Hosts serving a larger group
Start with the amount of dessert needed. Sainsbury's lists 1.8L and 2L tubs, while several branded options in supermarket listings are around 440ml–465ml.
Who is sharing?
Small groups choosing a particular flavour
A smaller tub can suit a few people who want a specific format, such as the mix-ins in named Ben & Jerry's products or the chocolate shell and sauce in Magnum Double Salted Caramel.
Organisers checking dietary needs
Choose by the exact product label, not the brand name. Tesco lists specifically named non-dairy Ben & Jerry's tubs, while ingredient and allergen notices differ across the M&S and Magnum products described by their makers.
What should you check?
Decide how much the group needs before narrowing the choice by flavour and dietary requirements. Then work out how the tub will stay frozen on the journey.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tub size | Compare the stated volume with the number of people sharing and whether other desserts will be served. Sainsbury's lists 1.8L and 2L tubs; Tesco lists branded 465ml tubs. | I'm serving several people and do not want one small tub to be the only dessert. For a few people, a smaller tub may be enough. |
| Frozen transport | Read the tub's frozen-storage and no-refreezing instructions. Use a cool box or insulated bag with frozen packs, keep it shaded and limit opening it. | The journey and time outdoors mean I need a plan to keep the tub frozen until serving, rather than leaving it on the picnic table. |
| Dietary fit | Check the exact pack's ingredients, allergens and any may-contain notice. If a non-dairy dessert is needed, look for that wording on the particular product. | Someone joining us has a dietary restriction, so I need a tub they can have or a separately labelled alternative. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose between a straightforward flavour and a named product with mix-ins, sauce or a chocolate shell. Check that the flavour format suits the people sharing. | We may want one familiar flavour for the group, or a smaller tub chosen for its particular ingredients and texture. |
Picnic planning mistakes
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Assuming every tub serves a group
The examples in Sainsbury's and Magnum listings range from 440ml to 2L. A 440ml–465ml tub leaves much less to divide between a larger group than a 1.8L–2L format.
Check the volume before choosing a flavour; consider more than one tub or another dessert if the group is large.
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Leaving frozen transport until departure
An ice cream tub can thaw during the journey or while it sits outdoors. Food Standards Agency picnic guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales calls for chilled foods to travel in a cool box or bag with ice or frozen gel packs; the ice cream's own frozen-storage instructions still apply.
Pack the tub into an insulated container with frozen packs, keep it shaded and take it out to serve. Follow any instruction not to refreeze it after thawing.
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Choosing for guests by brand name alone
Ingredients and allergen notices vary by product. M&S lists milk and egg and nut-related warnings for its Toscano Olive Oil tub; Magnum lists a may-contain warning for wheat, barley, oat and nuts on its Double Salted Caramel tub.
Read the current label for the exact flavour before serving and bring a separately labelled alternative when needed.
Brand and retailer references
Häagen-Dazs
A smaller-tub route for a group choosing a particular flavour; Tesco lists Häagen-Dazs Vanilla at 460ml.
- The Häagen-Dazs UK tub range includes vanilla, salted caramel and other named flavours.
- Check the volume and the current pack's ingredients before choosing one tub for the group.
Ben & Jerry's
Named 465ml tubs offer a small-group option with flavours such as Chocolate Fudge Brownie.
- Tesco lists a specifically labelled non-dairy Chocolate Fudge Brownie tub.
- Non-dairy does not describe every Ben & Jerry's tub; check the exact product label.
Magnum
Magnum describes its 440ml Double Salted Caramel tub as ice cream with salted caramel sauce, a milk-chocolate shell and shards.
- The named tub provides a specific shell-and-sauce format for a smaller group.
- Its product information says it may contain wheat, barley, oat and nuts; check the current pack for guests' needs.
Tesco
Tesco's luxury-tub listing includes both own-label and branded flavours.
