Customer Reviews

Progressive International PLP-1 Freezer Pop Maker

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My daughter is allergic to food dye, and she can't eat a some brands of popsicles. We needed to make our own. I had the Lickity Sip, but had lost half the plastic "sticks". I didn't replace it with that one since I didn't want to search the yard looking for the plastic ones every time they ate outside. So, I wanted one that used wooden sticks. This is great. It makes a lot of pops at a time. You can't tell from the description or pictures, but the molds are all connected in a metal frame. Some people complained that the sticks get stuck, or popped up. I didn't have a problem with them popping up, so I don't pre-soak them. If they did pop up, I think I would put something on top to hold them down while freezing, a bag of frozen Veggies maybe. Others complained the stick holes were too small, I used a flat-head screwdriver to widen the holes a little. It worked great. Some have complained that they have to run it under water to loosen the Pops. I think thats true of any popsicle mold. I am very pleased with this product. It makes 8 Pops at a time, so I can make 4 each full size Pops for my 7-year old and 1/2 size ones for my 2-year old.

As a grandparent of 6, I have made a big hit with freezer pops made with these molds. I bought 3 of them, because the recipe I use is a Jello-pop recipe which uses matching flavors of Jello and CoolAde and makes 15 pops. With 3 molds, I can make 2 different flavors at once! I have used other molds, but don't like tracking the plastic handles after the pop is finished! The trick with this mold is to freeze the pops for exactly 1 1/2 hours before inserting the sticks. If you insert them earlier they "float" sideways and when frozen, you can't get the lid off. The grandkids put in their order before their visit, so that I will have the preferred flavors when they arrive. We have pictures of the "Granny-pop salute" in which all kids with Granny-pops hold up their pops at the same time. Don't worry, if your grandchildren call you something else besides "Granny", you can adapt the name to "Na-Na Pops", "Gee-Gee Pops" or whatever! BIG hit!
Do you want the recipe? 1 pkg CoolAde & 1 pkg Jello (matching or compatible flavors), 1 cup sugar, 2 cups boiling water (stir until dissolved), 2 cups cold water. Pour into molds, freeze for 1 1/2 hrs, then insert the sticks and freeze 5 or more hours. Unmold by removing the lid and running under hot water briefly until they can be removed. Bag with Baggies and a twist-tie. Now you have a freezer-shelf full of treats.

I bought this item because I am having surgery and will be on a liquid diet for three weeks. In an effort to make this somewhat more interesting, I started checking out sugar-free popsicles in the stores, and discovered that most sugar-free popsicles in the stores are completely awful. So I'm making my own.

The tray is easy to use and all my treats held their shape well and came out of the molds very easily by running hot water over the outside. I like that it uses actual popsicle sticks instead of plastic ones, since those can get bent and ruined over time, whereas buying more sticks is cheap and easy.

Exactly what I wanted.

If you are a popsicle lover, as I am, you must have this popsicle maker. Popsicles made at home are far better than any you can get on the market. I have two Progressive International's so I can make 20 at a time. Usually when I take 20 out of the freezer, I pour 20 more and put back in the freezer. I have no trouble getting my popsicles out of the molds. I run hot water over them for a few seconds, and they come right out. My wife and I have several favorite recipes but let me share one of our favorites.
FROZEN FRUIT
7 bananas mashed
1 large can crushed pineapple
1 large can sliced peaches, cut into fine pieces (save the juice)
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 large can frozen orange juice
3 1/2 cups white sugar
Pour peach juice in orange juice can, finish filling with water, pour in, and pour two more cans of water. Mix well and pour in molds and freeze. Makes about 50 popsicles.

Although I like both the molds with the wood sticks and the ones with the plastic, I prefer these more because I can make a variety of flavors and pull them out of the mold and store them in a freezer bag. This allows for me to make as many as I want. The other molds, although great, you have to actually eat the popsicle before you can reuse the mold again. Easy to remove and nice size.

I am new to popsicle making. I tried a cheapo store bought mold with integral plastic sticks but the popsicles had to come out all or nothing, I didn't really like the torpedo sort of shape and I didn't like the idea or the feel of the plastic stick. So, this Progressive mold is PERFECT. The popsicle size is great. About the size of a small store bought pop -- good for adults but not overwhelming for preschoolers either. Things I have learned by trial and error: Wipe the drips before putting the metal top on otherwise the top will be nearly impossible to get off! I let the pops sit in the freezer for 45-60 minutes before inserting the sticks, this keeps them from floating to the top and also ensures that they are straight. I find that the pops come out of the molds easier one by one, so I tap the tray (bottom of molds side down) on the counter to loosen each individual mold, then I slide it out of the holder and dip it in hot water for about 5 seconds or so, then the pop comes out easily. The snack-size zip top bags are just the right size so I can put all the pops in the freezer for easy snacking at a later time! So pleased with my purchase... and I love that I can give my kids yummy frozen treats without tons of perservatives or chemical colors.

It's adequate but you have to run the hot water persistently because the metal top refreezes if you don't act quickly. I like that it uses sticks, though they sometimes get stuck in the narrow slots. I don't regret buying this item; it's definitely usable.

I put a large sized paper clip across the popsicle stick so it lays on top of the metal top. After I set it in the freezer, I adjust to insure they are straight. This makes a "T" so basically they are "hanging" from and not just inserted into the slot.

Bought it for a gift for a friend who had seen mine. She loved it so I bought her one for her own use at home. She loves it as much as I do. It is so much better than the little tupperware ones and the cutsy ones you get at wal-mart and the dollar stores. This is a product I can highly recommend to all who want to make their own frozen treats. I make fudgesicles and popscicles that are sugar free and I make fresh fruit pops as well without sugar. Delicious.......

Does what it's supposed to do. The lid is a bother to removed, it's an absolute necessity to run hot/ warm water over it to seperate from the plastic popsicle molds beneath, but all in all I am pleased with it. If someone comes up with another design, I am in!