The Top 3 Ice Creams On Consumer Reports All Have One Thing In Common

So many ice cream flavors, so little time, though, if you're looking for the best store-bought tub, you can check if cream is part of the ingredient list. And if that didn't work, here's where the next step can lead you: the top three ice creams on Consumer Reports. We've got Ben & Jerry's Vanilla, Talenti Tahitian Vanilla Bean Gelato, and Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Gelato, respectively — all of which are evidently vanilla flavored. Coincidence? Vanilla apologists wouldn't think so. The ranking is based on a methodology that considers three criteria: nutrition score, sensory score, and price per serving.

Ben & Jerry's received the top ranking due to its creamy consistency, as well as the depth and balance of its flavors, without anything awry in each spoonful. Meanwhile, Talenti Tahitian Vanilla was commended for its complex vanilla taste, in which hints of fruity and floral notes were apparent, along with a subtle caramel finish. But its texture can fall on the grainy side instead of entirely smooth and creamy. The Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Gelato, on the other hand, can be a bit sweeter and milkier in taste (which can either be a pro or a con, depending on your palate), but its texture can land on the denser side.

In the other criteria, the pints weren't really too far off, so the flavor and consistency are ultimately where the three differ. Despite them landing at the top spots, however, Ben & Jerry's Vanilla scored considerably higher compared to the other two, so it might be worthwhile if we took a closer look at where it truly takes the cake.

Ben & Jerry's Vanilla is what you'd expect if you were to think of a classic scoop of vanilla ice cream — creamy and tastes purely of dairy and vanilla. It's clean without notes of other flavors, and it doesn't leave you with an artificial edge you'd get from other brands. It's made even better by its smooth mouthfeel. In short, it exhibits signs of a high-quality scoop. If we were to refer to our own ranking of popular vanilla ice cream brands, Ben & Jerry's Vanilla was the only one from Consumer Reports' top three that appeared on the list, and it scored pretty high up there, too. 

While we didn't review the other two tubs that made the Consumer Reports top three, the Häagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean Ice Cream did get the top spot on our list. That variety didn't appear anywhere in Consumer Reports' ranking, even though it's a popular flavor. The Consumer Reports ranking focused instead on Vanilla Gelato, which has already been discontinued. 

So, there are obvious limitations to the Consumer Reports ranking, including reviewing unavailable flavors and the absence of flavor varieties, which were mostly butter pecan, chocolate, and one salted fudge truffle — aside from vanilla. While it doesn't state whether the ranking focused on specific flavors, it's possible that the list was narrowed down due to the overwhelming variety available, so take that into consideration. After all, Ben & Jerry's has more ice cream flavors than you'd think, so that alone signifies that the ranking only represents a modest slice (or a scoop) of the rich world of ice creams.