This is the Best Ice Scream Scoop Ever
By Emily Johnson. Photos by: Chelsea Kyle.
Scooping ice cream is a simple enough task. So why are there, like, eight billion designs for ice cream scoops? There are the portion scoopers—those ones with the squeeze-handle that releases the ice cream. There are varieties with heated scoops. There are ones that are shaped like a spade. There are ones with super pointy tips. There are heavy ones and light ones and big ones and small ones. So, really, how do you make a decision about the best ice cream scoop to buy? We tested a variety of types, and we've got answers for you.
What We Looked for and What We Tested
We were looking for ice cream scoops with an edge sharp enough to cut into very frozen ice cream. We looked for a good shape in our scoop—meaning that we'd get a nicely rounded, compact ball of ice cream, and that the ice cream would slide easily out of the scooper. We looked at how ergonomic the scoops were: how easy they were to hold and maneuver.
As we said above, ice cream scoops come in a wide array of designs. We looked at scoops with mechanisms for releasing the ice cream, like the small levers and squeeze handles in portion scoopers. We also tried a scooper from Goodcook with a scoop that's divided in two pieces that fit together like a puzzle. When you squeeze the scissor-like handle, the pieces come together, allowing you to scoop a ball of ice cream. Release the scissor-like handle and the pieces come apart, releasing the ice cream. We also tried another novelty scoop called the Twister that has a sharp pointed end and a twisted shape, with extra-sharp edges. Finally, we tried simple, classic scoops with no moving parts or novelties. In total, we tested 12 varieties, by—you guessed it—scooping lots and lots of ice cream.
Our Favorite Ice Cream Scoops
1. The Zeroll
Most online rankings of the best ice cream scoops put Zeroll as their top contender. And we totally agree. Why? Because the Zeroll is quite simply the best ice cream scoop available.
First, it has a classic, durable design. Like other rankings, we found that the simpler an ice cream scoop was, the better. The Zeroll is made of one piece of cast aluminum, meaning it has no breakable parts and will last. Looking at the scoop, it looks heavy, but it's actually quite light-weight, without sacrificing durability. It feels steady and the materials feel high-quality in your hand. The actual scoop is perfectly shaped to make round balls of ice cream that slide easily out of the scoop and into the bowl. It has a sharp edge that cuts into even the most frozen ice cream.
Invented in 1933, the Zeroll is actually considered to be the first modern ice cream scoop, and its inventor, Sherman Kelly, has a patent on the "Ice Cream Dipper." As the story goes, his product allowed ice cream shops to save money during the Great Depression, because the dipper's ability to scoop perfectly round, compact balls meant that ice cream parlors could get 10–20 percent more ice cream out of each gallon. To this day, it is the preferred ice cream scooper of most ice cream shops. And, the thing just looks professional, classic, and high-quality.
But here's the real secret of the Zeroll: its handle is filled with heat-conducting liquid. This means that it transfers heat from the scooper's hand up the handle to the scoop, warming the ice cream and allowing it to be scooped and released more easily.
This scoop is more expensive than what you'd normally pay—it's $18.50. But it will literally last you a lifetime.
Zeroll Original Ice Cream Scoop, $18.50
2. OXO Ice Cream Scoop—Squeeze
A worthy second-place contender is the OXO Ice Cream Scoop with a squeeze handle. If you are very loyal to the release-lever, portion scoop, this is the one for you. It's lightweight, and has a perfectly round scoop. Ice cream comes out of this scoop easily, even before you use the release lever. It makes a nice round and compact scoop. Despite the fact that the lever-release handles are inherently more awkward to hold than a plain handle like the Zeroll, this one manages to be ergonomic, with an option to loop your hand through the lever and only hold the smaller handle, not the whole thing. The plastic handle feels sturdy and comfortable.
This model won over its worthy portion-scooper competitor, the Winco, because its release lever for the ice cream is more flush with the scoop, meaning less ice cream gets trapped in the scoop. However, the squeezing motion that releases the ice cream is awkward, and not really necessary for a better scooping experience—better to go with the simpler design of the Zeroll. The materials feel significantly cheaper in this scoop, and the moving parts and lever system are more prone to breaking than the simple, high-quality design of the Zeroll. However, the OXO scoop is a bit cheaper than the Zeroll, at $11.99, so if you love a portion scooper and you end up needing to replace it, it's definitely not the end of the world.
OXO Ice Cream Scoop - Squeeze $11.99
Some Notes on Other Models We Tried, and Novelty Scoopers
As said above, the Winco is also a functional portion scooper. We might even like its release lever better—instead of awkwardly squeezing like the OXO, you press a thumb on a lever that moves the piece of metal that releases the ice cream. However, that piece of metal is not totally flush with the scoop, so it traps ice cream, making cleanup more difficult—and wasting precious ice cream! In terms of classic scoopers, we also liked the OXO Point Scooper. Its pointed tip makes carving into especially frozen ice cream easy. Its handle is a cushier plastic than the Zeroll, and it's more contoured to the hand. My coworker Becky likes a heavier-feeling scoop, so she preferred this one to the Zeroll. However, it doesn't make quite the perfect scoop that the Zeroll does, and your hand is more prone to tiring if you're scooping for a crowd.
In terms of novelty scoopers, we actually really liked the Twister. It's ultra-pointed end dug right in to frozen blocks of ice cream. Its twisted, contoured handle is pleasant in your hand, and the whole thing feels pretty ergonomic. However, this scoop lost major points when its pointed tip cut a hole in the bottom of our ice-cream carton. Dripping vanilla started pouring out of the carton. Not great. This thing doesn't know its own strength—and for children, it might be a safety hazard.
A newer design for ice cream scoops is a spade shape, with a sharp, long, flat tip. We found this type of scoop good for carving into hard, frozen ice cream, but it didn't create the perfect rolled ball that the Zeroll could.
The Result, In Summary
In general, we found the simpler the scoop, the better. The Zeroll's lightweight, classic, durable design—and its heat-conducting handle and ability to make perfect, Instagram-worthy rounded scoops of ice cream—made it hands-down our favorite scooper. If you like a portion scooper, go for the OXO Squeeze scoop. It makes round, pretty scoops, has an ergonomic handle, and has a quality release lever that removes the ice cream from the scoop.
Now that you know the best ice cream scoop, it's time for some ice cream!
Get this recipe: Boozy Piña Colada Ice Cream
This story originally appeared on Epicurious.
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