A student sharing a freezer
If you’re short on freezer space, check the number of portions and the box size before choosing a flavour. Packs of three or four are a good starting point if you’re buying for yourself.
Who might these pack sizes suit?
A student who wants to match their shopping to their appetite
If you only eat ice cream occasionally, compare the number of lollies and the total quantity in each pack. A larger pack is only worthwhile if you have room to store it and expect to eat all the portions.
Someone who needs to check the ingredients
If you’re looking for a plant-based recipe or need to avoid certain allergens, check the exact product rather than relying on the brand name alone. A plant-based recipe may still contain nuts or carry a ‘may contain’ warning.
What should you check before choosing?
When buying frozen treats to keep in student accommodation, start by checking the pack size and the space available. The ingredients and journey home from the shop may then rule out a product that otherwise seems the right size.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and storage | The number of ice lollies and how much room the box will take up in a shared freezer. | I want to keep a few portions for myself without taking up the whole shared compartment. Space would be the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| How much you’ll eat | The number of items and the total quantity shown on the box, compared with similar pack sizes. | I’d rather buy a box whose portions I’ll eat than a pack that will sit in the freezer for ages. Around 31% of consumers would prioritise finding a pack that matches their appetite. |
| Ingredients and allergens | The ingredients list, declared allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings for the exact recipe. | If I’m looking for a plant-based recipe or need to avoid an allergen, the ingredients matter more than the flavour. This would be the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Shopping and transport | Whether the chosen shop stocks the product, the journey home and whether the freezer is working when you arrive. | On moving day, I need to be able to get the ice lollies home and into the freezer quickly. This would be the main concern for around 15% of consumers. |
Moving-in mistakes to avoid
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Assuming individually wrapped means sold individually
An ice lolly may be wrapped on its own but still sold in a box containing several. The number of portions determines how much freezer space you’ll need.
Check the number on the box, then compare smaller packs with larger ones based on the space you have available.
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Choosing a box without checking how much it contains
Two boxes that look a similar size may contain different numbers of ice lollies or different total quantities.
Compare the number of items and the total weight or volume shown, rather than assuming every portion is the same size.
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Assuming a plant-based recipe is suitable for every allergy
Magnum Vegan Almond contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. ‘Plant-based’ doesn’t mean you can skip checking the allergen information.
Check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the packaging of the product you’re buying.
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Forgetting how you’ll transport frozen food on moving day
Your shopping may have to wait while you move boxes, but ice lollies need to be put back in the freezer quickly.
Anses advises buying frozen food at the end of your shop and using an insulated bag. Before you buy, also check that the freezer in your new home is working.
Brands to use as a guide
Magnum
Magnum sells chocolate-coated ice cream bars, including smaller classic packs and a plant-based option.
- Carrefour lists a box of four vanilla, chocolate and almond ice cream bars, each 100 mL; Magnum’s Vegan Almond comes in three 90 mL portions.
- Vegan Almond contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. Check the exact recipe if you need to avoid an allergen.
Carrefour Extra / Carrefour Sensation
These own-label brands offer a range of pack sizes for ice cream bars and frozen treats.
- Carrefour’s range includes boxes of four and twelve ice cream bars, depending on the product, making it easy to compare how much freezer space you’ll need.
- The range may vary by shop and by collection or delivery option, so check which products are available at your chosen store.
Trium
Trium features in E.Leclerc’s ice cream range, including vanilla bars coated in milk chocolate and almonds.
- E.Leclerc’s example is a box of four ice cream bars, a pack size worth considering if you have a small freezer.
- If you have dietary requirements, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you choose.
MUCCI
MUCCI is an ALDI brand of ice cream and frozen desserts, including boxed ice cream bars.
- ALDI lists packs of four ice cream bars, which may be a good fit if your freezer space is limited.
- Availability can change: a separate ALDI listing showed that a four-bar product was unavailable when the page was viewed.
Frozen treats available on Joybuy
This selection includes ice cream bars and lollies, as well as ice pops that need to be frozen before eating. The pack sizes won’t all suit a small shared freezer equally well.
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PAW Patrol vanilla ice cream bars with cocoa sauce, 270 g
A pack of individual ice cream bars to consider if you’re looking for separate portions. Check the number of items on the box before deciding where to store them in the freezer.
The product contains milk and peanuts; almonds, hazelnuts and soya may also be present.
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Binggrae Melona melon ice cream bars, 8 × 70 mL
Eight individual portions may suit you if you have enough room to store the box; this is a larger pack than one containing three or four.
The listed ingredients include milk and the colour E102. Check the product label before buying.
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MAGNUM Vanilla Almond, 8 ice cream bars, 600 g
The eight individually portioned bars are worth considering if your shared freezer can fit this pack, which is larger than a box of three or four.
This product contains milk and almonds; it may contain traces of other nuts.
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CAPRI-SUN orange and cherry ice pops, 12 pieces, 444 g
These orange and cherry treats need to be frozen before eating, so make sure you have room for all twelve in your freezer.
They may contain traces of cereals containing gluten, peanuts, soya, milk and nuts.
Frequently asked questions
Are individual portions always sold on their own?
No. An individual ice cream bar may be part of a box containing several. Carrefour lists boxes of four Magnum bars, for example, while Magnum’s Vegan Almond comes in a pack of three. Check the number of portions if you’re short on space.
What should I check if I’m buying plant-based ice cream or have an allergy?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact recipe. Magnum Vegan Almond contains almonds and may contain milk, soya and other nuts. The name alone isn’t enough to tell you whether it’s suitable for your needs.
How should I transport ice cream to a new home?
Buy it at the end of your shop, carry it in an insulated bag and put it in the freezer as soon as you can, following Anses guidance on keeping food cold. Before you set off, make sure the freezer at your new home is working.