Choose how many ice lollies to buy based on the number of people you’re serving and the desserts you have planned for the week. An assortment of 12 to 20 is suited to different needs from a pack of 8 chosen for a specific recipe. Before opting for a larger pack, check the portion sizes, ingredients in each flavour and how much space you have in the freezer.
If several people will be having ice lollies throughout the week, work out how many you’ll need before choosing a pack. Carrefour and E.Leclerc, for example, offer packs ranging from 8 to 20, depending on the product.
An assortment can offer several recipes in one pack. However, check the ingredients and allergens for each flavour, especially if anyone needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Before buying a large pack, make sure you can transport it and store it in the freezer. The DGCCRF advises keeping the time spent transporting frozen food to a minimum and preferably using an insulated bag.
For a week’s shopping, start by working out how many desserts you need to serve, then look at portion sizes, recipes and storage requirements.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of portions | Count the individual lollies and the occasions you have planned. Don’t work out the number of portions from the pack’s weight alone. | If several people want to have more during the week, I want to know whether the pack will cover those desserts. Around 25% of consumers would put the number of portions first. |
| Portion size | Check the weight or volume alongside the number of pieces. Compare like with like, and don’t treat grams and millilitres as equivalent. | If I prefer a smaller individual ice lolly or, conversely, a larger portion, the number of lollies alone isn’t enough to decide. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise the size of each lolly. |
| Recipes and ingredients | Check the flavours, ingredients list and allergens on the exact product, including for assortments. | If I’m sharing a pack with people who have different preferences or dietary requirements, I need to choose recipes that suit them. Around 25% of consumers would put this first. |
| Transport and storage | Check you have room in the freezer and read the storage instructions. It’s best to use an insulated bag for the journey. | If my freezer is full or I have a journey after shopping, I need to be able to get the whole pack into the freezer quickly. This would be the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Two boxes of a similar weight may contain ice lollies of different sizes, and may not serve the same number of people.
Count how many you need, then check the total weight and the quantity per lolly before choosing.
Ingredients vary between recipes. Carrefour lists milk and lactose in one Classic' product, while an Extra vanilla, chocolate and almond product includes roasted almonds.
If anyone has an allergy or intolerance, check the label on the pack and on each recipe in the assortment.
A pack for sharing needs to be transported and put in the freezer straight away.
Make room before you go shopping. The DGCCRF recommends keeping transport time to a minimum, preferably using an insulated bag, and never refreezing food that has thawed.
Worth considering if a particular Magnum recipe or an assortment of mini ice lollies suits the group’s tastes.
A range to consider for family-size boxes of ice lollies. Carrefour, for example, lists 12 vanilla and chocolate ice lollies weighing 450 g.
An E.Leclerc product to consider when the number of pieces is your priority: the stick assortment shown contains 20 pieces and weighs 850 g.
Its ice lolly range includes Auchan products and other brands, but don’t assume they all contain the same recipes.
The range at ALDI includes pack sizes worth considering if you’re sharing smaller portions.
These products offer 8 or 12 individual portions for desserts throughout the week. Some include a range of flavours, while others focus on a single recipe. Compare the quantity per piece and the product label before choosing.
Image unavailable
12 water ice lollies to consider if you’re planning several desserts and want a choice of flavours.
The pack contains 1,200 g in total. Check the label for each flavour before sharing with anyone who needs to avoid particular allergens.
Image unavailable
12 small frozen portions to consider if the number of pieces matters more to you than the size of each one.
The pack contains 444 g in total, or 37 g per piece, in two flavours: orange and cherry. The label warns that it may contain traces of gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts. Check it if any of these allergens are a concern.
Image unavailable
A pack of 8 ice lollies to consider if you like this Magnum product and eight portions are enough.
The stated total weight is 572 g. The ingredients include milk and almonds, and the product may contain other nuts. Check the label if this is a concern.
Image unavailable
Eight melon ice lollies to consider if one flavour suits everyone in the group.
Each ice lolly contains 70 ml, giving you 560 ml in total. The product contains milk. If these ice lollies are for children, also check the label for information about the E102 colouring.
Check the number of pieces and the total quantity together: two packs may contain the same number of ice lollies but offer different portion sizes. If one gives its weight in grams and the other its volume in millilitres, don’t treat these figures as directly equivalent.
Check the label for each recipe in the pack. Carrefour products we looked at show how ingredients can differ: one lists milk and lactose, while a vanilla, chocolate and almond recipe also includes roasted almonds.
Keep the time between buying them and putting them in the freezer to a minimum. The DGCCRF recommends using an insulated bag for the journey where possible. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging too.
No. The DGCCRF advises never refreezing food that has thawed. So plan your journey and make room in the freezer before buying a large pack.