Zeroll 1020 Ice Cream Scoop, Aluminum, 2 Ounces, Silver

Product Information

It is dishwasher safe and held up well after washing, but it didn’t make our list since it performed so poorly. It may be better suited for scooping other foods, but not ice cream. 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 handle is hollow and filled with antifreeze, which makes cutting through hard ice cream a breeze. (Though this also means you shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher.) In terms of performance, we hardly found any negatives except that it’s impossible to shape your ice cream scoops into balls due to the nature of spades. But if you don’t care about perfectly round scoops, this was one of the best-performing ice cream scoops we tested. The heaviest ice cream scoop on our list is the Spring Chef Ice Cream Scoop, which weighs 8.16 ounces and glided effortlessly through ice cream during our testing. As we tested the scoops, we evaluated each tool on four main factors: design, performance, durability, and value. Each scoop was tested in a more firm and textured ice cream, as well as a lighter and smoother ice cream. We also used each ice cream scoop in a pint and half-gallon container to test for performance and maneuverability.

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 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. The early success of The Zeroll Co. was stalled by World War II. The aluminium needed to produce the scoops was diverted to wartime use and the business was virtually dormant for several years. First, we tested each scoop on a pint of Häagen-Dazs to see how well it can scoop ice cream with a firmer texture and maneuver around a pint container. We took three scoops from the pint, paying close attention to how easily the scoop cut through the ice cream and how well it released the ice cream. We also noted how comfortable it was to hold, and we even used our left hand at least once to see if the scoop is suitable for lefties. Then, we hand-washed and dried the scoop before continuing to our second test. The size of a scoop of ice cream largely depends on who’s scooping—but in general, it can be anywhere from 2 to 4 ounces. Even though many of the models we tested don’t list the exact scoop size, those that do are within this range.

How we tested

We also appreciated ice cream scoops that had an easy-to-grip handle. The best ice cream scoops from our testing often had a material, such as silicone or rubber, on the handle that allowed us to better grip the scoop. The handle length was comfortable to use and wasn’t unwieldy despite its wider size, and the handle is also slip resistant to help prevent any accidents. There are also various grooves on the handle, so we were able to try out different gripping positions. Because of the grooves, we also found that our hands didn’t get tired since we could easily change positions to avoid fatigue. This brand is also a favorite for O’Hara to use in his ice cream shops. “We love a classic style scoop, our favorite brand is Zeroll,” O’Hara says. “We've used other similar styles, but Zeroll is the highest quality and most durable.”

To help further prevent messes, there is a bowl-like collar around the base of the scoop that collects any ice cream drips from falling on the counter. If you’re planning a summer ice cream party, this would be the perfect tool to keep out for your guests to use. Midnight Scoop: The pricey Midnight Scoop looks like a piece of modern sculpture. To use it, you push with the palm of your hand, rather than pulling, like with a traditional scoop. There’s a bit of a learning curve to use it correctly; for us, it pushed the ice cream like a bulldozer, never really scooping it. This ergonomic model also needs a wide-open area to work in, so, if you buy ice cream in narrow pint or quart containers, this probably isn’t the right tool for you.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.” It’s the heaviest option on our list at 8.16 ounces, and it created ice cream mounds that were a little more square than round. Norpro Ice Cream Scoop: The design and feel of the Norpro is very similar to that of our winner, but the oval bowl tapers as it nears the handle. That small change results in a scoop of ice cream that looks more like a narrow disk than a round mound. Our experts have some pretty helpful tips on how to scoop ice cream like a professional. "Ice cream softens from the outside in, so you want to pull the scoop around the outside of the container you’re scooping from (and the larger the container, the easier it is to scoop),” the Bechtels say. “As you pull the scoop through the ice cream it should curl itself into the perfect ball of ice cream, ready to nestle perfectly into your cup or cone."