I tried frozen custard from Culver's, Freddy's, and Shake Shack — and there's only one chain I'm rushing to return to

Culver's is simply a beloved Midwest staple based successful Wisconsin.

What started arsenic a location specialty operates complete 1,000 locations crossed 26 states, though Midwesterners (myself included) still declare it arsenic their own. I grew up successful Illinois conscionable 5 minutes from a Culver's.

The concatenation is known for its ButterBurgers, and of course, its custard.

The first point I noticed erstwhile I arrived astatine my section Culver's was a partially afloat parking batch and kids peeping astatine maine from the windows.

Diners occupied astir six tables, and judging by appearances, a important information were nether the property of 10.

As overmuch arsenic I enjoyed the family vibe, the edifice itself wasn't thing special. I benignant of felt for illustration I was successful a healthcare setting, acknowledgment to the plain grey tables, generic carpet, and fluorescent lighting.

Another Midwest favorite, Freddy's began successful Kansas and has since expanded to 37 states and Canada. It has complete 500 stores, including a fewer adjacent my existent location successful Indiana.

As the sanction suggests, Freddy's is celebrated for its signature steakburgers and stiff custard. I'd only ever been present 1 different time, and it was rather recently.

A agelong statement awaited maine astatine Freddy's. It stretched not rather to the door, but halfway there.

Whereas kids dominated Culver's, Freddy's seemed to person a overmuch older clientele. This mightiness beryllium because of its senior meals, which launched earlier this twelvemonth and connection discounts to the over-55 crowd.

The wrong looked notably cute, pinch a retro red-and-white taxable that made it consciousness for illustration a vintage diner.

Shake Shack is based successful New York, wherever it started arsenic a hot-dog cart successful Madison Square Park.

It operates complete 350 restaurants successful the United States and abroad, yet somehow, I'd ne'er been. From what I've heard, Shake Shack has beautiful tasty burgers and custard-based treats.

Unlike Culver's and Freddy's, some a fewer miles from downtown Indianapolis, Shake Shack had a location successful the bosom of the city.

The interior still seemed chic, modern, and industrial, pinch colorful wall murals, exposed-pipe ceilings, and shiny floors that appeared to beryllium concrete.

Much to my surprise, only a fewer of the tables were successful usage during my visit. I besides liked the convenient self-ordering kiosk.

With Culver's create-your-own option, I could take a vanilla aliases cocoa custard base, either successful a crockery aliases arsenic a Concrete Mixer, and adhd toppings.

For those wondering, a Concrete Mixer is conscionable Culver's trademarked type of a custard actual — a stiff custard pinch toppings blended in.

Per my plan, I ordered the smallest-size crockery of vanilla custard ($3.39) and a vanilla-based Concrete Mixer pinch Oreo pieces ($4.59). The actual included 2 free mix-ins, but I only opted for Oreos.

The ample paper screens connected televisions were retired of work erstwhile I arrived, but luckily, location were insubstantial menus.

I already knew what I wanted, anyway: a mini crockery of vanilla custard ($3.39) and an Oreo-themed custard actual ($4.69).

Like Culver's, Freddy's actual custard had a create-your-own option, which included 1 free mix-in. Mine, of course, was Oreos.

Light successful colour and dense successful texture, the dessert seemed for illustration a thicker type of soft-serve crystal cream. It had a velvety mouthfeel and sweet, vanilla-bean-like flavor. The plain vanilla felt thing but plain.

That said, I was incredibly disappointed successful the portion. I cognize I ordered the smallest size, but the 8-ounce cup arrived hardly half full.

For those seeking a classical vanilla flavor, Freddy's delivered. It was tasty and decadent yet not overpowering.

However, the custard itself had a drippy consistency successful the vessel and a grainy 1 successful my mouth. Far from smooth, it lacked what defined custard: a luscious, full-bodied texture.

Again, I was disappointed successful the information I was served. This 1 seemed moreover much scant than Culver's, and my 8-ounce cup had plentifulness of room near successful it.

Shake Shack's vanilla custard wasn't overly sweet, but it still had a beardown vanilla taste, and I appreciated the creamy texture. It didn't consciousness excessively heavy, either.

Shake Shack's mini custard seemed for illustration a awesome value. My information size felt monolithic compared to the different chains, to the constituent wherever I wondered if the unit had fixed maine other by mistake.

Later, a Shake Shack spokesperson told BI that, successful the US, its custard comes successful a azygous scoop (5 ounces) aliases a double scoop (8 ounces).

Although I ordered a small, and that's what I was charged for, I felt for illustration I was served much than 5 ounces. It looked for illustration possibly I'd been fixed 2 scoops, too.

When my Concrete Mixer arrived looking arsenic heavy arsenic ever, I knew I was successful for a treat.

The actual custard was truthful patient that I could flip the cup for illustration a Dairy Queen Blizzard without thing spilling retired — and the texture mirrored it, too. It was moreover silkier than Culver's plain vanilla custard.

I didn't expect to find important chunks of Oreos, either, yet the actual was peppered pinch ample and mini bits that fell isolated successful my mouth. The Concrete Mixer checked each container and more.

Similar to its plain vanilla custard, Freddy's Oreo-themed actual had a bully vanilla flavor. And for illustration Culver's, it had existent cooky pieces.

But the custard itself didn't look patient capable to me. Soft and liquidy, it mimicked a shingle alternatively than a concrete.

As I ate it pinch a spoon, I wondered if I could portion it pinch a straw. (Later, I tested it and confirmed that I could.)

I was incapable to find the information sizes for the custards and concretes astatine each concatenation connected the paper aliases online — eventually, I conscionable reached retired to section stores and institution office straight to confirm.

As I mentioned, my mini vanilla custards astatine Freddy's and Culver's should person been served successful 8-ounce dishes, and my Shake Shack custard should person been a 5-ounce azygous scoop.

I paid $3.39 for a mini vanilla custard astatine Culver's and Freddy's. Shake Shack's type costs maine $4.49 — $1.10 much — but to beryllium fair, my custard information seemed almost double the size … moreover though, connected paper, it was expected to beryllium smaller.

In position of custard concretes, Freddy's had a flimsy value advantage.

At Culver's, my mini 8-ounce Concrete Mixer came to $4.59, aliases $0.57 per ounce. Freddy's mini 10-ounce actual mixer costs $4.69, aliases $0.47 per ounce.

All successful all, though, prices felt beautiful comparable and adjacent crossed the board.

In position of plain vanilla custard, it was a toss-up betwixt Culver's and Shake Shack.

In my opinion, Shake Shack dominated successful the worth department, considering the generous information I received (though I'd person to effort ordering it again to spot whether it was conscionable my fortunate day).

For the champion sensation and texture, however, I'd still urge Culver's plain vanilla custard. It had the densest, astir unsocial consistency and the sweetest flavor.

Still, there's only 1 dessert I tried that really blew maine distant …

Out of the desserts I tried, Culver's Concrete Mixer was the only 1 I'd bid again.

It dominated successful sensation and value, and moreover though it costs a smidge much per ounce than Freddy's, I'd gladly salary a small extra.

Plus, I liked the 8-ounce size, particularly for specified a rich | treat. Any much would person been excessively overmuch of a bully point — for me, anyway.

Business Insider reached retired to Freddy's, Shake Shack, and Cuver's for comment.