Popsicles are one of the best summer snacks for kids and adults. When it comes to flavors, colors, and designs, the possibilities are practically endless.
But just like with water bottles and food storage containers, it’s important to be aware of potentially toxic materials that can leach into food and act as hormone disruptors in the body.
Read on to learn more about my recommendations for non-toxic, eco-friendly, (and always BPA-free) popsicle molds.
I’ll be covering which materials to look for in non-toxic popsicle molds, which ice pop mold brands are the best, and how to get the most out of your popsicle-making experience!
P.S. If you’re prepping for a summer of non-toxic fun, I’ve got a whole lot more spring & summer non-toxic guides for you to check out next.
In a Nutshell:
- Be careful: even “BPA-free” plastic popsicle molds can still contain harmful chemicals that can leach into your family’s frozen snacks.
- Stainless steel or 100% food grade silicone are the safest and best options (all of my brand recommendations below—including Zoku and Ecozoi—are plastic-free).
- Ensure your popsicle molds don’t phase out faster than a TikTok trend! Before making your final selection, think about what fits best in your freezer and what fits best in little hands. I’ve got even more tips for you below.
This Guide Covers:
- Are Your Ice Pop Molds Toxic?
- Plastic vs. Silicone vs. Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds
- The 6 Best Non-Toxic, BPA-Free, & Plastic-Free Popsicle Molds
- 1. Zoku (most fun shapes)
- 2. Ecozoi
- 3. Tovolo
- 4. Liewood
- 5. Ecoberi (best push-pop style)
- 6. ezpz (best baby & toddler popsicle mold)
- Everything You Need To Choose The Best BPA-Free, Non-Toxic Popsicle Molds
- How To Get The Most Out Of Your Non-Toxic Popsicle Molds
This guide contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine. Featured Image Credit: Ecozoi
Are Your Ice Pop Molds Toxic?
Unfortunately, many popsicle molds are made from plastic, which commonly contains bisphenols and phthalates. These chemicals are endocrine disruptors, which means they can disrupt the body’s natural hormone function, leading to things like decreased fertility and cancer, along with other issues such as ADHD, autoimmunity, asthma, and more.
Bisphenol A (or BPA), for example, is one common endocrine disruptor you’ve probably heard of before since it’s gained some notoriety in the past couple of decades. As a result of mounting evidence that BPA can cause a wide range of health concerns in both children and adults, many companies have begun taking BPA out of their products—which is great.
However, just because something is made from “BPA-free” plastic doesn’t mean it’s totally safe.
After all, BPA is just one type of bisphenol. Companies can now use alternatives such as BPF, BPS, and others, which have the potential to cause the same issues. Using these “chemical cousins,” allows companies to label products as “BPA-free” while not actually solving the toxicity issue.
This is what we call a “regrettable substitution.”
This comes up so much on The Filtery that I wrote a whole article about whether “BPA-free” really means it’s safe.
While this isn’t exactly the greatest news, don’t fret. The good news is that there are plastic-free, non-toxic popsicle molds out there that are safe for the whole family. And as a bonus, that instantly makes them more eco-friendly, too!
Plastic vs. Silicone vs. Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds
The Good: BPA-Free & Phthalate-Free Plastic
You’ll find a lot of popsicle molds made from plastic. I recommend you stay away from plastic molds completely if at all possible.
But if you must, look for molds that are not only “BPA-Free” but also “bisphenol-free,” and “phthalate-free.”
The Better: Silicone
Silicone is a safe material for popsicle molds, especially when it doesn’t include plastic fillers. (Look for 100% food-grade silicone.)
The main concern with silicone is that it may begin to leach endocrine disruptors at high temperatures. Of course, this isn’t an issue when dealing with popsicle molds, which is why it’s one of the best plastic alternatives for popsicle molds.
It’s durable and practically unbreakable, which is definitely a good thing if the kids are going to be handling the molds a lot. Many of the popsicle molds available today are made from silicone.
The Best: Stainless Steel
One of the safest materials for non-toxic popsicle molds is stainless steel. It is extremely durable, doesn’t leach endocrine-disruptors, and is also generally more eco-friendly than the alternatives as well.
