Small groups wanting individual servings
A cone multipack gives each guest a ready-made portion. Compare both the number of cones and the volume per cone: Tesco Groceries lists multipacks in different count-and-size combinations.
Who is each format for?
Households serving biscuits with ice cream
A tub lets you scoop into bowls and vary the amount served, including when you plan to use it on more than one occasion. Tesco Groceries lists tubs in sizes including 900 ml, 1 L, 1.8 L and 2 L.
Hosts checking dietary requirements
Choose by the exact product label rather than its brand or format. Tesco Groceries lists a Cornetto non-dairy vegan gluten-free cone and a Swedish Glace vegan tub; those descriptions do not establish the suitability of other products in either range.
What should you check before choosing?
Decide how you will serve the ice cream, then compare quantities and check the label of the pack you intend to buy.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Serving style | Check whether the pack provides individual cones or a tub to scoop. Consider whether you will need bowls and a scoop. | One ready-made portion per guest would simplify serving; for ice cream alongside biscuits in bowls, I would rather choose how much to scoop. |
| Quantity | For cones, compare pack count and ml per cone. For tubs, compare the stated volume with the portions you intend to serve; volume alone does not set a serving size. | If several people are coming, I want enough individual cones for everyone. If portions will vary or I plan to serve ice cream again, a tub may fit better. |
| Dietary suitability | Read the exact pack’s ingredients, highlighted allergens, dietary claims and any precautionary allergen wording. A claim on one product does not apply to its whole range. | When serving someone with a dietary requirement, I need to check the product they will actually eat, not rely on the brand name or the word “vegan”. |
| Freezer storage | Check that the pack fits your freezer and follow its storage instructions, particularly if you expect to serve from a tub more than once. | For repeat servings, I need a format I can store and handle according to the pack directions. |
Common buying mistakes
-
Judging a cone pack by its count alone
The number of cones does not tell you how large each serving is. Tesco Groceries lists mini cones at 25 ml each alongside cones at 140 ml each.
Compare the count and ml per cone with the number of guests and the portions you intend to offer.
-
Assuming a larger tub always suits sharing better
A tub allows variable portions but needs scooping and bowls. It may be less convenient when you want to hand each guest a ready-made serving.
Choose the format around how you will serve the biscuits and ice cream, then check the stated quantity.
-
Using a brand name or vegan claim as an allergen check
Ingredients differ between products. Magnum’s Double Salted Caramel 440 ml tub lists milk and soya ingredients, while Tesco Groceries lists a separate Cornetto cone with vegan and gluten-free claims.
For a guest with an allergy, check the exact pack’s ingredients, highlighted allergens and any precautionary statement. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary allergen wording can indicate possible unintended allergen presence.
Brand and retailer references
Cornetto
Tesco Groceries lists Cornetto cone multipacks, including 4 × 140 ml Soft cones and a 4 × 90 ml non-dairy vegan gluten-free product.
- The multipack format provides individual cone servings.
- Pack sizes and dietary claims vary by product; check the exact variant.
Magnum
Magnum describes a range of spoonable ice-cream tubs. Its Double Salted Caramel tub is labelled 440 ml.
- A tub allows portions to be scooped into bowls.
- The Double Salted Caramel example lists milk and soya ingredients; check the label of any other variant separately.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists both cone multipacks and tubs, including Tesco Vanilla Ice Cream in a 900 ml tub.
- Its listings let shoppers compare individual-serving and scooped-serving formats.
- Check the selected product’s size and ingredients rather than applying one listing’s details to another.
Joybuy options for cones and tubs
These options include tubs for scooping alongside biscuits and cone multipacks for individual servings. Check the stated quantity against your plans for tea time.
No image available
Mackie's of Scotland Traditional Real Dairy Ice Cream, 2 × 1 L
Two 1 L tubs give you a scooped-serving format for bowls of ice cream with biscuits or for more than one occasion.
Decide how much to serve each guest; the pack size alone does not determine the number of portions. Check the exact label for allergens and storage directions.
No image available
Kulfi Ice Pistachio Tub, 1 L
This 1 L tub is an option when you want to scoop portions into bowls alongside biscuits.
Check whether its volume suits your intended portions, and read the exact pack label for ingredients and allergens before serving guests.
No image available
Cornetto Classico Ice Cream Cones, 6 × 90 ml
Six individual 90 ml cones suit a plan to give each guest a ready-made serving rather than scoop from a tub.
The portions are fixed, so compare the pack count with your guest list and check the exact label for allergens.
No image available
Cadbury Flake 99 Cones, 4 × 125 ml
Four individual 125 ml cones offer ready-made servings when that count matches your group.
The pack states 500 ml in total. Unlike a tub, it does not let you vary the amount scooped for each guest; check the exact label for allergens.
No image available
Nutella Ice Cream Tub, 470 ml
This 470 ml tub lets you scoop differing amounts into bowls to serve with biscuits.
Compare its volume with the portions you intend to offer, and check the exact pack label for ingredients and allergens.
Questions about cones and tubs
Should I buy cones or a tub for tea and biscuits?
Choose cones if one ready-made portion per person suits your plans. Choose a tub if you want to serve ice cream with biscuits in bowls, vary portions or keep some for another occasion; compare the stated count or volume with the people you expect.
Can an ice-cream cone be labelled gluten-free?
Yes, but the claim must apply to the exact product. Tesco Groceries lists a Cornetto Non Dairy Vegan Gluten Free Vanilla Ice Cream Cone in a 4 × 90 ml pack; that listing does not make other cones or Cornetto products gluten-free.
Does a vegan label answer every allergen question?
No. Read the specific pack’s full ingredients, highlighted allergens and any precautionary allergen wording. The Food Standards Agency explains that precautionary wording, such as “may contain”, communicates possible unintended allergen presence.
What should I check if I plan to serve from a tub more than once?
Follow the tub’s storage instructions and check how much freezer space it needs. The Food Standards Agency’s review notes that thawing frozen food and then storing it at substantially higher temperatures can increase spoilage and foodborne-illness risks, so do not treat a softened tub as unchanged.