Hosts serving a larger group
A larger tub makes sense when several people want the same flavour. Check the pack size and where it will stay frozen until serving.
Who is sharing the tub?
Small groups choosing a particular dessert
A smaller tub gives flavour and mix-ins more weight in the decision. Check its serving statement rather than assuming one tub will cover the group.
Hosts accommodating dietary needs
Choose the exact flavour with each guest’s requirements in mind. A non-dairy label does not replace reading its ingredients and allergy advice.
What should you check before choosing?
Work out how you will keep the dessert frozen and serve it, then choose a format and check the exact pack for dietary suitability.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen transport | Check the product’s frozen-storage instructions. Pack it in an insulated cool bag or box with frozen packs, and keep the container shaded and closed until serving. | I need the tub to stay frozen on the journey and while the picnic is under way. |
| Group size | Compare tub capacity with the number of people sharing. Tesco Groceries lists larger 900ml and 2-litre tubs; Sainsbury’s states that its Häagen-Dazs Vanilla 460ml tub contains at least four portions. | If several people want one flavour, I would start with a larger tub. For a smaller group, a particular flavour may matter more than volume. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients and allergy advice on the exact pack. Check a non-dairy option against the guest’s full requirements rather than relying on its front label alone. | One of my guests may need a separate option, and I need to know whether the exact flavour suits them. |
| Serving format | For a tub, bring a scoop and something to serve into, and keep the tub closed between portions. If individual portions matter more, consider sticks instead of a sharing tub. | Would we rather scoop one dessert to share, or hand out separate portions? |
Picnic buying mistakes to avoid
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Choosing a small tub without counting guests
A 420–465ml tub may mean opening several tubs when a larger group wants dessert.
Check capacity and any serving statement on the exact pack before deciding how many tubs to take.
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Leaving frozen transport until the last minute
Travel and repeated opening can leave the dessert thawed before it is served. The Food Standards Agency’s picnic guidance recommends a cool bag or box with ice or frozen gel packs.
Pick up frozen items last, pack them with frozen packs and keep the container shaded and closed until serving.
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Assuming a flavour suits every guest
Ingredients and allergy advice differ between flavours; a non-dairy label alone does not settle every allergy question.
Check the current pack of each flavour and bring a separate, clearly identified option where guests’ requirements differ.
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Treating sticks as a sharing tub
The Magnum sticks and mini sticks shown in Sainsbury’s reviewed range offer individual portions, not a dessert to scoop from one tub.
Choose sticks if separate portions are the aim; otherwise compare actual tub sizes and plan how to serve them.
Brand and retailer ranges to consider
These ranges illustrate different picnic formats; a brand name alone cannot establish the size, ingredients or suitability of an individual product.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label ice cream in larger tub sizes alongside branded options.
- Its reviewed range included a 2-litre Cornish ice cream tub and 900ml tubs.
- Check the current pack for its recipe and serving information.
Mackie's
Mackie's offers a larger dairy-tub route: Tesco Groceries listed a 2-litre Traditional Luxury Dairy tub.
- A larger format is worth considering when several guests want the same dairy flavour.
- A Honeycomb Harvest bundle is a different flavour and configuration from the Traditional tub; check which product you are selecting.
Häagen-Dazs
Its 420–460ml tubs are an option for a smaller group choosing a particular flavour.
- Sainsbury’s states that its Vanilla 460ml tub contains at least four portions.
- The Vanilla recipe contains milk and egg; check other flavours individually rather than applying that ingredient list to the range.
Ben & Jerry's
The range includes smaller tubs with mix-ins and some products labelled non-dairy.
- Tesco Groceries lists 465ml tubs, including Chocolate Fudge Brownie.
- Allergy advice varies by flavour; read the exact product’s current label.
M&S
M&S lists dairy and plant-based tubs, alongside frozen yoghurt and sorbet options.
- Its Plant Kitchen range offers a starting point for shoppers looking at plant-based tubs.
- Check the exact product and your chosen Foodhall’s selection before planning the picnic around it.
Magnum
Magnum is relevant here as an individually portioned alternative to a shared tub.
- Sainsbury’s reviewed Magnum range included sticks and mini-stick multipacks.
- Those products do not provide a scoop-and-share tub format.
Ice cream tubs on Joybuy
These Joybuy options span larger dairy tubs, a smaller chocolate tub and a plant-based gelato tub. Choose by group size and flavour, then check the current pack against guests’ dietary needs.
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Kulfi Ice Original Malai Tub 1L
Consider this 1L tub when the group wants to scoop and share a malai-flavoured dessert. Check the current pack for milk and other allergy advice, and keep it frozen for the picnic.
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Mackie's Traditional Real Dairy Ice Cream 2 Litres (2 × 1 Litre)
Two 1-litre tubs offer a way to serve a larger group without opening both at once. Check the current pack for milk, egg and precautionary nut advice; keep both tubs frozen until needed.
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Carte D'Or Indulgent Chocolate Ice Cream Dessert 900ml
The 900ml tub is a chocolate option for a group sharing one dessert. Check the current pack for milk and precautionary advice concerning soya, gluten and nuts, and transport it frozen.
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Ben & Jerry's Phish Food Ice Cream 465ml
This smaller chocolate tub suits a group choosing Phish Food rather than a larger plain-flavoured tub. Check the current pack for milk, egg, soya and any other allergy advice before serving.
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XO ICE Plant-Based Mango and Coconut Gelato 473ml
Consider this smaller plant-based tub when a non-dairy-labelled dessert is needed. It contains coconut and is unsuitable for someone with a coconut allergy; check the current pack for its full ingredients and precautionary allergy advice.
Picnic ice cream questions
How should I transport an ice cream tub to a picnic?
Use an insulated cool bag or box with ice or frozen gel packs, as the Food Standards Agency’s picnic guidance recommends. Keep it shaded and closed until serving, and follow the frozen-storage instructions on the exact tub.
How much ice cream should I take for a group?
Start with the number of guests, the tub’s capacity and any serving statement on its pack; volume alone does not guarantee a particular number of portions. Sainsbury’s states that its Häagen-Dazs Vanilla 460ml tub contains at least four portions, while Tesco Groceries lists larger 900ml and 2-litre formats for groups sharing one flavour.
Does a non-dairy tub suit every food allergy?
No. Check the exact pack’s ingredients and allergy advice against each guest’s requirements; a non-dairy label does not address every other ingredient or precautionary statement.
Are Magnum sticks a substitute for a sharing tub?
They offer a different serving format. The sticks and mini sticks shown in Sainsbury’s reviewed Magnum range provide individual portions rather than a tub to scoop and share.
Can I refreeze ice cream that has thawed?
Follow the instructions on the exact product. The reviewed Häagen-Dazs and Ben & Jerry's product information says not to refreeze once thawed, so plan to keep those tubs frozen throughout transport and serving.