Customer Reviews

Traditional Freezer Pop Maker

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Look carefully at the picture above. There's a popsicle tray, then a metal top that goes over it with small slits for popsicle sticks, which are all resting out of the tray at slightly different angles. (In real life, it's impossible to get them to stay even that straight.) So, to skip to the punchline, when you try to remove the metal tray, you can't, since the sticks aren't straight, and aren't all slanted in the same direction. Pulling out the tray ends up dislodging all of the popsicles at the same time. It breaks some, and it's an enormous hassle. This is an awful product that, clearly, was never tested before being put on the market.

I bought this yesterday from a store locally, and struggled to get the top off today in the same way the reviewer above did. I didn't even mind that so much--it was the deep gash in my index finer I got from holding the metal edge that pissed me off!
I have emailed the manufacturer, but figured I'd warn folks on here as well.
The old tinfoil with the sticks stuck through works best, I guess. I'll save the bottom and do that. That top is a hazard.

Just finished my first batch of raspberry juice popsicles. Soaked the wooden sticks before inserting. The lid lifted off just fine and I'm enjoying my home-made frozen raspberry juice bar as I type this. :)

Because I wanted to mass produce pops to store for summer, I first began using the Norpro Ice Pop Maker. I then wanted to make more pops at a time, so I ordered the Progressive brand as well. They are virtually the same product with one dismaying difference. Like all the other reviewers who observed difficulties dislodging the sticks from the cover's holes, I finally flung the covers and resigned to adding the sticks after a few hours of freezing. This worked great and I was able to actually see how I was positioning the sticks. When I "broke out" the pops from the maker, I toggled back and forth on each mold and detached it from the metal frame. I could then dip individual pops in a bowl of hot water and slide them out easily. The Norpro molds popped away from the frame easily, such that I could effectively clean them in the dishwasher. The similar Progressive molds will pop free, but with great difficulty. I have already broken/ cracked the tops of a few in the process. Additionally, like other's reports, the metal frames did not fare so well in the dishwasher. The shiny metal coating came off and transformed into a dark, dull lead appearance that sloughed off like graphite on my fingers every time I touched it. I tried buffing it with a towel to remove the excess; but the damage was done. All in all, both make great pops of good a serving size and shape. I have five of them and will continue using them; but it's unfortunate that the metal components of these systems are so problematic; they will most likely be tossed by the greater portion of consumers.

Hmm, I've had this popsicle maker for over a year. I have made lots of popsicles and haven't had a problem getting the metal top off. Perhaps the slot for the sticks now holds them straighter than the ones manufactured earlier.

To make popsicles for my teething granddaughter, I use equal amounts of fruit and plain yogurt. I add just enough powdered sugar to make it slightly sweeter than I want the finished popsicle to taste (the frozen mixture will taste a little less sweet than the liquid before freezing).

To get the finished popsicles out of the plastic forms, I dip them briefly in a cup of hot water. Then I store them in zipper bags in the freezer.

The biggest problem for me is that each plastic form is a separate piece so all parts need to be stored together. Since this rarely happens in my house, I am currently missing about half of the plastic forms. I suspect that someone (maybe me) stored the finished popsicles in a bag in the freezer without removing them from the forms. That bag could be lodged somewhere deep within my freezer. I'd recommend removing, washing, and storing the forms all at once so you don't end up in this predicament.