I saw an ad for plastic ice pop molds recently and it triggered a memory from my childhood summers when Mom used similar molds to make popsicles. She filled the mold with orange juice or Kool-Aid, popped in the stick, and put them in the freezer. When the liquid froze, the pops were ready, and boy, were they good!
Reusable pop molds are a great way to have a cool summer treat without a lot of waste. You can skip the plastic waste of those individually wrapped popsicles by making your own. And you have control over the ingredients in your ice pops; it’s easy to avoid unhealthy ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup when you make them at home.
There are so many ways to customize ice pops to your taste; don’t feel limited to sugary fruit drinks. Try freezing homemade lemonade, yogurt, or pureed fruit that is in season right now. Or simply freeze slices of fruit in water for refreshing hydration. For adults, you could make coffee ice pops with milk and sugar, or even boozy pops using wine coolers. Mom used to love frozen fruit pops made with pineapple or coconut milk. You can find lots of healthy recipes on the web.
Like Mom’s cranberry water, ice pops are a cooling treat and a great way to stay hydrated in the hot weather. The pop molds that they sell now are made from BPA-free plastic and durable stainless steel. With good care, they’ll last a long time. And with a bit of creativity, you can have a variety of goodies to keep you cool with less packaging waste.