Wanted: Plain Pint-Size Ice Cream Containers

It's Ice Cream Month here at The Kitchn and that means we're hitting the ice cream maker every few days. The freezer is filling up with assorted containers of ice cream, some blog-ready, some not.

It's chaos. I need to give some away but want to present it in something classier than an old piece of Tupperware.

Here's the challenge...

The challenge is to find plain paper ice cream containers, preferably pint-size, without any writing on them to pack my homemade ice cream into and store, or give to friends. You would think it would be easy, but it's not.

I've found a few sources for containers in bulk, but none with more reasonable minimum orders. I'd be willing to split a case of 50 or so with a friend, but that's my limit.

• GelatoMarket.com has a pint container, but aside from its 250 minimum order ($95), there are holes on the top of the lid, which I thought defeated the purpose of sealing the container. It's not a pint of soup!

• Stanpac General Store carries white paper ice cream pint containers (scroll to bottom right of screen), but the minimum quantity is 1000, at a price of $695. Ouch. While you're there, check out all their cool glass milk bottles.

• IceCreamProducts.com whose name alone had me feeling optimistic, has unprinted paper pint containers in minimum order quantities of 20 or 25 (scroll down to item 5678), but the killer is that you can't buy fewer than 500 lids. What?!?

Any ideas?

Comments (34)

I've been grappling with this same issue... no luck. I'll be hanging on every comment.

I bought an ice cream maker last week and am now facing the same issue. I reused a plastic takeout soup container for one batch, and just tupperware for another.

What about paper Chinese takeout boxes? I'm not sure if the gift kind you'd get at Michael's would work, but they might.

I'm looking for them too. Keep us posted.

Try going to a restaurant supply shop, www.restaurantdepot.com.

I hadn't thought of that before. I've been putting my ice cream in tupperware for years - maybe this would take away some of that iciness that sprouts up after a few days (humidity?)

I give out ice cream to friends in containers they can reuse, like a Tupperware. It's not pretty, but better than tossing a bunch of one-use containers in the trash. I also reuse large plastic yogurt or cottage cheese containers. I make my own ice cream labels to wrap around them.

Not sure if paper Chinese takeout boxes will work too well - you want a container that can be tightly sealed and prevent leakage.

I second the quart-sized yogurt container suggestion. They work great!

I buy these containers for soup all the time at my local restaurant supply store (Surfas in Culver City, CA) - usually in 10 packs. They have several different sizes.

How about pint-size glass canning jars?
Kerr, Ball, and Mason all make them.

I know where you can get them, Smart & Final. I bought a bunch of them for just this purpose, and they are perfect. I forget the exact number per pack but definitely more than 10 a bag, and the covers are sold separately.

I buy cases of wide mouth pint mason jars. You can get 12 for less than $10, especially at this time of year, and you can use them over and over. Add some fabric to the top before you screw on the top and you have a pretty package!

christianne: the problem with soup containers is that they have little holes punched in the top to let the steam out. For freezing, you don't want any holes, otherwise you get instant freezer burn. I love Surfas, though! A toy store for me.

Aimi and ehme: Glass wouldn't do well in the freezer.

RJD: The Smart & Final suggestion is great, if you live in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon or Washington. They don't have an e-commerce site. Someone in one of those states want to ship me some?!

I live in Oregon and I would ship you some, but our store is called "Cash & Carry" (from their website). Wonder if it's the same?

RJD: Is there a product number? What exactly is the item name?

i have found the perfect site!

they have plastic containers in the all the right sizes.. from smaller than half a pint (8oz) to larger than a gallon (128oz).

they have skirted lids, recessed lids (for easy stacking), and regular flat lids!

there is no minimum order, although for total orders less than $50 they apply a $10 charge.

the site?

www.containerandpackaging.com

After trying from yogurt to Ziploc containers, I still think ice-cream looks better in pint-size paper containers when I give it away. I will be ordering from GelatoMarket.com and stick a waterproof label on the lid (with the name of the flavor) to cover the holes and to prevent freezer burn. I live in the Boston area and would be willing to split the order if anyone is interested.

I found them at www.thinkgarnish.com and you can buy just one if you want to.

You can find these containers at Wholesale paper supplies
http://wholesalepapersupplies.com/index1.html
The min order is 500 and lids are ordered seperately.

oh. I am just reading the thread now. papillonmosaic, did you end up buying from gelato market? I am in the Boston area too.

I like to eat my ice cream out of my favorite ice-cream bowl or right out of a pint size container. I can understand wanting to give away your gifts away in something that looks the same way as you enjoy it.

