Reduced-fat ice creams go scoop to scoop in a taste test to find ...

Tag : ICE Creams
Tough gig.
Taste some of the “lite” ice creams that line thefrozen-food aisles – no easy feat with the dozens of choices– and rate their worthiness as a lower-fat summertime treat.Considering that regular ice cream gets its creamy mouth feel fromfat, could a lighter version even begin to compare?
From the wide playing field of flavors, we chose vanilla and mintchocolate chip for their universal appeal and availability amongbrands. In a blind test, seven newsroom tasters tucked intohalf-fat versions from two top national brands and three storebrands. (We included one full-fat ice cream in each category forcomparison.)
None of the versions tested was sugar-free. Each rang incalorically at 100 to 130 calories per 1/2-cup serving, with asavings of 4.5 to 5.5 grams of fat per serving over regular icecream.
Each “lite” was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 scoops fortaste, texture, appearance and whether it could pass for full fat.Here's the lowdown on our low-fat taste test: VANILLA
THE WINNER
Safeway Select French Vanilla Light
The vanilla flavor shone through more than in the other brands, andone taster said it “would do if you couldn't havechocolate.” Strong praise, indeed. (FIVE SCOOPS)
OTHERS
Dreyer's Rich & Creamy Grand French Vanilla (full fat)
This full-fat version was thrown in as a control measure, andtasters instantly identified and lapped it up as the fat-ladenscoop we all know and love. (FIVE SCOOPS)
Albertsons Lite French Vanilla
High marks were given for its vanilla bean-flecked appearance, butbeing “ice milky,” “foamy” and “notvery rich” dimmed this lite. (THREE SCOOPS)
Dreyer's Slow Churned Rich & Creamy French Vanilla Light
Tasters were mixed on the flavor profile – bland, insipid,traditional – but most agreed it had the creamy texture youwant in ice cream. (THREE SCOOPS)
Private Selection Premium Light Double Vanilla
Its stark white looks gave it the appearance of coconut sorbet, andits mystery flavors ranged from bubble gum to eggnog. However, twotasters deemed it creamy enough to rival full fat. (TWO SCOOPS)
Breyers Double Churn Creamy Vanilla Light
In texture and flavor, this reminded several tasters more ofmarshmallow fluff than of ice cream. In describing it, one tasterused the dreaded “D” word – dietetic. (ONE SCOOP) MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP
THE WINNER
Dreyer's Slow Churned Rich & Creamy Mint Chocolate Chip Light
“Could have fooled me,” noted one taster. Thechocolately flakes, the good color (yes, that's important, givenits garish competition), the density, and the nice butter-minttones made this not only stand out, but beat out its full-fatcounterpart. (FIVE SCOOPS)
OTHERS
Dreyer's Rich & Creamy Grand Mint Chocolate Chip (full fat)
Perhaps tasters were too preoccupied with the lackluster mintinessand the above-average chocolate chips to recognize they werespooning up the full-fat control ice cream, but everyone registeredsurprise that this was the real deal. (THREE SCOOPS)
Safeway Select Mint Chocolate Chip Light
The chips are the stars here, but the actual ice cream was spongyand semi-sherbety in texture with minimal mint flavor. (TWO SCOOPS)
Breyers Double Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Light
Can you say “Crest”? Reminiscent of toothpaste, themint overpowered more than refreshed taste buds. However, this gotcredit for being the only naturally colored ice cream in a sea ofvirulently hued mint chippers. (TWO SCOOPS)
Private Selection Mint Chocolate Chip Light
Anemic mint flavor, but it was the “waxy,”“chewy,” “mealy” chocolate chunks thatreally torpedoed the whole experience. (ONE SCOOP)
Albertsons Lite Mint Chip
And speaking of colors not found in nature, this one scooped allthe others for its glowing neon looks. Tasters leaned slightly infavor of its cool mintiness. (ONE SCOOP)