MyTastr

Best vanilla ice cream, according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Mindy Crosato, Kim Laidlaw, Genevieve Yam, Daniel Gritzer and 1 more. Recommendations come from sfchronicle.com, yahoo.com, kqed.org and seriouseats.com.

Freezer · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Straus Organic Vanilla Bean

    Chosen by
    • SF Chronicle blind panel of seven (Esther Mobley, MacKenzie Chung Fegan, Cesar Hernandez, Elena Kadvany, Caleb Pershan; Mario Cortez reporting)
    • Mindy CrosatoDecadent Creations, pastry chef
    Also chosen by
    Won the San Francisco Chronicle’s blind tasting of 13 supermarket vanillas (Sept 2025) and was the panel’s favorite for flavor: a “lotta vanilla” (Mobley), “aggressive” (Fegan), “powerful” (Hernandez), balanced and nutty. Its texture placed only fifth, so expect a slightly lighter, less dense scoop. Organic cream and milk, cane sugar, egg yolks and vanilla bean, with no stabilizers. Pastry chef Crosato calls herself a big fan in EatingWell’s chef panel.
    Where to buy · strausfamilycreamery.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: sfchronicle.com ↗
  2. 2

    Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    The tasting’s Crowd Favorite with the highest marks for flavor: “This is what real vanilla tastes like.” Gritzer singled out its “buttery flavor” (Aug 2026).
    Where to buy · vanleeuwenicecream.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: seriouseats.com ↗
  3. 3

    Alec’s Organic Tahitian Vanilla Bean

    Chosen by
    • SF Chronicle blind panel of seven (Esther Mobley, MacKenzie Chung Fegan, Cesar Hernandez, Elena Kadvany, Caleb Pershan)
    Finished 2nd of 13 in the San Francisco Chronicle’s blind tasting of supermarket vanillas (Sept 2025), right behind Straus. Regenerative organic A2 cream from a small Sonoma County maker, with Tahitian vanilla bean for a floral, rich scoop.
    Where to buy · alecsicecream.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: sfchronicle.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best vanilla ice cream, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Straus Organic Vanilla Bean, chosen by SF Chronicle blind panel of seven (Esther Mobley, MacKenzie Chung Fegan, Cesar Hernandez, Elena Kadvany, Caleb Pershan; Mario Cortez reporting); Mindy Crosato (Decadent Creations, pastry chef). Won the San Francisco Chronicle’s blind tasting of 13 supermarket vanillas (Sept 2025) and was the panel’s favorite for flavor: a “lotta vanilla” (Mobley), “aggressive” (Fegan), “powerful” (Hernandez), balanced and nutty. Its texture placed only fifth, so expect a slightly lighter, less dense scoop. Organic cream and milk, cane sugar, egg yolks and vanilla bean, with no stabilizers. Pastry chef Crosato calls herself a big fan in EatingWell’s chef panel. Source: sfchronicle.com ↗
What are the other top picks for vanilla ice cream?
No. 2 is Van Leeuwen Vanilla Bean, chosen by Lee Musho (Serious Eats blind test of 17); Genevieve Yam (Serious Eats); Daniel Gritzer (Serious Eats). No. 3 is Alec’s Organic Tahitian Vanilla Bean, chosen by SF Chronicle blind panel of seven (Esther Mobley, MacKenzie Chung Fegan, Cesar Hernandez, Elena Kadvany, Caleb Pershan). Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

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