Best Popsicle Molds
Nothing says fun like a popsicle. Most of us have fond memories of going to the corner store to buy colorful fruit-flavored popsicles – cool, sweet and delicious. It’s not much different now. These frozen treats are still popular with kids and adults and now you can make them at home any time you like using a popsicle mold.
These handy tools are so easy to use: just mix up your ingredients, pop in a handle or wooden stick, put them in the freezer and in a few hours, you’re enjoying a sweet treat.
Using a popsicle mold to make these yummy favorites also lets you avoid artificial colors and chemicals found in some store-bought brands.
You get to control the ingredients so you don’t have to worry about too much sugar. You don’t even have to add any sugar. Homemade popsicles can be made with any ingredients, including healthy yogurt and fresh fruit.
We feature a handful of the best popsicle molds you can find online. Read on to find the ones that suit your needs.
1. Editor’s Choice: Ozera Reusable Popsicle Molds Ice Pop Molds Maker
There’s nothing as indestructible as sturdy plastic, even when it comes to popsicle molds. A throwback to the 20th century, popsicle molds were always made from plastic. These days, the material is not only more solid, but it’s safer, too, especially if the plastic is BPA-free.
If you’re looking for a good set of plastic popsicle molds to make these sweet treats for yourself and your family, then you may want to consider ones made by Ozera. This reusable ice pop maker is made from durable, premium BPA-free plastic, so you can use them again and again in the freezer for many years.
The base that holds the popsicle molds measures 6 inches x 5.5 inches by 8 inches, so it stands up nicely and won’t take up too much space in the freezer. Since each mold is separate from the other, unlike other models that attached to the base, this popsicle set lets you take out as many as you need at a time. This is also convenient when you have to loosen the frozen pop from the mold. Instead of getting warm water on them all, you only use a bit of water on the one pop. Very convenient.
And when it comes to making a mess, the each reusable handle features a built-in drip guard to keep your hands and clothes clean. The set comes with a brush to make clean up a snap, and you can use the silicone funnel to help guide the liquid into the mold. Whether you use orange juice, mashed bananas, yogurt, blueberries or chocolate milk, it will all turn into a delicious frozen treat in no time at all.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Each popsicle sits individually in the base for easy removal
- Made from sturdy BPA-free plastic
- Reusable plastic handles with drip guard
- Pops out easily when frozen and ready to eat
- Makes 6 popsicles
Cons:
- Plastic is not labeled with recycling code
2. Best Disposable: Frozip 125 Disposable Ice Popsicle Mold Bags
Reusable popsicle molds are great but sometimes we’re on the way out of the house and don’t want to be left with a handle that may get lost. That’s where disposable popsicle molds come in. If you have a houseful of kids that are always on the go – and sometimes lose things – you may want to consider these disposable ice popsicle mold bags from Frozip.
The set comes with 125 disposable freezer tubes that you fill with liquid, zip and pop into the freezer. So easy, too, since each tube is marked with a fill line, so you don’t put too much into the tube. Whether you fill them with juice, crushed fruit or a mixture of fruit and yogurt, you just fill them, zip them closed, lay them flat in the freezer and they will freeze in a few hours. The next time you have to run errands and the kids are craving a cool, sweet treat, just grab a few of the frozen tubes and everyone will be happy. And there’s no stick or handle to hold on to, or lose.
There is no need to worry about cheaply made or unsafe popsicle bags. These disposable plastic tubes are 100 percent BPA and phthalate-free and comply with the safety regulations of the USDA Certified Food Grade and Freezer Product.
Pros:
- Comes with a funnel
- Tubes measure 8 inches x 2 inches
- BPA-free, non-toxic plastic bags
- Includes 125 plastic mold bags and a funnel
Cons:
- Plastic is not recyclable
- More expensive than reusable molds
3. Best Silicone: Arctico Popsicle Molds
For anyone who wants to stay away from plastic but is still looking for a good reusable popsicle mold, silicone is a good alternative. Flexible and easy to clean, it is also non-stick, which makes it easy to pull out a frozen treat.
If you’re looking to make healthy frozen treats for your kids, you may want to consider Arctico’s reusable easy-release silicone popsicle molds. This set makes six frozen treats and lets you create an endless array of flavors using ingredients such as fruit, yogurt, gelatin, jam, jellies, pudding and juice.