The one potential problem with metal molds is that they can be colder and more difficult to handle when you first take them out of the freezer. Your fingers could stick to the mold if you’re not careful, which is why most stainless steel mold brands have plastic handles.
This probably isn’t a big deal for older kids and adults, but you may want to keep it in mind for younger kids, so silicone may be better for them!
The 6 Best Non-Toxic, BPA-Free, & Plastic-Free Popsicle Molds
Alright, now let’s get to my favorite brands for non-toxic popsicle molds:
1. Zoku (most fun shapes)
Material: Food grade silicone
Size: Various
Features: Dishwasher safe, lots of fun character shapes
Zoku’s silicone molds come in lots of cute shapes, from unicorns and fish to ring pops and frogs. They carry horizontal and vertical molds that come in various sizes so that you can choose what’s best for your family and freezer. Their mini pop molds are great for the littlest ones!
Use code THEFILTERY for 10% off.
2. Ecozoi
Material: Stainless steel
Size: Various
Features: Plastic-free, dishwasher safe
Ecozoi is one of my top picks for non-toxic popsicle molds. They’re stainless steel, which is safe and durable. These come in several different variations: you can get mini or regular, flat or round, and with or without built-in sticks. They have a cute cat-shaped one too!
Environmental bonus: The team at Ecozoi makes a conscious effort when it comes to sustainability. They use plastic-free and recycled packaging, they work with suppliers that pay their workers fairly, and they use renewable energy sources in manufacturing.
3. Tovolo
Material: Food-grade silicone
Size: 10.5 inches long, 6.72 fl oz
Features: Dishwasher safe and super cute!
Tovolo has a collection of popsicle molds that kids are sure to love—from dinosaurs and monsters to robots and penguins. Fossils are revealed as you eat these dino ones!
Tovolo does sell plastic popsicle molds as well, so just make sure you choose one of the silicone sets.
Some of their pop molds are available at Target, too.
4. Liewood
Materials: 100% silicone
Size: 60 ml; 12 x 6.3 x 33 cm
Features: Dishwasher safe
How cute are these ice cream molds?! These silicone molds from Liewood come in several different varieties: classic stick molds, push-pop style, and cube trays. Fun shapes include dinosaurs, bears, and cats. And the colors are beautiful, too!
As a Danish brand rooted in the Nordic design tradition, this environmentally-conscious and ethically-minded brand embraces pure shapes, delicate prints, and muted colors.
5. Ecoberi (best push-pop style)
Material: 100% food grade silicone
Size: 8 x 8 inches
Features: Dishwasher safe, fun colors, slim design
Some may prefer to use tube ice pop molds (push-pop style!) since they can be a bit less messy for kids. Plus, they can take up a lot less space in the freezer.
These are also designed as just one piece, which means you don’t have to worry about keeping track of different pieces or making sure you have popsicle sticks around.
Sometimes you can find these popsicle molds at Walmart.
6. ezpz (best baby & toddler popsicle mold)
Material: Silicone & nylon (for the stand/handles)
Size: 1/2 ounce
ezpz is a great brand for silicone tableware for babies and toddlers. Their Tiny Pops are a great option for popsicles that the youngest family members can enjoy. They’re much smaller than your typical popsicle mold (holding 1/2 ounce of liquid) and they have a short, fat, and round handle that’s easier for babies to grasp.
They also have frozen sensory bumps to provide oral awareness for babies. You can make regular juice popsicles or you can actually use breast milk in these if you want.
Everything You Need To Choose The Best BPA-Free, Non-Toxic Popsicle Molds
In addition to the materials used, there are some other things to consider when choosing the best popsicle molds for your family.
1. Size
- Consider the ages of the people who will be eating the popsicles. Standard popsicle sizes tend to be too large for toddlers, ending up in a big, melty mess. For babies and toddlers, go for smaller molds (like ezpz, about 1 to 1.5 fl oz).
- Also consider how much freezer space you have and whether an upright mold or horizontal tray will work best for your space. This will help you decide whether to get a tray that holds multiple popsicles or molds that can be placed in the freezer individually.
