How to Scoop Ice Cream

Reviewed by Chef Jeff Woodward

Last Updated: May 14, 2025

Have you ever watch a professional scoop ice cream? Does it impress you so much that you want to emulate this extraordinary task? This article will show you how to do just that, allowing you to impress children and friends with your skills.

Steps

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1
Choose a good scoop. What you are looking for in a scoop is:
- Good handle grip
  - Ergonomic
  - Won't slide very easily
- Sharp edges (this makes for easy scooping)
- Wide scoop (for maximum ice cream retrieval)
Scoop your ice cream on the sideboard next to the sink. Put both scoops into a large coffee cup under running hot water long enough to heat them up for 20-30 seconds. If you're scooping ice cream for several kids/people, leave the water running at a trickle into the cup. Heating the scoops makes it easier to glide through the ice cream and ultimately speeds up the process.^{[1]
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^{[2]
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Research source} Using the side edge of your scoop, scoop in a circular motion or an "S" shaped motion, allowing for round, even scoops. Don't take too long-it will melt!
When you have scooped out the ice cream, place it in a dish or a cone then drop that scoop back into the cup and grab the other. This way you always have a heated scoop handy. The ice cream falls from a heated scoop much more easily than from a cold one - thus using it for only one or two scoops before returning it to the heated water and grabbing the second one.

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Question

How do I use a plastic scoop spoon?

Community Answer

Run it under warm water before scooping.

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Question

Where does the ice cream come in?

Community Answer

You take it out before you do anything and just set it to the side until you are ready to scoop.

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Question

How many ounces does a standard scoop of ice cream weigh?

Community Answer

Most weigh about 6 to 8 ounces.

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Tips

Try making a banana split by putting three scoops of ice cream (preferably 3 different flavors) on 2 bananas (you may want to use halves of 1 banana, depending on the size of your scoops) on both sides of the dish and adding whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and rainbow sprinkles, and, of course, a cherry on top! (Serves 1).^{[3]
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Work very quickly so it doesn't melt!

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Wash and re-heat the scooper in your container filled with hot water after each scoop-keep your container nearby.

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