The food-grade silicone is BPA-free, easy to clean with the included brush, and reusable so you can churn out dozens of delicious popsicles for many years. The opening of each mold is wide for easy filling, but in case you find it difficult, just use the silicone funnel that is included in the set. Making fun frozen treats has never been easier.
Pros:
- Made from BPA-free silicone
- Easy to remove frozen pops from the mold
- Set of six
- Cleaning brush and funnel included
Cons:
- More expensive than plastic molds
4. Best Stainless Steel: Kitzini Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds
For some people, plastic or silicone anything is out of the question. Luckily, it’s possible to find popsicle molds made from quality stainless steel. If you are looking for an alternative to plastic and silicone, you may want to consider these stainless steel molds from Kitzini.
Made from premium rust-resistant stainless steel, this mold will never leave a metal aftertaste on your pops. The molds have a classic square-edged shape with a wide mouth so they are easy to fill with whatever creative concoctions you come up with. The set comes with a matching stainless steel rack to hold the popsicles in place so there’s no worry about them tipping over and spilling while they are still in liquid form.
Each mold comes with a lid, an airtight silicone ring into which a bamboo stick is inserted. The set also includes six extra silicone rings and 50 reusable bamboo sticks. Since the molds sit separate from each other, it’s easy to pull out just one or three from the freezer without disturbing the rest. Dip the popsicle into a bowl of warm water and the frozen treat slides easily out.
Pros:
- Made from quality stainless steel
- Freezes faster than plastic or silicone molds
- Comes with 50 reusable bamboo sticks and 6 extra silicone rings
- Rust resistant
- Stainless steel rack included
Cons:
- More expensive than plastic or silicone molds
5. Best Design: Tovolo Dino Ice Pop Molds
If you’re looking for a popsicle mold that’s unique and exciting for your little ones, then you may want to consider these fun dinosaur-shaped popsicle molds for your kids. Made from a flexible silicone mold that holds 2.64 fluid ounces, each of the four molds takes the shape of a different prehistoric creature. Nestled in a cute silicone tray, once you fill the molds, it’s easy to put into the freezer. It won’t tip over or spill, so you don’t need an extra tray. It is recommended however that you run some hot water on the mold before pulling the popsicle out to help maintain the integrity of the molds.
The handles complete the overall look of the dinosaur as each handle is a slight variation of a tail. Not only that, but as your kids make their way down to the center of the popsicle, they will slowly uncover the fossils of their dinosaurs! Even with the fun design, the handles are easy for little fingers to grasp and hold on to, and no matter what you fill the molds with, you and your kids will love the fun shapes.
Get creative and fill these mini-pops with everything from fruit juice, yogurt, pureed fruits and veggies to ice cream. The silicone molds make releasing the pops from the base easy and when you’re done, it can all be washed with warm water.
Pros:
- Fun, unique design
- Made flexible ilicone
- Easy to freeze
Cons:
- May lose some details when removing from mold
6. Honorable Mention: Zoku Classic Pop Molds
Zoku’s classic popsicle molds will be a familiar sight for many, but with a slightly modern twist. They come in a pack of 6 with in-built sticks and drip-guards to avoid sticky fingers. Each popsicle mold takes about 3 oz of liquid. This set of six is great for parents on the go who are trying to squeak out a little extra from a weekly shop that, inevitably, involves picking up juice. The Zoku Classic Pop Molds are also great for desserts using a mix-and-match process of chocolate and other ingredients. For an extra boost consider rolling the complete product in crushed graham cracker or candy-cane for extra flavor or texture.
The Zoku classic popsicle molds are also both BPA-free and Phthalate free. This means you can rest easy when it comes to health and safety – regardless of who’s looking for a summer treat. The molds themselves are easy to clean by hand, but are best assisted with a scrubby brush with a long handle. As always, please don’t run the molds through the dishwasher. Doing so risks damaging them and often doesn’t completely reach all the cracks and crevices in the first place.
Pros
- Popsicles are frozen individually.
- Plastic is both BPA-free and Phthalate free.
- Reusable plastic handles with drip guard.
- Makes 6 popsicles.
Cons
- Some reports of breakage due to moisture getting between the stick and drip-guard.
