Review: Mint Chocolate Chip Astronaut Ice Cream from American Outdoor Products

I must admit, I like my astronaut ice cream. I know it's simply freeze-dried ice cream and it doesn't taste much like the cold, refreshing ice cream which I'll find on top of a waffle cone or buried under a pile of whipped cream. However, astronaut ice cream is something which has fascinated me since I was a kid. So I couldn't help myself when I stepped into the local science museum and saw a package of American Outdoor Products astronaut ice cream, in a new flavor, no less: mint chocolate chip. Mmm, one of my favorites.

So for $4, I picked up a 0.7-ounce pack (it would have cost the same to buy the cold ice cream at the snack bar, so why not?)

Where's Astronaut Ice Cream Sold?

I bought my astronaut ice cream at a science museum. In fact, I can't think of any science museum I've been to (several) where I haven't seen astronaut ice cream. The astronaut ice cream I bought is produced by American Outdoor Products, Inc. You can order astronaut ice cream directly from their web site. Many camping stores, sports stores, survival stores, and emergency supply stores also sell astronaut ice cream - otherwise typically referred to as freeze-dried ice cream.

Using Astronaut Ice Cream In A Practical Setting

Outside of sucking on chunks of astronaut ice cream while floating 125 miles above Earth in the space shuttle, there are many reasons you might be interested in buying astronaut ice cream:

Camping
Surviving disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, or volcanoes
Eating during a long road trip
Having a sweet snack on the go

Another advantage to carrying freeze-dried ice cream is its slim packaging. A pack of astronaut ice cream can fit in just about anywhere.

The New Mint Chocolate Chip Astronaut Ice Cream

The freeze-dried ice cream I've had tastes much like the cold ice cream except for the flavor. It seems the flavor is much more concentrated in freeze-dried ice cream. This lends to a somewhat syrupy taste. However, for being a treat you can carry literally anywhere, it tastes quite good.

The mint flavor in the mint chocolate chip astronaut ice cream is not too intense. In fact, it really has a nicely subtle presence that complements the chocolate flavoring very well. I'm not sure what the taste-testing process is like before astronaut ice cream is given the formal seal of approval for distribution, but the American Outdoor Products mint chocolate chip astronaut ice cream does have a satisfying flavor that anybody would find to be an enjoyable snack.

Is Astronaut Ice Cream Nutritious?

Even if you're sailing around in orbit while enjoying this dry but tasty treat, you may still want to know what the nutrition label looks like on astronaut ice cream. The numbers below are for a 0.7 ounce of American Outdoor Products mint chocolate chip astronaut ice cream:

Calories 130
Calories from Fat 60
Total Fat 7 grams
Saturated Fat 5 grams
Trans Fat 0 grams
Cholesterol 25 milligrams
Sodium 45 milligrams
Total Carbohydrates 15 grams
Dietary Fiber 0 grams
Sugars 12 grams
Protein 2 grams
Vitamin A 4%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 8%
Iron 0%

Resources

Personal and first-hand knowledge and experience
American Outdoor Products Astronaut Ice Cream Mint Chocolate Chip package