Summer is fast approaching and as the weather gets warmer, the food gets cooler. A classic summer treat is ice cream, and with so many choices, it can be hard to decide which brand will satisfy your ice cream cravings.

The first form of ice cream was found in China around A.D. 618-907. However, throughout time, people have perfected the recipes for the cold and creamy dessert. A typical ice cream is made out of milk, sugar, cream, and some sort of flavoring. Making ice cream can take up to a day and “requires three gallons of whole milk to make one gallon of ice cream,” according to the Daily Meal.

To establish which brand of ice cream is best, it consists of testing flavor (chocolate), price, and melting time. The ice cream was measured out to six grams, placed in a paper cup, and timed to find the average melting rate. The flavor was rated by two people and averaged out, and the price was recorded at the store when bought. After testing five different brands:-Breyer’s, Edy’s, Häagen-Dazs, Lucerne, and Kroger Deluxe- there are a few that stand out from the rest.

The two least impressive brands were Edy’s and Lucerne. Edy’s had an average melting time of about forty-seven minutes, and Lucerne’s average was about thirty-nine minutes. Although both of these brands are affordable (Edy’s was about $5 for 3 pints, and Lucerne was about $3 for 8 pints.) and don’t melt too fast, they didn’t have anything special. Additionally, the flavor was not rich, and frankly boring. Specifically, Edy’s was not particularly sweet, and Lucerne was quite plain. Edy’s was a solid 5/10 and Lucerne was a 4/10. Edy’s and Lucerne are still a decent choice, but they could add richer chocolate to the ice cream base to improve the flavor aspect.

The classic brand Breyer’s with a typical, but unremarkable taste, scored 6/10. The flavor was generic, but much better compared to the Edy’s and Lucerne with a creamier texture. Breyer’s is affordable, at around $5 for 3 pints. Breyer’s average melting time was about forty-one minutes, which is fair for a cheaper brand. The only thing keeping Breyer’s from being at the top of the list is that it lacks a strong chocolate flavor.

Another ice cream with an average score is Kroger Deluxe. With a sweeter and richer flavor, Kroger would be at the top of the list, however it was the fastest-melting ice cream. With an average melting time of thirty one minutes it is not ideal for a hot summer’s day. For an affordable pint at $2.29, it had a surprisingly smooth texture, but yet again, it feels like something is missing. Somewhat flavorful, but not functional, 7.5/10.

The best ice cream tested was Häagen-Daz. However, quality ice cream comes with a price tag. Häagen-Daz costs around $5 for a pint. It had the best flavor with a creamy, smooth, rich, sweet (but not too sweet) ice cream. This brand was able to do what a few of the other brands were lacking. Along with a good flavor, Häagen-Dazs also has a great melting time average, at about one hour and eight minutes. If you want a chocolate ice cream that has it all, Häagen-Dazs will be a good choice, 9/10.

After testing five different brands of ice cream for their flavor, melting time, and cost, Häagen-Dazs is the best overall choice. Some other great options would be Breyer’s and Kroger Deluxe if you want quality ice cream without paying five dollars a pint.