I found these ice-cream tubs (1 pint size) on Amazon and I think I'll get them because the times where I have given ice-cream to friends in ugly tupperware they usually give me back my tupperware (it's the polite thing to do) and they request more. So really, they never throw it away, they give it back to you when they want more, and hopefully they reuse it (maybe it can hold soup?). But they are $12 each. I'm sure a nice waterproof label can be added to the tops, side or even discreetly on the bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/Zak-Designs-Cream-White-Pint/dp/B001LBFDZE/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2LDFONRZ2KPAK&colid=28KD4MTDRYZ5A

I found these a few weeks back, sooo cute and cheap!
http://www.sweetblisscontainers.com/

The container with holes in the lid looks perfect! Why not use a sheet of Saran wrap under the lid?

Roxxy84 is right. I've purchased really nice containers from Sweet Bliss Containers a few times over the past year or so. They describe their pattern as looking like an old time ice cream churn. I like that they arent plain. I also use them for gifting too. With the holiday season approaching I am planning to take along some homemade ice cream with me to the parties. woo hoo! Anyway, check them out. I've been super satisfied. website is above. but they are also selling them thru Amazon.com.

Goin..

16 oz, 250 ct for 64.00
http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/14362.html

and there's also compostable, not plain, but close.
http://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/plfc-16.html

If your looking for some plain ice cream (pint containers) I MIGHT (no promises) be able to help!! My family owns an ice cream specialty shop on the Seacoast of NH, my mothers life long dream since she worked in her multiple generation food and spice business in the EU. Now she conjures up about 85 flavors (seasonal). Now that I'm writing about it my mouth is watering!!!! In case we have some at the store I would be a happy to break a shipment (we are closed right now- so, no promises). However, please do note the following:

- Typically restaurant and food suppliers will have relatively low minimums on cups but high minimums of lids (500 is average)
- The pint containers with holes (what we use) actually have another layer of paper below and when you hand pack the ice cream and properly seal the top no air can circulate through the container. Works well.

In case you want to keep your ice cream super duper tasty (as most of us do!) try wrapping the container with a plastic bag. Anyways, I remain at your service... so just drop me a line at m.emmerling@me.com!

I'll be checking in again to see more creative ideas :-)

Enjoy :-)

We have thousands of left over pint containers we are willing to sell very cheep, however they have our product description on them. They were for our Italian ice product, and when we changed our recipes the pints were no longer needed.
Please let me know if anyone is interested. blaise@napoliboys.com

Hey! Plastic is bad for you, the same, aluminum or styrofoam. Be smart green. I'd been looking up for healthy ice cream containers that will also keep my frozen desserts when transporting them for long distances into my cooler. I looked up everywere on the internet, and noticed that Cold Stone Creamery keeps the ice creams on "stainless steel containers" which you can easily buy at Sam's Club and GFS. Since I do not have a store, it definitely had to be airtight containers, which I found on this website http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/food-storage-airtight-containers-c-66_71.html However Bed Bath and Beyond has the stainless steel canisters http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12803923 they have them in different sizes, you can see through the lid and the lid does not crack even if it is in the freezer for weeks, they just work perfect. My frozen desserts do not burn, and last long time in my freezer. Just live it out of the freezer for about 8 minutes before scooping it. I hope this info help you all ;)

Hey! Be smart green. I'd been looking up for healthy ice cream containers that will also keep my frozen desserts when transporting them for long distances into my cooler. I looked up everywere on the internet, and noticed that Cold Stone Creamery keeps the ice creams on "stainless steel pans" which you can easily buy at Sam's Club and GFS. Since I do not own an ice cream store, it definitely had to be airtight containers, which I found on this website http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/food-storage-airtight-containers-c-66_71.html However Bed Bath and Beyond and SEARs have the airtight stainless steel canisters http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=12803923 they have them in different sizes, you can see through the lid and the lid does not crack even if it is in the freezer for weeks, they just work perfect. My frozen desserts do not burn, and last long time in my freezer. Just live it out of the freezer for about 8 minutes before scooping it. I hope this info help you all ;)

I use the containers pictured all of the time - they work great- they sell the tops and bottoms separately at Smart and Final- about $8 for 25 of both- so about 30 cents each for the pint size. They look great with a label and you can give them away. Maybe a bit more per than the quotes posted, but at least you don't have to store 250 of the suckers!

Smart & Final is one of the many things I miss since moving from SF to Chicago.

www.sweetblisscontainers.com

eMail me at Mfpar35 @ gmail .com (no spaces) if you're interested in 1 pint cups w/ lids. I have 600 and only really want about 100 for me. I bought them because they were 100% biodegradable and the best thing I could find for ice cream. The are great!

I will sell for the following price:
50 for $25
100 for $35
200 for $50
300 for $75

I can send a photo if you eMail me. Shipping to the US should be around $5-10.

I forgot to mention that if all you want is a qty of 25 it'd be $15.

I just want to say thanks for the links! Sweet Bliss it is!
And by the way, glass mason jars do absolutely fine in the freezer (whoever said glass wouldn't do well in a freezer obviously never tried it). Plus your ice cream looks awesome in glass jars! Just don't run hot or warm water on them to speed up softening the ice cream or the glass will shatter!