This study investigated the changes in the physicochemical, microbiological, textural, and nutritional values of ice cream produced by various methods with the addition of different lactic acid bacteria. Adding lactic acid bacteria to the ice cream mix caused a decrease in firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, index of viscosity, pH, aw, first drop, complete melting, and overrun values (p < .05). These decreases were more pronounced in the samples to which lactic acid bacteria were added before mix maturation (p < .05). Firmness and consistency values varied between 15.11–16.26 (g) and 374.58–404.91 (g s), respectively, in the samples to which lactic acid bacteria were added before maturation. No significant effect of the addition of lactic acid bacteria to the ice cream mix on the L*, a*, and b* values of the bacteria before or after mix maturation was detected (p > .05). The L* values of the samples varied between 88.91 and 83.36, a* values between 0.76 and 1.32, and b* values between 6.57 and 8.38. An increase was detected in the amount of organic acid (excluding formic acid) in the samples produced with the addition of different lactic acid bacteria (p < .05). The number of fatty acids in the samples varied depending on the lactic acid addition and the production method; the rate of this change was generally higher in the samples with added lactic acid bacteria after mix maturation (p < .05). In particular, the amounts of short‐ and medium‐chain fatty acids increased in the samples with lactic acid bacteria added after mix ripening, compared to the control sample. Ice cream, not typically considered a fermented dairy product, can be converted into one thanks to the lactic acid bacteria added to it, improving and altering its textural, sensory, and microbiological properties. The addition of lactic acid bacteria can also raise ice cream's functional and nutritional values. This study highlighted and examined the characteristics of ice cream made in various methods by adding various lactic acid bacteria.