Are Silicone Popsicle Molds Worth It for Homemade Pops?
A silicone popsicle mold releases without the hot water trick and lets you control what goes in. Here’s how ours holds up and what to check before buying.
TL;DR
Why We Reach for These Silicone Popsicle Molds All Summer
What Makes a Silicone Popsicle Mold Different From Plastic?
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A silicone popsicle mold is worth it because the pops come out on the first try instead of after two minutes under hot running water. This set is BPA free, reusable, comes with its own sticks, and flexes enough that a five-year-old can release their own pop. Ours has been running on a near-daily cycle since June, mostly filled with whatever fruit is about to turn.
This mold releases a frozen pop by flexing, where a rigid plastic mold requires you to run it under hot water and pull. That single difference is why silicone molds get used and plastic ones end up in the back of a cabinet. The hot water step sounds minor until you have done it while three kids wait.
It also partially melts the outside of the pop, which is how you end up with a drippy mess before anyone takes a bite. Silicone also survives being twisted, dropped, and jammed into a crowded freezer. Rigid plastic cracks at the seams after a season, usually right where the stick sits.
What It Is (And Why You Need It)
The silicone popsicle mold set is a reusable, BPA free tray with flexible cavities and its own reusable sticks. You fill, freeze, and push from the bottom to release. The reason we started making our own comes down to sugar. The American Heart Association recommends children ages two and up stay under 25 grams of added sugar a day, roughly six teaspoons, and that children under two have none at all.
A single store-bought fruit pop can take a real bite out of that. Making them at home means the base is whatever you decide. Blended strawberries and plain yogurt has no added sugar at all. That is not a claim you can make about most freezer-aisle options.
Why We Love it
- Pops release in one push, so kids can get their own without hot water at the sink
- Reusable sticks mean nothing to run out of mid-summer
- Fits smoothies, yogurt, juice, and leftover fruit purée equally well
- BPA free silicone, which matters when it lives in the freezer all season
- Goes in the dishwasher, so it actually gets washed instead of soaked
- Uses up fruit that was about to go soft, which cuts what we throw out
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Releases in one push with no hot water step
- Reusable sticks included, nothing to keep buying
- BPA free silicone that survives a full season in the freezer
- Dishwasher safe
- Full control over sugar, which store-bought pops do not give you
Cons
- Silicone holds smells, so a strong flavor can transfer to the next batch if you do not wash promptly
- Flexible sides mean a full tray tips easily on the way to the freezer
- Yogurt and dairy bases freeze harder than juice and need a couple of minutes to soften
- Sticks can freeze crooked if the mold does not hold them upright
- Takes real freezer shelf space during the season you have the least of it
Bonus Tips… What you didn’t see in the reel 👀
- Fill on a rimmed baking sheet and carry the whole sheet to the freezer. This is the single tip that saved us the most cleanup.
- Leave about a quarter inch of headroom in each cavity. Everything expands, and overfilled molds bond together across the top so you cannot pull one out on its own.
- Wash within a few hours of emptying. Silicone picks up strong smells, and a mango batch left overnight will follow you into the next round of yogurt pops.
- Run the outside of the mold under cool water, not hot, if one is stubborn. Cool water loosens it without melting the surface of the pop.
- Blend the fruit further than seems necessary. Big chunks freeze into hard spots that little kids give up on halfway through.
Where To Get it
The silicone popsicle mold set is available on Amazon with Prime shipping. Summer housewares get cleared out in late August and September, which is a good window to buy a second set for next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for release and durability. Silicone flexes so pops come out in one push with no hot water, and it does not crack at the seams the way rigid plastic does after a season.
Push up from the bottom of the cavity while holding the stick. If one sticks, run the outside under cool water for a few seconds rather than hot, which melts the surface.
Yes, this set is dishwasher safe. Wash within a few hours of emptying, since silicone can hold onto strong flavors between batches.
Anything pourable that is not carbonated. Blended fruit, yogurt, smoothie leftovers, coconut milk, and cold tea all work. Fizzy drinks expand and push out of the mold overnight.
Usually four to six hours depending on the base and your freezer. Dairy bases take longer than juice, and a mold on the freezer door will always take longer than one on a shelf.
If you have been on the fence, these are worth it, especially if you have a kid who wants a popsicle every single afternoon and you would rather that not come from a box. They pay for themselves in a couple of weeks and they use up the fruit you were about to throw away. Grab a set before the last stretch of hot weather.
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By Cassie & Ali – Bargain-hunting sisters and moms helping 500,000+ families save money since 2019.
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