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Premium ice cream reviews

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Last updated: 04 February 2019

We blind taste test and review 11 premium vanilla ice creams, from brands including Connoisseur, Haagen-Dazs and Sara Lee, to see which premium-tier products are worth the splurge.

  • Our premium ice cream buying guide looks at low-calorie premium ice cream, how regular ice cream compares with premium-tier, what additives are in your ice cream, which ice creams are gluten-free, and how to make your own ice cream.

How we test

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Products

We included ice creams identified as 'premium' in the Retail World Annual Report – as well as by their packaging (sold in tubs 1L or less), label claims and/or price points – that are available nationally through at least one of the major supermarket chains. For comparison purposes we tested the vanilla flavour only. Price is based on price in stores (not on special) in December 2018. 

Tasting

Our expert taste testers tasted the ice cream samples blind (without knowing the brands) in a randomised order, which was different for each expert. Our premium ice cream buying guide has bios for our expert taste testers.

Scores

Our experts independently judged all ice creams, scoring each sample for flavour and aroma, texture and presentation. The overall score is made up of taste 90% (50% flavour and aroma, 30% texture, 20% presentation) and nutrition 10% (100% Health Star Rating, calculated from the details in the nutrition information panel and converted to a percentage). We recommend products with an overall score of 80% or more. 

Rachel Clemons
By Rachel Clemons
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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

Price

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Pack price in Sydney stores (not on special) in December 2018.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 4.49 and 11.49

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Overall score

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The overall score is made up of taste 90% (50% flavour and aroma, 30% texture, 20% presentation) and nutrition 10% (100% Health Star Rating, calculated from the details in the nutrition information panel and converted to a percentage).

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 63 and 81

Price per 100mL

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Based on price in Sydney stores (not on special) in December 2018.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 0.45 and 2.51

Test results

Taste test score

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The experts tasted all ice cream samples blind (without knowing the brands) in a randomised order, which was different for each expert. They scored each sample for flavour and aroma, texture and presentation weighted as follows: 50% flavour and aroma, 30% texture, 20% presentation.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 65 and 87

Nutrition score

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Nutrition score is based on the product's Health Star Rating (HSR). The HSR is calculated from the details in the nutrition information panel and converted to a percentage.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 30 and 50

Specifications

Energy/100g (kJ)

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As per nutrition information panel on pack purchased.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 660 and 1116

Fat/100g (g)

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As per nutrition information panel on pack purchased.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 9.8 and 18.4

Sugars/100g (g)

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As per nutrition information panel on pack purchased.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 14.1 and 24.3

Health Star Rating

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Score out of 5. The Health Star Rating system ranks food products on a scale from half a star (least healthy) to five stars (most healthy), allowing you to make healthier choices at a glance.

enter value/s in increments of 1 between 1.5 and 2.5

Included in this review

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  • Recommended
  • Pack size (mL)
  • Price
  • Price per 100mL
  • Overall score
  • Taste test score
  • Nutrition score
  • Energy/100g (kJ)
  • Protein/100g (g)
  • Fat/100g (g)
  • Saturated fat/100g (g)
  • Sugars/100g (g)
  • Sodium/100g (mg)
  • Health Star Rating
  • Country of origin statement
  • Ingredients
  • Brand
  • Model
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