2. Shape & Style
- If you’re shopping for kids, they will love the fun shapes and characters available. From rocket ships (Zoku) to unicorns (Tovolo), the brands listed above have lots of different shapes so you’re sure to find some that your kids (or your adults) will love.
- When considering which style is best for you, think about which is going to be the least messy for your kids. The Ecoberi tubes above are probably going to be the least messy because much less juice will drip down your kids’ hands as they melt. Additionally, the Ecozoi will probably be the most sturdy and have a drip guard rim at the bottom which will catch a certain amount of melty goodness before letting it hit the floor. Most of the brands above have leak-proof lids as well.
3. To Stick or Not to Stick?
Many of the stainless steel popsicle molds on the market require disposable sticks, usually made from wood or bamboo. Some people don’t like this because it requires you to always have sticks on hand and also creates more waste. Luckily, several of the brands above come with their own reusable sticks.
Alternatively, you may choose one of the push-up versions (Zoku, Liewood, Ecoberi) so you can avoid sticks altogether when making your own ice pops.
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Non-Toxic Popsicle Molds
What else is there to know about popsicle making? Here are some common questions and helpful tips to get you started.
What Type Of Stuff Can You Put In A Popsicle Mold?
When it comes to homemade popsicles, you can go way beyond your basic fruit juices and get as creative as you want! You can put practically any liquid in a popsicle mold… Finding ways to use your popsicle molds outside the norm in the off season makes them extra eco-friendly. Some alternative ways to use popsicle molds that come to the top of my head are:
- Fruit juice
- Yogurt
- Flavored water with fruit chunks
- Tea
- Pudding
- Milk/nut milk
- Champagne!
- Ice cream
- Smoothies
- Chicken/Veggie broth
If you’re looking to switch up the standard ‘boring’ popsicle, Pinterest has all the options from:
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- To Peach Pie
- To Toasted Coconut Latte
- And even White Sangria Boozy popsicles (for the adults in the room, of course).
You can be as basic or fancy as you want with your homemade popsicles. There are hundreds of yummy recipes for popsicles online that adults and kids alike will love. Let me know which ones are your favorite!
How Long Does It Take For Ice Pops To Freeze?
Depending on the size, it will usually take a minimum of two or three hours for a popsicle to freeze. However, you may want to let them sit overnight in order to be safe. If your popsicles don’t freeze all the way, you might pull only half the popsicle out of the mold or end up with just a messy bowl of slush.
How Do You Keep Popsicles From Sticking To The Mold?
Some silicone popsicle molds are naturally resistant to stick, but that still doesn’t mean they’re always easy to get out. To easily remove your frozen treats from their molds, try these tactics:
- Make sure you’re following the correct recipe (or try a different one). Liquids with a lower viscosity may be more likely to stick to the mold. For example, using something like yogurt or putting may make it easier for you to remove the popsicle from the mold, compared to something like pure liquid fruit juice.
- Make sure you allow your popsicle to freeze fully before taking them out of the mold in order to prevent breakage.
- Take the mold out of the freezer and run it under warm water for 5 to 10 seconds. This will thaw the outside of the popsicle so that it slides right out.
- If you’re using your own handles, make sure you stick them far enough inside the holder.
- If you’re using fruit chunks, go for smaller chunks rather than larger ones.
Can You Use Craft Sticks Instead Of Popsicle Sticks?
When making your own popsicles, you may wonder if you can use those craft sticks you have laying around in the arts and crafts bin will suffice. To be safe, you should only use sticks that are specifically labeled as “food safe” because craft sticks may be treated with various chemicals throughout processing.
Instead of craft sticks, you can use:
- These food-grade bamboo popsicle sticks
- Straws (bamboo, metal, silicone)
- Spoons
There’s no reason to use plastic molds when making ice pops this summer. This is one place where it’s easy to say goodbye to plastic and all its toxins. With so many BPA-free and non-toxic popsicle molds to choose from, you can surprise your family and guests with yummy and safe summer treats!
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What is the safest popsicle mold not made in China?
Hey Cathy, most of the silicone popsicle molds on the market are made in China. I have yet to find any that are made in the USA, but I will continue to keep an eye out! I am waiting to hear back from a couple of brands I emailed to get more info about where they are made.