I seem to get a lot of questions and feedback from readers about the reusable freezie pop molds that we use (and recommend). First of all, I have absolutely no relationship with the company whatsoever…I simply found these molds on Amazon and have been a very satisfied customer. In fact, we own two sets now and use them quite frequently! Here are some answers to the questions I get the most…
- Do your freezie pop holders have an odor to them, which was mentioned in a few of the Amazon reviews?
Ours do not have a smell to them at all. I even stuck my nose down in there just to be sure.
I do take a little extra time to wash ours thoroughly (both by hand and in the dishwasher), so maybe those reviewers aren’t washing out all the food bits well enough? One reader suggested using a small bottle brush to get them clean at the very bottom, and I happen to think that is a brilliant idea!
- - What do you fill your molds with?
I mostly fill ours with smoothies…either a version of our standard “Fruit Smoothie” or “PB&J Smoothie,” which is actually sometimes a “Sunflower Butter & Jelly Smoothie” since my older daughter goes to a nut-free elementary school. You could also fill them with plain yogurt that’s been sweetened with “Berry Sauce” or fruit and honey. And applesauce is another good option as well. Once they’ve been filled we put them straight in the freezer.
- - When you put these freezie pops in your daughters’ lunchboxes are they thawed by lunchtime?
I take the frozen smoothie pop directly out of the freezer and add it to my 1st grader’s lunchbox at 6:30 A.M. (yes, the day starts early around here!). I usually add at least 3 ice packs to her lunch bag as well. By lunchtime, which is at 11:20 for her, she tells me it is mostly thawed with one or two hard chunks still in the middle. Funny story…the first time I sent one in my 4-year-old’s lunchbox the icy chunk in the middle caught her off-guard because she told me she thought it was a rock in there. I assured her that mommy would never put a rock in her lunch so ever since then she has eaten it worry free. LOL I also want to mention that both of my daughters eat these freezie pops completely solid straight out of our freezer when we are at home.
- - How do you keep the lids on in the lunchboxes?
I put their lunches in a plastic (BPA-free) Ziplock divided container, which is very similar to the Easy Lunchbox containers…both can be found on Amazon. I fold up the bottom of the freezie pop mold, wedge it into the biggest compartment, and then of course secure the lid. This keeps the top from coming off the mold and also keeps it from moving around. I also tell my girls it’s important to put the empty mold (and top) back into the plastic lunch container with the top back on to avoid any mess in their lunch bag. You could also fold up the bottom of the mold and put a rubber band around the top and bottom long ways (and then put it in a Ziplock bag) to ensure it stays together.
I also want to mention that one reader told me her kindergartner’s freezie pop made a little mess in her lap at school (poor thing). For the younger kids it might help to “practice” with partially thawed pops at home first so they know what to expect come lunchtime. In a couple months the pool might just be the perfect place to practice. And speaking of, I learned last summer that both of my daughters absolutely loved having (partially) frozen smoothie pops as their snack up at the neighborhood pool. I kept them in a cooler with ice packs of course, but they were the perfect outdoor cold “treat” on a steaming hot summer day.
Anyway, I hope this little FAQ clears some things up for those who are considering buying a set of molds (or for those who are trying to figure what to do with the ones they ordered!). If you have any other questions or tips please share in the comments below!
I LOVE these! I don’t have any kids, but my husband and I have enjoyed frozen smoothies from the freezer, thanks to these molds!
Hi all,
I just wanted to add my review on these pop molds as a caution- I just bought these in March of 2013 and they are TERRIBLE!!! They stink terribly and are basically unusable. My daughter will not eat the pops made in them and I don’t blame her. Buyer beware!! I am not sure if I got a bad batch or they have started using new silicone- but YUCK!! Total waste of money.
I suggest you try a different brand. I purchased a set of these off of Amazon and after 1 hand washing they had no smell at all and since then we have used them several times. I put vanilla yougert with chopped fresh fruit in mine and my son can’t get enough of them.
The ones I purchased were pastel colored-I’m not sure of the brand, but I thi there was only one brand with pastel colors.
I just purchased these and haven’t gotten the chance to use them yet but had a quick question. How do you usually wash them? I know you said you do both hand- and dishwasher methods, but which do you find to be more effective? And they don’t fit on my top rack of my dishwasher. Is it safe to wash them on the bottom?
Hello Brittany. I find nothing that says top rack only but I am not certain. If you are concerned, you can always thoroughly hand wash. ~Amy
Bought the pops molds from amazon and did a little test before sending to school. Made the smoothie and put it in the molds and froze it over night. Put it in a lunch box with 2 frozen ice packs. Checked it after 3 hours and it was totally melted and a mess. I won’t be able to send to school. I wouldn’t recommend buying them. But just to be clear – the box doesn’t say they keep things frozen for a period of time. I just loved the idea and thought it would be great to send to school.
I was just discussing these last weeks. My question–how hard are they to fill? I was wanting them to make ‘smoothie pops’ for breakfasts this summer. But is it hard to get something as thick as a smoothie in?
Hi Tricia. I’ve had no trouble filling them but I do not make my smoothies so thick that they can’t be poured. You can always use a funnel when in doubt. ~Amy
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I just received this from Amazon this week. My kids were SO excited about them. I put frozen fruits in a food processor until they were paste consistency and then mixed with honey and plain Greek yogurt. The mixture was thick, but I was able to add it to the form one spoonful at a time. No problem. I froze them and sent them to lunch in the same Ziploc containers pictured in the Lunch Roundups. I did have a hard time getting them to fit in the containers and actually put the bottom into a cup of warm water to partially thaw do I could bend it enough to go into the Ziploc. I worry about breaking the silicone form if I bend it too much or too often. Has anyone had a problem with the form breaking over time?
Have you ever tried the smoothie pop molds for plain applesauce? I wonder how the consistency of the applesauce would be if you put it in this mold, froze and then let thaw?
Love these molds!! I have been freezing organic juices for my daughters to enjoy as ice pops. It’s a great treat I don’t feel bad about!!