It’s delicious regardless, but there are some key differences.

When it comes to ice cream, we all have our favorite flavors! For some, that favorite flavor might be a tried and true store-bought favorite from a particular brand. For others, their favorite is from their local ice cream shop like Besties Ice Cream. Some still might take it a step further and make their own favorite flavor of ice cream from the comfort of their home.

Whichever category your favorite ice cream flavor falls into, there’s no denying that the flavor profile and consistency can vary depending on where it originates. While the differences between store-bought ice cream and homemade ice cream like you might make at home or find in an ice cream shop are subtle, there are some variations. Different types of ice cream appeal to different people for different reasons, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! Nevertheless, here are some of the reasons the two types of ice cream differ:

Ingredients

No matter what kind of ice cream is your favorite, it’s only as good as the ingredients used to make it! Ice cream, like any other dessert recipe, combines many flavorful and unique ingredients to create a delectable (and irresistible) treat. The ingredients used in both homemade and store-bought ice cream start out the same, but there are some key differences.

Most ice cream, whether store-bought or homemade, begins with whole milk, eggs, and sugar. There are varying recipes that call for different amounts of these ingredients, and, of course, some ice cream brands that create dairy-free options and utilize different ingredients for those with dietary restrictions, but most ice cream starts here. When you’re making homemade ice cream, recipes are usually not much more complicated than this, and simply include additional ingredients to achieve some delicious flavors. With store-bought ice cream, however, you may not always know what ingredients were combined to make your tub of deliciousness.

Sure, the ingredients list is usually posted on the back of the carton of ice cream, but many store-bought ice cream flavors are made with preservatives and chemicals that aren’t exactly household staples. Conventional ice cream purchased at the grocery store may contain chemical additives that homemade ice cream does not. These additives are used to prolong the shelf life of store-bought ice cream and enhance the color and flavor. That doesn’t mean, though, that they are always good for you or taste better than homemade ice cream.

Preparation

Homemade ice cream and store-bought ice cream may have different ingredients, but that’s not the only difference between the two types of our favorite dessert. One of the other big differences is in how the ice cream itself is prepared.

Homemade ice cream, and ice cream made in small batches at your local ice cream parlor, is made with care and attention to detail. Homemade ice cream is usually made by hand in a small ice cream maker or using traditional methods that don’t involve machinery. In contrast, store-bought ice cream is usually made by massive machines in a factory. While not an inherently bad way to make ice cream, store-bought ice cream isn’t made with the same level of care as homemade ice cream. 

The different methods of preparation can also yield different results in the texture of your ice cream. Store-bought ice cream, for example, is often airier than homemade ice cream due to the way it is prepared. Your homemade ice cream, on the other hand, may be creamier and smoother if whipped and blended by hand.

Unique Flavors

The flavor options with both homemade and store-bought ice cream are almost endless, depending, of course, on where you shop for your ice cream. These days, most supermarkets have an endless array of ice cream flavors ranging from more specialty brands with unique mix-ins and flavors to run-of-the-mill staples like vanilla or Neopolitan. If you’re looking for a particularly unique or hard-to-find flavor, there are even ways to order store-bought ice cream online or find smaller, specialized stores in your area that carry your favorite ice cream brand and flavor.

When it comes to homemade ice cream, the sky’s the limit on flavor options. You can experiment with homemade ice cream and make any flavor you can imagine! Some of the more unique flavors you might try include matcha, earl grey tea, or ginger, but, again, no need to limit your imagination. Similarly, when it comes to homemade-style ice cream at your favorite ice cream store, you can try a variety of unique flavors such as oatmeal cookie or pear-flavored ice cream.

Cost

The final notable difference between store-bought ice cream and homemade ice cream is cost. Cost is a little bit trickier to calculate because it depends on the brand and type of ice cream you are purchasing in the store, plus the ingredients needed to make homemade ice cream. There are differences, though, in cost, even for the most basic of ice cream flavors like vanilla. More often than not, homemade ice cream is a bit cheaper to prepare. There is a factor that doesn’t calculate into cost, however, and that’s convenience. Purchasing store-bought ice cream is much simpler and takes up less of your time than making homemade ice cream. Sure, the cost might be cheaper when just comparing ingredients, but it’s undoubtedly easier to open a carton of store-bought ice cream than to make your own at home. Because of this, there are both pros and cons to keep in mind when debating whether purchasing store-bought ice cream is truly more expensive than making ice cream at home.

So there you have it! The differences between store-bought and homemade ice cream. While ice cream tastes delicious either way, it’s always helpful to know the differences between the two types of ice cream out there when making a decision about your next scoop. There are definitely some differences in the cost, flavor, preparation, and ingredients of store-bought versus homemade ice cream, but at the end of the day eating a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor is sure to bring a smile to your face regardless of how it was made.