Taste Testing Light Ice Cream

KIMA

Story Published: Jun 27, 2008 at 5:36 PM PST

By Heather Reese

If you love ice cream and are in search of a tastier ice cream that’s lower in fat and calories, Consumer Reports sampled 10 light and fat-free ice creams, including ones from Haagen-Dazs, Breyers, and Dreyer’s. Here’s the scoop.

The term “light” means a food that has one-third fewer calories or half the fat of a regular version. Sensory panelists had the tough task of taste-testing six vanilla and four chocolate ice creams. One fat-free ice cream disappointed. Breyers Free Fat Free Double Churn Creamy was gummy. And as with most fat-free foods, it doesn’t necessarily offer real calorie savings.

Haagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light Vanilla Bean and Dutch Chocolate were the clear winners. Both Haagen-Dazs vanilla and chocolate ice creams rated very good and they have big flavor. But compared with the other light ice creams tested, Haagen-Dazs has about twice the calories and fat and costs about twice as much. A tasty runner-up is Breyers Double Churn Light Creamy vanilla and chocolate ice creams. They cost a lot less and have far fewer calories.

You may have noticed that ice cream packages are actually getting smaller these days. The traditional half-gallon carton, which is equivalent to two quarts, shrank to 1.75 quarts a while back. And Consumer Reports observed that it’s now down to 1.5 quarts for Breyers, Edy’s, Dreyer’s, and Turkey Hill. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the price is shrinking, too.

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