=”B01MQYZV0Z” link_icon=”none” title=”Midnight Scoop” /] [amazon fields=”B01MQYZV0Z” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop”] I think this is the best ice cream scoop for one principle reason: the curved handle design. The thick upturned shape of the handle might not seem like a big deal, but it actually prompts your body to use your stronger arm and shoulder muscles rather than your weaker wrist muscles to push into the ice cream. It’s a brilliant innovation that really works, and it’s no wonder to me why the Midnight Scoop was chosen as one of Oprah’s Favorite Things. This ice cream scoop looks amazing, too. The Midnight logo is laser engraved into the handle, and the shape of the scoop itself is innovative and unique. At the same time, the model is good at delivering perfectly round scoops, using heat transference from the metal handle to help the scoops release easily. It’s also dishwasher-safe. 2. Retro: Rösle Ice Cream Scoop by Sur La Table This model proves the concept that “sometimes, simpler is better.” It looks like it came straight out of an old-fashioned soda fountain, with a classic, sturdy design and a tubular handle. It also has the classic metal ring on the end of the handle for easy hanging storage. The whole thing is made from 18/10 stainless steel; the 18% chrome makes the scoop rust-resistant and the 10% nickel makes it gleam brightly even after years of use. 3. Ice Cream Spade: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Ice Cream Spade by [amazon link=”B088P6BGVR” link_icon=”none” title=”OXO” /] [amazon fields=”B088P6BGVR” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Ice Cream Spade”] Ice cream spades are a different approach to ice cream scoop design. They are flatter than traditional scoops and have corners that act almost like knife edges to cut through hard ice cream. They make it easy to pack ice cream into a box using their flat edge and they’re easy to clean. This particular model is my favorite ice cream spade because it is not quite as flat as most competitors, making it easier to get some slightly thicker, more rounded scoops with it. Don’t expect the scoops to be totally round, though. It also has OXO’s signature Good Grips handle, which makes for a very comfortable scooping experience. Because of an ice cream spade’s shape, it’s easy to release the ice cream from the scooper without it breaking even though a rubber handle is used. 4. Best Design: Zyliss Ice Cream Scoop by Sur La Table This thing sort of defies physics with how well it works, and I guess that can be chalked up to its award-winning design. The scooper is not semi-spherical like with most ice cream scoops, but it still manages to get perfectly round scoops most of the time through some kind of magic. The handle is very comfortable, with a rubber non-slip grip, a thumb rest, and a tapered design that keeps your hand from sliding. Yet ice cream still falls out of the scoop pretty easily over the bowl. I’m not sure why it works so well, but understanding why is not my job. This ice cream scoop is also the most visually appealing model I’ve ever seen, no exaggeration. Both of the two color options (red/white and teal/white) are stunning. Kudos to the Zyliss design team on this one. 5. Jumbo: Met Lux 4.66 oz Portion Scoop by [amazon link=”B06XYNQHWL” link_icon=”none” title=”Restaurantware” /] [amazon fields=”B06XYNQHWL” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Met Lux 4.66 oz Portion Scoop”] A 4.66-ounce scoop of ice cream is definitely more than most home ice cream scoops can dish out, and plopping down a single jumbo-sized scoop of your favorite frozen treat is a really cool way to serve up dessert—no pun intended. Despite the size of the scoops, this model still makes it easy to release them into a bowl by incorporating a thin metal band at the bottom of the scooper (aka a portion scooper) that works extremely well. The scoop size on this model is also big enough to use for foods other than ice cream, like rice or mashed potatoes. 6. Spring-Loaded: OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop by [amazon link=”B0000CDVD2″ link_icon=”none” title=”OXO” /] [amazon fields=”B0000CDVD2″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”OXO Good Grips Medium Cookie Scoop”] The spring mechanism on this model makes it quick and easy to portion out tiny 0.75 ounce balls of ice cream. When you squeeze the handle of the device, the spring causes the narrow band on the bottom of the scoop to wipe across the surface. So when you scoop out a ball of ice cream, hold it over your bowl, and release pressure on the handle, the band wipes back across and releases the ice cream cleanly. It’s a design that’s grown more common in ice cream scoops over the past few years, but it works particularly smoothly in this model. Like most OXO ice cream scoops, this one has a Good Grip ergonomic handle that makes scooping hassle-free. Ice Cream Scoop FAQ What is the best way to scoop ice cream? There are two tricks to scooping perfectly round balls of ice cream that I find work really well:1. Have a bowl of warm water at hand. Before each scoop, dip your ice cream scoop in it for two or three seconds. Then take it out and wipe it dry before scooping. The added warmth will help the scoop glide smoothly through the ice cream.2. Scoop in an “S” shape rather than a straight line. Make sure the motion is smooth and continuous, avoiding a “Z” shape.Of course, these tips will only work if you’re also using a good-quality ice cream scoop like one of those listed in the previous section. How do you keep ice cream from sticking to the scoop? Look for a model that has either a portion scoop (the thin band that wipes across the bottom of the scoop and dislodges the contents) or a heat-conducting band that uses the heat of your hand on the handle to help release the ice cream. If you don’t have a model with either of these features, it helps to dip the ice cream scoop in a cup of warm water and then wipe it dry before each scoop. Why can’t ice cream scoops go in the dishwasher? Most traditional ice cream scoops are made of aluminum, which isn’t durable enough to go in the dishwasher. However, some higher-end ice cream scoops like the ones I mentioned in the previous section are made of more durable materials like stainless steel and are dishwasher-safe. How much is a typical scoop of ice cream? Most home ice cream scoops hold about 3-3.5 ounces. Ice cream shops usually get bigger scoopers that hold 4-6 ounces. What’s the best way to clean an ice cream scoop? In almost all cases, you can clean off an ice cream scoop by scrubbing it with warm water and dish soap. If a stain is really caked on, create a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and white vinegar and scrub the ice cream scooper with that.If you want to polish an aluminum ice cream scoop that doesn’t have major stains on it, rub toothpaste onto it and scrub it in for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it with water. Get Scoopin’! If you love ice cream (and very few of us don’t), forming the perfect scoop will simply make your day. I hope this quick guide for buying and using ice cream scoops helps you up your scooping game and achieve the scoop of your dreams.
