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From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I agree with the above, I think in cheap ice-cream flecks are added for show. and the effect is purely psychological. In homecooking, I find using real vanilla to be much more flavor effective.

From Serious Eats

Valentine's Day Chocolate Giveaway

I used to be all about the milk chocolate, but lately, I've gone over to the dark side!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'Whole Grains: Every Day, Every Way'

quinoa, millet, oats and whole wheat flour. however, I hate whole wheat pasta and will only eat it if forced. brown rice is ok, too!

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I agree with the above, I think in cheap ice-cream flecks are added for show. and the effect is purely psychological. In homecooking, I find using real vanilla to be much more flavor effective.

From Serious Eats

Valentine's Day Chocolate Giveaway

I used to be all about the milk chocolate, but lately, I've gone over to the dark side!

From Serious Eats

Cook the Book: 'Whole Grains: Every Day, Every Way'

quinoa, millet, oats and whole wheat flour. however, I hate whole wheat pasta and will only eat it if forced. brown rice is ok, too!

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

The specks annoy me, however I do like green mint ice cream (which bothers my mom...).

If I have to have vanilla, I prefer the French Vanilla from Vic's in Sacramento. (they have two vanillas)

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

So, the question must be asked, what is the best vanilla ice cream (with or without specks)?

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I don't think so. Actually, I tried the Green & Black vanilla pictured in the post, and it was good of course, but not amazing.

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

Years ago, it was supposed to imply (and it usually did) that the ice cream was of premium quality. Today however, I firmly believe it is more "eye candy" than anything else.

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I work in the dairy industry and can tell you that the specks are mainly for show. Someone else mentioned that they could be ground up pods and that is essentially correct. When they make vanilla extract the pods and seeds are mashed up and soaked in ethanol to extract the flavor components. Once the extract is removed, the pods and seeds are dried and ground further to make the specks. There may be some residual flavor in the specks but not much. An ice cream manufacturer will buy those specks from a vanilla supplier by the boxful and add them to the ice cream along with extract to get the flavor.

A better indicator of quality is whether the flavor is vanilla extract only since that is a defined flavoring. If the label says vanilla and other natural flavors, that means the flavor company has padded out the natural vanilla with additional natural flavor components to tweak the profile. And, of course, when the labels starts talking about artifical flavor and vanillin, walk away.

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

Good vanilla ice cream without flecks vs. good vanilla ice cream with flecks...They are a different breed of cat so it's hard to fairly compare them side-by-side, at least in my book. Each can be satisfyingly good in its own way.

I agree with those who say that flecks don't necessarily equate quality and flavor in a vanilla ice cream.

I'm hoping for a debate about coffee ice cream. There are some really bad coffee ice creams out there and I wonder if coffee ice cream lands on the SE Team's list of classic ice cream flavors.

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

Mmm vanilla bean ice cream... I'm a flecks person myself, but I don't think it conveys "quality".

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I don't really care if it has flecks or not. If the ice cream is good, then the ice cream is good.

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

As far as taste goes I really don't think there's a difference - but I really enjoy me some black specks, and make sure to add them to mine at home.

Some *do* say you eat with your eyes... right?

From Serious Eats

The Vanilla Ice Cream Wars

I like really yellow vanilla ice cream. I've never seen yellow with flecks. Only the pristine white with flecks. Thus, no flecks > flecks.

From Serious Eats

Valentine's Day Chocolate Giveaway

We have a winner!

And it's ... LITTLEBLUESIREN. Someone from Serious Eats will be contacting you shortly for shipping info.

Thanks to everyone who commented, and tune in again later today, tomorrow, and Monday for subsequent chocolate givewaways.

From Serious Eats

Valentine's Day Chocolate Giveaway

Milk-although I wouldn't turn down dark or white! Thank yu for this giveaway.

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