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.” Sometimes you're craving more than just a little ice cream. One of these jumbo scoops is all you need for a generous serving of the delectable dessert, which means less scooping and more eating! 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.

It features a heat-conductive liquid inside the handle that helps provide an easy release. The aluminum design helps protect the scoop from oxidation and corrosion, so it's made with durability in mind. Both right- and left-handed users can scoop ice cream with this tool since it’s symmetrical. 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. 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. An ice cream scoop is much deeper than a spoon with very high edges like a bowl so that it can be used to neatly scoop ice cream out of a tub. While a regular spoon is designed to eat the ice cream, the scoop is used to move the ice cream, form it into a ball and serve it in a cone or dish. Ice cream scoops can also have extra features to make scooping easier, such as release mechanisms and non-slip handles.Rocher - A rocher is an egg-shaped scoop. Dip the scoop straight down, then scoop it right and left. Can you really beat a classic wooden spoon? Not if you ask us… Wooden spoons are go-to kitchen items to stir anything from curries, soups and pasta sauces, and everything else in between. 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.

Quenelle - To master the professional quenelle, use two spoons to make an oval shape with 3 curved sides.To come up with these recommendations, we tested 22 ice cream scoops in our Lab. Each scooper was tested on a pint and half-gallon container, and we evaluated them based on factors such as performance, design, and durability. In our testing, we found that the handle is quite important. If it’s too short, you’ll get ice cream all over your hands when scooping at the bottom of the container. 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. While we thought the Vollrath 4-Ounce Stainless Steel Disher felt lightweight yet sturdy, we weren’t impressed with its handle. It does have a smooth, plastic handle, but we found it didn’t prevent our hands from slipping. You wouldn't know from looking at it, but the Zeroll Original ice cream scoop is actually an engineering wonder. The scoop itself is made of lightweight aluminum, but the handle is filled with heat-conductive, FDA-approved mineral oil. The internal liquid heats up from the warmth of your hand, making the scoop's metal slightly warm. The result is a scoop that feels comfortable to hold and slides smoothly through hard ice cream with minimal pressure required. If you have room in your budget to splurge, we recommend the Good Cook Smart Scoop because of its split-head design, which made it simple and straightforward to release ice cream into a bowl.

Be sure to read the care instructions that come with your ice cream scoop before washing. Some of them, like the Joseph Joseph Dimple Non-Drip Ice Cream Scoop, are dishwasher safe, but others such as the Zeroll 1020 Ice Cream Scoop, should only be washed by hand. 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." 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.O’Hara says that his ice cream shop scoops have a 3-ounce capacity, but the size of the ice cream mound can depend on the person scooping the ice cream. “As for the ice cream itself, our standard size scoop is about 4.5 to 5 ounces,” he says. 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. Dipper - A dipper is sturdy and reliable with no fancy features. It has a strong handle and rounded head for forming perfect ice cream balls and lifting them out of the tub. The Avanti Ultra-Grip Ice Cream Scoop is stainless steel and comes with a soft non-slip handle for comfort. In our testing, we found that the Sumo Ice Cream Scoop can give you a scoop of ice cream that looks like it came straight from your favorite ice cream shop. This scoop made it to the top of our list because of its durable stainless steel construction and grippy handle, which felt more comfortable in our hands than many of the other scoops on our list. Additionally, because the weight is distributed evenly throughout the handle length, you can scoop practically effortlessly without straining your hand. Plus, we felt that its pointed edge made it easy to dig the ice cream out. Part of what we like about Zeroll scoops or similar models is that they have a nice weight to them,” O’Hara says. “That helps provide leverage when scooping hard ice cream, and it also helps make them more durable.” The Zeroll 1020 Ice Cream Scoop weighs 4.16 ounces, which makes it one of the lightest weight ice cream scoops on our list.

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.To use, simply scoop ice cream as you would with a classic ice cream scoop. To release the ice cream into your bowl, loosen your grip on the handle. As you loosen your grip, the head will split into two and your ice cream will fall into your bowl.