Costco Shoppers Are Fighting Over Whether Aldi's Vanilla Ice Cream Is Actually Better

A viral Reddit taste test is reigniting one of the internet’s most passionate grocery debates: Costco’s Kirkland vanilla ice cream versus Aldi’s Specially Selected version.

The original poster set out to settle the question after seeing claims that Aldi’s ice cream was secretly better than Costco’s. Their verdict landed firmly in Costco’s favor, describing it as thick, rich and creamy, while calling the Aldi version thinner and more watery by comparison.

That take set off a flood of disagreement in the comments. Plenty of shoppers pushed back hard, arguing Aldi’s version is actually the superior product because it skips the stabilizers and gums found in Costco’s recipe. Several commenters said Costco’s texture feels artificial or overly chewy as a result, with a few describing it as tasting closer to frozen pudding than traditional ice cream.

Other shoppers jumped in to defend Costco, insisting the gums are exactly what gives the ice cream its signature rich mouthfeel, and that the tradeoff is worth it. One commenter pointed out that “super premium” technically refers to higher butterfat content and less air in the mix, not necessarily a judgment on overall quality, adding another layer to the disagreement.

The debate didn’t stop at just two brands. Commenters flooded the thread with their own favorites, name-checking Trader Joe’s, Tillamook, Lidl, Häagen-Dazs and even Kroger’s private-label vanilla as contenders. Several claimed Trader Joe’s vanilla tastes nearly identical to Costco’s, speculating the two may come from the same manufacturer, though that connection wasn’t independently confirmed in the thread.

Price also came up as a factor. The original poster noted Aldi’s container ran $5.49 for 48 ounces, while Costco’s two half-gallon set cost $14.99, making the per-ounce price roughly comparable between the two.

For now, the debate remains unsettled, with shoppers split largely based on personal texture preferences: those who love a dense, creamy bite are sticking with Costco, while those seeking a “cleaner” ingredient list are firmly on Team Aldi.