Things to look out for:
Consider these things when looking for a popsicle mold so you will choose the one that best suits your needs:
The material:
Plastic
Most lower-priced popsicle molds are made from plastic, many of which are now BPA-free. Their rigid shape means you’ll need to rinse them under warm water to release the popsicles. Plastic molds are well-liked for their simplicity and durability, and while they are reusable, most are not recyclable.
Silicone
Many people who don’t want to use plastic opt for silicone but do so also because removing a frozen pop is so easy. The flexibility of silicone means you can simply “pop” the popsicle right out of the mold — no warm-water bath required. The only downside of silicone molds is that sometimes they can rip or puncture if you’re a bit too rough with them.
Stainless steel
The longest-lasting popsicle molds are stainless steel. Popsicles freeze quickly in them, too, so you’re able to enjoy treats sooner. Like plastic molds, though, you probably need to give them a quick warm-water bath to release the popsicles. Look for ones made from premium, high quality stainless steel that won’t rust, degrade, or impart a metal taste onto your frozen treats.
Size
Molds vary in size, though the average mold makes popsicles that are approximately 3 to 3.5 ounces. However, if you have young children, you may want to consider a mini-popsicle mold that is a better portion size for kids.
Tray style
Popsicle molds are either trays themselves or attach to a tray apparatus. Well-designed trays keep popsicles upright and secure to prevent them from tipping over and spilling. Some trays are designed to stack on one another and have clips or snap-on features. Sometimes molds that are separate and attached to a tray, rather than being in the tray themselves, are more convenient as you can take one pop out of the freezer at a time, rather than the whole tray to just release one or two treats.
Mold shapes
The shape you choose is pretty subjective but there are lots of different ones available. If you are a traditionalist, you’ll have no problem finding long cylindrical or flat rectangular shapes. For the kid in you – or the kids in your life – there are many fun shapes out there from dinosaurs and cars to jungle animals and flowers.
FAQs
Do silicone popsicle molds work?
Silicone popsicle molds work by guiding the freezing process. By placing your favorite juice or the like in a mold it will form perfect popsicles after a stint in the freezer. If you have kids keep an eye out for fun mold shapes like animals, stars, or flowers.
How do you keep popsicles from sticking to the mold?
It can be pretty tricky to stop popsicles from sticking to their molds to begin with as this is an essential part of creating their shape. Rather, we suggest running the mold under hot water when you’re ready to dig in. This will loosen the edges of the popsicles. Twist the mold gently between your hands and eventually your popsicles will come free.
If you’re planning to do multiple batches and need to re-use your molds then instead we suggest removing them as described above and laying fully separated them on a parchment-paper of wax-paper baking sheet. Freeze them for an additional 15-20 minutes until firm again and then store. This will reduce sticking between popsicles.
How do you clean popsicle molds?
Although silicone popsicle molds are dishwasher-safe Sous Vide Guy strongly recommends hand-washing with warm water. This is because silicone molds need a certain amount of rigidity to keep your popsicles popping. Don’t hesitate to grab a scrubby or your favorite brush to work out any tough spots!
What else can you put in a popsicle mold?
The big second use for popsicle molds comes from chocolatey desserts. You can easily freeze melted milk chocolate interspersed with raspberries and the like for a decadent summer treat. With that said it is much harder to make ice cream pops, due to the milk fats and higher protein-content. This can be an absolute nightmare when it comes time to removed them from your popsicle molds. Instead, we suggest getting creative with how you make you popsicles. You can easily double up on strawberry fruit juice mixed with real, frozen strawberries. Alternatively, you could mix mango and apple juice together to create a summer-y, vitamin-C packed punch.
What can I use instead of a popsicle mold?
Although not a fantastic substitute you can make fruit-juice flavored ice cubes using a standard ice cube tray. You can also get a little creative with common baking tools. For instance, a muffin tray lined with tin-foil can give you little, rounded-pucks of your favorite fruity flavors.
How long do popsicles take to freeze?
This comes down to two factors: (1) the size of your popsicles, and (2) how cold your freezer is. As such it can take between 4 and 8 hours for your popsicles to freeze depending on a combination of these two factors. To speed up the process you can turn your freezer to its coldest setting, but be aware that this may impact the other contents of your freezer and result in freezer burn if certain foodstuffs haven’t’ been properly wrapped.