Households sharing dessert
A tub lets you serve several people, dishing out as much ice cream as you like rather than buying an individual pack for everyone.
Who are these formats suitable for?
Households short on freezer space
A 500 g tub can be easier to store than a larger one. Also check that the quantity is right for what you plan to serve.
Fans of individual portions
If everyone would rather choose their own dessert, pots and ice lollies serve a different purpose from a tub you share out. Magnum lists these two formats separately.
What should you look for?
First decide whether you’ll be sharing the ice cream or serving individual portions, then choose the quantity and recipe. Finally, check your freezer space and the information on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Dessert to share | The tub’s net weight and how many people you’re serving; don’t work out the weight from a volume given in litres. | When I’m serving several people, I mainly want a quantity I can share between them. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this need to share. |
| Amount to store | The size of the container and how much you expect to eat. | If my freezer is short on space, I’d rather avoid a container that’s too large for the occasion. The amount to store would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Recipe you’re looking for | The category — sorbet or ice cream —, flavour, ingredients and allergens listed on the product. | For the dessert I’m planning, I want to choose the flavour and type of ice cream that suit my guests first. Around 21% of consumers would put this preference first. |
| Individual portions | How many pots or ice lollies you need and how they’re served. | When everyone wants their own ice cream rather than sharing a tub, I’d choose individual portions. This would be the priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a pot or ice lolly when you need a tub to share
An individual portion isn’t designed to be shared out like a tub. Magnum also lists its pots and ice lollies separately; neither format is automatically a substitute for a tub intended for several people.
Decide first whether you’ll be serving the ice cream at the table or whether everyone will take a portion that’s already prepared.
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Letting the ice cream warm up while you shop
The DGCCRF stresses the importance of maintaining the cold chain and never refreezing food that has thawed.
Pick up frozen products last, use an insulated bag if possible and put them in the freezer as soon as you get home, following the storage instructions on the packaging.
Retailers and brands to consider
These retailers and this brand offer different formats. Check the exact product before choosing between a tub to share and an individual portion.
Carrefour
Carrefour offers ice cream and sorbet in tubs, both under its own ranges and from national brands.
- Its range includes vanilla ice cream in a 2 L tub.
- Check the net weight, recipe and products available at your store or for your delivery slot.
E.Leclerc / Eco+
E.Leclerc’s Eco+ range includes 500 g tubs of ice cream, including vanilla and chocolate flavours.
- A 500 g tub can be a good choice if you want to limit how much you need to store.
- Check the exact product and store before counting on a particular flavour being available.
Auchan
Auchan’s range includes tubs of ice cream, sorbets and ice creams from its own ranges and other brands.
- With several categories to choose from, it’s easy to look for the type of dessert you want.
- Don’t confuse sorbet with ice cream: compare the ingredients and product information for each one.
ALDI / Mucci
ALDI’s Mucci range includes 500 g tubs of ice cream as well as individual portions.
- The range includes 500 g tubs of Madagascar vanilla and dark chocolate ice cream.
- Check in store for the flavour and format you’re looking for.
Magnum
Magnum lists its ice lollies and pots separately, both designed to be served individually.
- According to the brand, its pots combine ice cream, chocolate pieces and a chocolate shell.
- A pot or ice lolly isn’t served in the same way as a tub shared between several people.
Joybuy products
Related products will be featured here soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a tub or a pack of ice lollies better for several people?
Choose a tub if you want to serve portions for everyone to share; go for ice lollies if each person would prefer their own. Either way, check that the quantity is right for the number of people you’re serving.
How do I compare a 500 g tub with a 2 L tub?
Check the net weight and product category before deciding which one suits your needs. Grams measure weight and litres measure volume, so these figures alone don’t tell you the same thing. Also consider how much space you have in your freezer.
How should I bring a tub of ice cream home after shopping?
Pick it up last and put it in the freezer as soon as you get home, ideally after carrying it in an insulated bag. The DGCCRF gives −18 °C as the temperature for frozen ice lollies, ice cream and sorbet; follow the storage instructions on the product packaging.
Can you refreeze ice cream that has thawed?
No. The DGCCRF advises never refreezing food that has thawed. If the ice cream thawed on the way home, don’t put it back in the freezer as though the cold chain had been maintained.