- The listing includes Tesco Finest Lemon & Limoncello Gelato at 480ml alongside named branded tubs.
- Compare the individual tub's volume, flavour and label rather than treating the assortment as one type of dessert.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's listings provide large-tub examples for a picnic with more people to serve.
- Listed examples include Sainsbury's Cornish Dairy Ice Cream 2L and Wall's Soft Scoop Vanilla 1.8L.
- A large volume does not establish whether its flavour or ingredients suit every guest; check the selected pack.
M&S
M&S Collection includes a 500ml West Country Madagascan Vanilla ice cream and a Toscano Olive Oil flavour.
- M&S describes its vanilla product as made with West Country milk and cream and Madagascan vanilla.
- The Toscano Olive Oil product page lists milk and egg and warns that it is unsuitable for people with nut or peanut allergies.
Joybuy picnic tub options
These Joybuy tubs range from 460ml to 1L, offering different flavours and formats for smaller picnic groups. If you are serving more people, compare the total volume you need with the 1.8L–2L sharing formats discussed above.
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Windy Bank Strawberries & Cream Tub 900ml
The 900ml tub offers more to share than the 440ml–500ml examples, though it is smaller than the 1.8L–2L group formats.
Choose the strawberries-and-cream flavour if it suits your guests. Check the current pack for ingredients and allergens, and plan frozen transport.
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Ben & Jerry's Churrifically Churros-y Ice Cream Tub 465ml
At 465ml, this is a smaller-group dessert rather than a single tub for a large picnic.
Check this flavour's current ingredient and allergen label; do not assume it shares the dietary labelling of another Ben & Jerry's tub. Keep it frozen until serving.
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XO ICE Mango and Coconut Plant-Based Gelato 473ml
This 473ml plant-based gelato is a smaller-format option when a mango-and-coconut flavour suits the group.
Plant-based wording does not replace an exact allergen check: read the current pack for each guest's needs and keep the tub frozen until serving.
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Häagen-Dazs Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream 460ml
The 460ml Belgian Chocolate tub fits a small-group flavour choice better than a volume-led dessert for many guests.
Check the current pack's allergens and frozen-storage instructions; do not refreeze it if its label says not to after thawing.
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Kulfi Ice Original Malai Tub 1L
The 1L malai kulfi tub provides a larger small-group format than the 460ml–473ml options here, but less volume than a 1.8L–2L tub.
Check whether the flavour and current ingredient label suit your guests. Keep the tub frozen during transport and follow its serving instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How big should an ice cream tub be for a summer picnic?
Start with the number of people sharing and whether there will be other desserts. Sainsbury's lists 1.8L and 2L group-size examples, while several branded tubs listed by Tesco and Magnum are around 440ml–465ml; treat the smaller format as a choice for a few people rather than assuming it will serve a large group.
How should I carry an ice cream tub to a picnic?
Keep it frozen according to its label and use an insulated cool box or bag with frozen packs, limiting how often you open it. Food Standards Agency picnic guidance for England, Northern Ireland and Wales advises keeping chilled foods cool and shaded; that guidance does not replace the tub's frozen-storage instructions.
Can I refreeze ice cream after it has thawed?
Do not refreeze a tub if its label says not to after thawing. M&S gives that instruction for its Toscano Olive Oil ice cream, and the Joybuy Häagen-Dazs Vanilla listing also states it; check the instruction on the product you bring.
Are all Ben & Jerry's tubs non-dairy?
No. Tesco labels particular Ben & Jerry's tubs as non-dairy; that does not describe the whole range. Choose a specifically labelled product and check its current ingredients and allergen information.
What should I check when a guest has a food allergy?
Read the current ingredients, allergen information and may-contain notice on the exact tub before serving. Product notices differ: M&S lists milk, egg and nut-related warnings for its Toscano Olive Oil tub, while Magnum Double Salted Caramel carries a may-contain warning for wheat, barley, oat and nuts.