Embark on a journey to icy bliss with our comprehensive buying guide for popsicle molds, where we unravel the secrets to selecting the perfect mold for your summertime treats.
How to Choose a Popsicle Mold
Materials
First up, we’ve got materials. The market has tons of options to choose from, including silicone, rigid plastic, and even stainless steel. But, according to our research and experience, the easiest-to-use material is food-grade silicone due to its flexibility. Since it can freely bend, it’s impossible to break it, even as you aggressively peel it to get your popsicle out. That’s why most of the molds in the above list are made out of flexible silicone!
Size
Popsicle molds hold about 3 fluid ounces, and most of the items on the above list also fall into that range. But that’s not the standard size — you can go for bigger (and even smaller) popsicle molds depending on factors like how many kids you have and personal preferences. Some popsicles can be as small as 1 ounce, which makes them so small that even toddlers can handle them. Even a cup’s measure of yogurt or juice would be enough to fill up the entire tray with cavities of that size, which makes it even easier to always have popsicles ready!
Tray style
If you’ve got a smaller freezer, you might have to pay attention to the style of the mold tray you’re getting. Some might be too tall for a tighter space, which renders the mold useless for obvious reasons. Others have removable molds for every single popsicle for better space management. You can also get individual ice-pop molds that don’t have a tray but will need to stand upright in a tall freezer. So, make sure to carefully examine the shape (and dimensions) of a popsicle mold to see if it's a good fit for your freezer.
Mold shape
The shape of the mold can make things exciting or boring in the realm of popsicles! Unless you’re only buying it for yourself or other adults in the family, you need to find molds with creative and fun shapes like the dinosaur-themed tray listed above. You can find shapes like zombies, swords, monsters, fish, robots, and much more on the market!
Sticks
The sticks are also an important part of the whole popsicle experience! You can find molds that come with a number of disposable sticks and a good number of reusable ones made out of high-quality plastic. These offer lots of flexibility and convenience when it comes to making your own popsicle molds. They conveniently slot right inside the mold and some of them even feature drip guards to keep your hands from getting sticky. Other qualities to look for are better ergonomics, a comfortable grip, or cool designs. If you’ve got a toddler, make sure that neither of the stick’s ends is sharp or pointy, which could poke or hurt the back of their throat.
