I Quizzed 4 Food Experts on the Best Vanilla Ice Cream—Here’s Their Uniform Choice

It's far from dull.

As a child, I used to think, When I become an adult, I plan to have ice cream for dinner every night, with nobody to tell me otherwise. I envisioned swirls of bubblegum-colored ice cream topped with rainbow sprinkles, drizzled with chocolate syrup, dotted with tiny M&M's, and crowned with fluffy whipped cream. It’s okay to have dreams like these.

I achieved my dream as an adult! It’s normal for me to always keep a carton of ice cream in my freezer. I indulge myself directly from the container anytime I desire. Additionally, I cannot imagine any dessert that wouldn’t be enhanced with a scoop of ice cream. grilled peaches , strawberry spoon cake , mention all the cobblers, you know what I mean.

Certainly, I can admit that my preferences have evolved, but when it comes down to it, my favorite remains vanilla ice cream. Feel free to label me as "vanilla" because I view it as high praise! To me, vanilla ice cream exudes luxury, subtlety, and flavor. No other cold dessert consistently delivers such delightful satisfaction.

Because I purchase ice cream frequently, I usually grab whatever is discounted. However, should I continue doing this? Curious about the right choice, I consulted several professionally trained pastry chefs and food editors to identify their preferred vanilla ice cream brands. Interestingly, they all provided the same recommendation.

The Professional Bakers I Consulted

• Megan Ginsberg Senior Editor at EatingWell and previously a pastry chef at Flour Bakery + Cafe
• Genevieve Yam Culinary Editor for Serious Eats, previously a chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Per Se, also contributed to the latest version of The Core New York Times Cookbook
• Courtney Kassel Editor for Allrecipes and previously a professional cake decorator at Little Daisy Bake Shop
• Laurel Randolph : Senior Recipe Editor For SimplyRecipes and the acclaimed pastry chef

Top Vanilla Ice Cream Picks as Chosen by Expert Chefs and Food Writers

Laurel characterizes excellent vanilla ice cream as "smooth with genuine vanilla taste." This description seems straightforward, yet oddly enough, every vanilla ice cream does not measure up equally well. There was an overwhelming agreement on which one stood out as the finest vanilla ice cream. Ben & Jerry's (According to Alexa Harrison, the Public Relations Manager at Ben & Jerry's, this flavor is so beloved that it stands out as the sole smooth variety without mix-ins sold in a pint container.)

Laurel remarks, "The vanilla from Ben & Jerry’s is rich and creamy with just the right vanilla taste—I enjoy it paired with desserts, as part of a sundae, or even eaten alone." (Give their vanilla a try on Laurel's) Peach and Raspberry Pandowdy !)

Genevieve, who sampled more than 10 different brands of vanilla ice cream for Serious Eats says, “Many vanilla ice creams come with an artificial aftertaste, whereas Ben & Jerry’s has a flavor profile reminiscent of genuine dairy enriched with actual vanilla beans. Amongst all the varieties I sampled, this brand stands out as both the silkiest and most velvety. Unlike others that can feel unnaturally elastic due to added stabilizers and gums used for textural manipulation, Ben & Jerry’s escapes such undesirable traits.”

Typically, I’m not a fan of plain vanilla ice cream; I generally lean towards strawberry or anything with some crunch, such as cookie dough,” she explains. “However, Ben & Jerry’s is an exception, and I could easily enjoy it every single night.

Megan states, "When it comes to ice cream, I always choose Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla. The texture is incredibly smooth, and the vanilla taste is authentic without being overly artificial."

Courtney, who is lactose intolerant, supports Ben & Jerry's new vegan vanilla base designed for people seeking a dairy-free option. She says, “I was genuinely impressed… The base is made from oats yet remains subtle in taste, which can be challenging with nondairy ice creams, and offers an unexpectedly smooth texture without being overly dense.” Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t offer just plain vanilla as their sole vegan choice; instead, they incorporate this base into multiple flavors. flavors with mix-ins .

I recently discovered that Ben & Jerry’s staff members are allowed to take home three pints of ice cream each day. It makes me wonder how they manage their productivity. If this were my workplace, my daily task list would consist of lounging under the sun, feeling the grass beneath my feet, and enjoying a pint of ice cream. One can always aspire.