Survey Shows Most Americans Prefer This Style Ice Cream Cone

Come warmer weather, ice cream is a staple treat. Creamy, cold, delicious. People have been enjoying similar treats since the second century, says the International Dairy Foods Association, but it wasn't until the 16th century that ice cream as we know it today emerged.

Big brands like Ben & Jerry's, Häagen-Dazs, and Breyers pioneer new flavors for us each year. Some flavors are immediate hits, and others, like Ben & Jerry's peanuts and popcorn ice cream, don't sell all that well. Ice cream shops around the world entice customers with unbelievable flavors like cow tongue, corn on the cob, ghost pepper, lobster, fig and turkey, and Cheetos (via Mental Floss).

Of course, no ice cream treat is complete without a cone. Today, we have a variety to choose from: waffle cones, bubble waffle cones, sugar cones, and pretzel cones. You can also get ice cream in a cup or a bowl, if you're worried about making a mess. 

During the summer of 2021, YouGovAmerica surveyed more than 6,500 Americans to find out the most popular style of ice cream cone. As it turns out, 33% of participants didn't even vote for a type of cone — they voted for getting their ice cream in a cup.

Moving on to cones, 32% of participants voted for the waffle cone. Another 16% voted for sugar cones, and 8% voted for cake cones. The remaining votes went to other (2%), don't know (3%), and I don't eat ice cream (6%).

More than 800 million gallons of ice cream are produced in the U.S. each year, according to World Atlas, so you can imagine that's a lot of cups and cones. If cones aren't your thing, try to opt for a recyclable cup or bowl if possible. We can continue to enjoy our ice cream, but let's also do so responsibly.