We Tested the Best Popsicle Molds for Refreshing Treats All Summer (2024)

Our Top Picks

This popsicle mold earns top honors for being functional and convenient. With six slots, you’ll be able to make enough ice pops for the average family, but you won’t wind up with a ton of excess or a mold that’s too bulky to fit in your organized freezer.

The set is very sturdy and easy to pour into, and we love that the reusable sticks create a seal onto the molds so they can be taken out of the frame to store individually once they're frozen. We also appreciate that even dark and intense colors do not stain the clear plastic.

Because the plastic is fairly thick, you’ll need to run each popsicle under hot water for at least 10 to 15 seconds in order for it to release. Unlike some other molds, we’ve never had any issue with the plastic holder stick separating from the popsicle like wooden sticks can. These are easy to hold, a delight to eat from, and cleanup is quick.

These are both BPA-free and phthalate-free, ensuring these molds are food-safe, and each of the six classically shaped molds holds 3 fluid ounces, making each treat comparable to what you’d find in the grocery store. This set comes with drip guards, too—another family-friendly bonus.

Material: Polypropylene | Number of Pops: 6 | Pop Size: 3.1 ounces each

These sturdy plastic popsicle molds from Ozera make six popsicles and come in a range of colors, including assorted. The set includes a collapsable funnel for mess-free pouring and a small brush for cleaning. They're also dishwasher safe and each popsicle has a drip guard.

In our tests, the funnel made it extremely easy to pour juice or purees into the molds. The stand sat flat and sturdy in the freezer without any spillage, and the resulting popsicles were comfortable to hold with a rounded plastic handle. Removing the popsicles from their molds wasn't as easy as others, but we found that dipping them in a warm glass of water or running them under the faucet did the trick. Overall, this set performs well and offers great value.

Material: Silicone | Number of Pops: 6 | Pop Size: Unspecified

Pure fruit popsicles are undoubtedly one of the best snacks for babies and toddlers, but the classic variety can be top-heavy, making them difficult for little hands to hold onto. That’s where this clever mold comes in. It's short and squat and creates four mini popsicles (each one holds just 1 ounce of liquid) that are perfectly shaped for the tiniest set. What’s more, a looped handle makes the snack easier to grip, so babies as young as six months can enjoy a frozen treat (great for soothing the sore gums of teethers!).

We tested these molds with purees of strawberry, blueberry, apple, grape, pear, and coconut juice. It was easy to pour the puree into the molds, and it only took about three hours to freeze throughout because of the small size. The design felt sturdy (it has a small footprint that lays flat in the freezer), and it only took a slight wiggle of the handles to unmold the popsicles once they were frozen.

Besides the impressive functionality, we also love the fact that each stick has a wide popsicle-holder base that catches drips as the popsicle melts for a mess-free experience. One con we have is that we wish it made more than four at a time. Though plastic, the mold is entirely BPA-free.

Material: Plastic | Number of Pops: 4 | Pop Size: 1 ounce each

If you’re hesitant to use plastic or silicone (even if it is made of BPA-free material), a metal popsicle mold is a great option. This six-cavity option is crafted from 18/8 stainless steel, which means it's a bit pricey. But not only is it food-safe but also extremely durable and long-lasting. The mold also comes with a stand for storage, lids for each pop, 12 removable silicone rings to prevent spills, and a set of reusable bamboo sticks.

After testing, we think the Onyx stainless steel molds are best suited for children seven years and up since the metal material makes them very cold to the touch and trickier to unmold. It’s an easy fix, though—simply run the mold under warm water until things loosen up. The durable stainless steel mold is easier to clean than plastic, and it won't stain or retain flavors and smells from other ingredients. The popsicles were fully frozen after eight hours and very comfortable to hold.

Material: Stainless Steel | Number of Pops: 6 | Pop Size: 3+ ounces each

If there’s one thing every parent knows, it’s that sometimes kids are more likely to try new foods—like healthy smoothie pops—if they’re shaped like something fun. With this popsicle mold, you can make four dino-shaped pops sure to please your tots.

Whether we loaded them with a batch of Greek yogurt and mixed berries or plain pineapple puree, these molds were an absolute hit during our testing period. We love the reusable sticks that are shaped like dino tails, and the portion of the stick that's inserted into the ice pops is shaped like dino bones. The wide-mouth molds are super easy to fill, but we did note that unmolding the pops is trickier due to the intricate shapes. We found that folding up the lip of the silicone mold before slowly pulling it upwards and inverting the mold inside out worked best.

And, because every parent also wants convenience, you’ll delight in the fact that this mold is completely dishwasher-safe.If there’s any drawback, it’s that the stand can be a bit bulky for smaller freezers. The tradeoff: It’s nice and sturdy, so it won’t tip if you do have the space.

Material: Silicone and plastic | Number of Pops: 4 | Pop Size: 2.64 ounces each

Not all freezers can easily accommodate popsicle molds—even small ones that make just two or four treats—because they tend to be a bit bulky. But this flat mold is a great option for anyone since it doesn’t take up a ton of vertical space, and the quantity isn’t set in stone—make just one if that’s all you have room for.

The kit comes with everything you need to get started on your first popsicles, including reusable plastic sticks. There’s no need to labor over cleaning, either, since you can stick the mold in the dishwasher when you’re done. We enjoyed the lay-flat design during testing since it made them easy to fit in a freezer, but also really appreciate the separate molds (making it easy to assemble just one or two pops at a time if you're low on space or ingredients). The lightweight sticks may give the popsicles a top-heavy feel in larger hands, but they're perfect for smaller ones, and the molds peel off easily.

Material: Silicone | Number of Pops: 4 | Pop Size: Unspecified

The base of these popsicle molds is narrow and single-row, so pouring your ingredients is easier and more efficient. They also click into place on the base, making it easy to detach individual popsicles to enjoy as needed. This feature is one to check, though, to make sure everything is in place and won't fall over while the ingredients are being poured in or while it is in the freezer.

We made everything from chocolate fudgesicles to fruity popsicles combining mango, strawberry, blueberry, banana, and honey with these molds. The popsicles came out smoothly after running them under the water for a few seconds, and the sturdy plastic bottom acts as a drip catcher. The molds were easy to wash and rinse by hand with hot water since there are no small crevices for extra food particles to build up—but they're conveniently dishwasher safe, as well.

Material: Plastic | Number of Pops: 5 | Pop Size: 3.2 ounces

Ideal for larger families or groups, this set comes with 10 separate popsicle molds that fit into a consolidated tray. Once the pops are frozen, you can detach them individually and store the rest together in the tray for later. Despite the large number of popsicles, the set features a compact design that won't take up too much space in your freezer. While they are kid-friendly, we found that using a funnel to pour the ingredients and running the molds under warm water before removing them from the popsicle made the experience easier (and cleaner).

You can choose between 50 and 200 disposable wooden sticks—enough to supply popsicles for a long time. Keep in mind that the instructions for these molds include an additional step; They suggest freezing the molds in the base with the liquid for an hour before inserting the wooden popsicle sticks.

Material: Wood, plastic | Number of Pops: 10 | Pop Size: 2.25 ounces

Final Verdict

Our best overall popsicle mold is the Zoku Classic Pop Mold, a classically shaped ice pop maker that allows you to whip up six 3-ounce treats at a time. The mold comes with everything you need, including sticks with drip guards and storage sleeves, and it performed best in our tests. Looking for a non-plastic option? Try the Onyx Stainless Steel Popsicle Mold.

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