This kitchen tool has the look of a classic ice cream scoop, but its thoughtful design made it stand out during our testing. This is the only ice cream scoop we tested that is designed to stand upright, so we didn’t have to lay it down and dirty up any countertops between scooping. Some scoops (especially those used in commercial settings) list the size "with a number that corresponds to the number of scoops that you would get from a quart of ice cream,” the Bechtels say. “This means that larger-sized scoops will have a smaller number because you’d get fewer scoops from a quart of ice cream from a larger scoop."

It works best to hand wash ice cream scoops, most are not dishwasher-safe,” O’Hara says. “We simply scrub them with dish soap, sanitize them, and allow them to air dry.” This ice cream scoop scored a perfect five-star rating in both the performance and design categories. However, if you are looking for a bright-colored tool to scoop out your favorite homemade ice cream, note that this ice cream scoop is only available in an aluminum finish. We use a size 20 scoop, which means we could get about 20 scoops of ice cream from a quart, or approximately 2 ounces per scoop,” they add. “Some shops use a size 10 scoop, which is twice as big: 4-ounce scoops or 10 scoops per quart." Design and Features Although scoops with levers may require a bit of force or tension, this tool released ice cream gently and without any extra exertion. With this scoop, you won’t have to bang the tool on the side of your bowl to get the ice cream to fall. The hollow design of some ice cream scoops helps with heat transfer. "Anyone who has tried to scoop ice cream from a tub that just came out of the freezer knows it’s not easy, so most scoops are designed to transfer the heat from your hand to the ice cream you are scooping," the Bechtels say. "Most hollow scoops are filled with a conductive liquid that warms the scoop, making it just a bit easier to get through a tub of ice cream.” This conductive liquid will often be advertised as an anti-freeze.

This ice cream scoop received a five-star rating for its performance—when we used this for pints and quarts, it created perfectly rounded scoops. We tested the scoop in both creamy and chunky varieties of ice cream, and it glided smoothly despite the texture. The Midnight Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop has a sleek and ergonomic design that looks appealing, but we found it was a bit too bulky and awkward to use. The head of the scoop features a rounded tip on the right side, which made scooping ice cream more cumbersome. Although the ice cream itself fell into the bowl easily and the scoop seemed durable, we couldn’t recommend it due to its unwieldiness and high price point. Met Lux 4.66 Ounce Scoop OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop: The OXO Good Grips Solid Stainless Steel Ice Cream Scoop was simply too heavy. Testers also had a hard time getting the ice cream to curl into a pleasing ball.

Add a pop of color to your collection of kitchen tools with the Spring Chef Ice Cream Scoop. Available in 13 bright hues, it offers the most color selections out of all the ice cream scoops on our list. This article was written by Nor’adila Hepburn, a contributing writer for Real Simple. To find the best ice cream scoops, we tested 22 models in our Lab and evaluated them based on design, performance, and durability. For expert tips, we also spoke to Wes and Kristen Bechtel, co-owners of Boombalatti’s ice cream shop in Wilmington, North Carolina, who have bought over 100 scoops in the last decade and have a full collection of antique scoops; and Kelly Williamson, co-founder of True Scoops ice cream.While most ice cream scoop heads are spherical, this one has a slightly more square head, which made the surface area a bit larger than other scoops. We also appreciated that the head features small recesses that allow the ice cream to release effortlessly.

During testing, we noticed that no matter the ice cream texture, the Sumo scoop still made nice and even scoops. Instead of serving your ice cream straight from the freezer, we recommend letting it soften on the counter a few minutes before serving. (When the ice cream was too hard, we had to use our fingers and a spoon to help release it from the scoop.) Nevertheless, this reliable dishwasher-safe scoop got our stamp of approval for comfort and ease of use.

The head had a durable feel and created consistently smooth scoops of ice cream. Because of these factors, we gave this ice cream scoop a five-star rating in the design category. Scoops may seem basic, but many of them come with various features that make digging into tubs of ice cream smooth and easy. For example, you’ll find that some ice cream scoops have metal grooves that help release the ice cream into the bowl, while others may have soft and comfortable handles so you get a great grip. Sherman Kelly vacations in West Palm Beach and observed a young woman struggling while scooping ice cream. He resolved to find a better way.