The Best Ice Cream Scoop I’ve Used in 10 Years — Here’s Why

As someone who tests cookware and kitchen products for a living, I'm always searching for the most useful kitchen gadgets. Ice cream scoops are certainly one of them. Even the most superior brands are no contenders for iceberg-level ice cream. I always struggled with rock-hard ice cream and flimsy ice cream scoops, and I had to microwave pints for a few seconds to soften them.  

There was a better way, and it wasn't me who solved the problem — It was my husband. He told me about this Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper, his brother used when working at a California ice cream parlor. It was supposedly the best. I found the scoop and realized it has been around since 1940, and lo and behold, it was on Amazon.

And countless bowls of ice cream later? It's the best ice cream scooper I've ever used.

Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper

This is a different type of scoop than most people are used to. It's a cylinder with a handle, springs, and a movable lever attached to the springs. To scoop, you push the cylinder into the ice cream at a 90-degree angle, which moves the center portion of the ice cream scoop up. Pull it out, click the handle, and a perfect cylinder of ice cream pops out. It also makes a clicking metal noise that is so satisfying to the ears. 

Since the ice cream comes out resembling tall hockey pucks, the Thrifty is my secret to easy ice cream sandwiches. Simply click the ice cream onto an average-sized chocolate chip cookie and top it with another cookie. I sometimes roll them around in fun colored sprinkles to match the occasion, like red, blue, and white for patriotic holidays. You can order some fun ice creams online to make the sandwiches even fancier.

Although this scoop is the easiest I have used, I love how it keeps my hands clean. I don't have to dig my knuckles into ice cream pints to get a proper scoop like you do with traditional models. Some ice cream scoops are made from aluminum, which is not dishwasher-safe, but since the Thrifty is stainless steel, you can throw the entire thing in the dishwasher. Being able to wash this tool quickly is a blessing, considering ice cream is super sticky, and you never know if you've cleaned it well enough. 

This is the easiest and mess-free ice cream scoop ever. Adding it to your cart should be a no-brainer as the temperatures rise and your freezer fills with sugary frozen goodness. Remember, not only does the Thrifty Old Time Ice Cream Scooper work well, but it's a joy to use, no matter which ice cream recipe you use. 

Shop More Ice Cream Scoops at Amazon

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