Popsicles are one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Whether you prefer to eat them on the go or enjoy them while lounging at home, popsicles have become an iconic dessert.
But how long do they take to freeze? That is a common question that many people ask themselves before they start making their favorite frozen treats. In this article, we’ll answer that question by looking at all of the factors involved in creating your own icy treat.
In general, it takes around 2 hours to freeze your average popsicle. Homemade popsicles will take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours.
Are Popsicles Just Frozen Water?
While some people have wondered if popsicles are just frozen water, the answer is no. Popsicles are made from fruit juice, sugar, and water (or other liquids). They’re also frozen quickly and evenly in a special machine that keeps them from getting too hard or soft.
If you want to make your own popsicles at home, there are plenty of recipes available online. You can even use fresh fruits instead of canned ones!
How Long Does it Take to Freeze a Popsicle?
How long it takes a popsicle to freeze depends on the temperature of your freezer, the size of your popsicle, and the composition of your popsicle.
The colder your freezer, the faster the popsicle will freeze. You can also speed up the process by adding more water to your mixture and stirring it frequently while it’s in there–the more liquid you add and stir, the faster your popsicles will freeze because they’ll have less time to set before being removed from their molds and put in an airtight container or baggie until ready for consumption!
Factors
There are a lot of factors that go into determining how long it will take your popsicles to freeze. The first one is the temperature of your freezer. If you have an older model that’s not keeping things as cold as it used to, then your popsicles will take longer than if they were being stored in a brand new appliance with an efficient compressor and digital display.
Another factor is the size of the mold itself–if there’s less liquid inside each cavity or cube, then there will be less surface area for all that delicious goodness to freeze against! This means more time spent chilling out at home instead of getting lost on adventures outside during these hot summer months!
Flavored ice pops don’t take nearly as long due to their size and water content. You’re looking at 30 minutes compared to 2 hours.
Temperature
The freezing temperature of water is 0 degrees Celsius. If you want to make popsicles, you need to lower this temperature so that it’s below zero degrees Celsius when you pour in your ingredients. You can do this by adding salt or sugar (which are both hygroscopic), but there are better ways.
The best way to lower the freezing point of water is with salt because it lowers it more than any other substance and doesn’t change its taste as much as some other substances do when dissolved in liquid form before being added into food products like ice cream or yogurt!
The water content is what freezes your popsicles. The higher the water content, the faster they freeze.
However, a slow freeze, if you’re willing to wait, results in a smoother popsicle that’s far more enjoyable when it comes to texture.
Either way, it’s best to aim for -10 degrees C (14 degrees F).
Time
The time it takes to freeze a popsicle depends on a few factors. First, you have to consider the size and thickness of your popsicle mold. If you’re using larger molds (like those for making cake pops), it will take longer for them to freeze than smaller ones (such as those used for ice cream sandwiches).
Additionally, there are two main factors that affect how quickly your popsicles freeze: temperature and room temperature. If your freezer is set lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius) then it might take longer for your popsicles to harden completely–but if it’s too warm in your house or kitchen then they might melt before they finish freezing!
Type of Fruit
Fruit puree has a higher sugar content than water alone. If you’re making popsicles that are made from pureed fruit, any fruit, then it’s going to take longer for your popsicles to freeze due to the added natural sugars. They also require lower temperatures to freeze.
Sugar Content
The higher the sugar content, the longer it takes to freeze.
Homemade popsicles that have fruit puree and additional added sugars will take significantly longer to freeze than other versions that are more flavored water.
This is especially so if you don’t lower the temperature of your freezer to compensate.
Thickness
The size of your popsicles will have a big effect on how long it takes them to freeze completely.
It’s not rocket science, but a thinner popsicle will freeze faster than a thicker one. Simply, the freezing temps will reach the middle faster.
How Do You Make Popsicles Freeze Faster?
- Make sure that your popsicle mold is filled to the brim. You want an even freeze without air pockets.
- Wrap the mold in plastic before putting it in the freezer. This provides insulation and speeds up the freezing process.
- Turn the temperature of your freezer down temporarily. Using the information above, determine if you might need a lower temperature to freeze your popsicles more efficiently.
- Make sure to place your mold in the coldest part of the freezer. In most freezers, this is the center back section. In an upright freezer, this is usually the top shelf or top drawer.
- Use your fast freeze function if you have one. Some models have a fast freeze function for when you need to freeze larger amounts of food fast.
- If you have the time and patience, you can freeze your popsicles for 30 minutes and then transfer them to the fridge for 30 minutes. You keep repeating this process until they’re frozen. It helps the popsicles cool more quickly.
- Invest in quick freeze molds.
Why Are My Ice Pops Not Freezing?
There are several reasons why your popsicles may not be freezing.
- Your freezer temperature is too low: If you’re using a regular freezer, the temperature of your food should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit (or -18 degrees Celsius). If you can set the temperatures colder than that you’re much better off.
- The water is too warm: This can happen if your freezer isn’t cold enough or if any part of the container touches another object in the freezer (like an ice tray), allowing heat transfer between them.
- The ingredients weren’t mixed well enough: Make sure all ingredients are blended together thoroughly before adding them to molds or freezable cups so that they’re evenly distributed throughout each individual piece when they come out of their mold later on! It’s also important not only because this ensures consistency among all pieces but also because otherwise there may be parts where there aren’t any flavors at all!
- Popsicles that are higher in sugar and/or fat won’t freeze well. Some ingredients will make really good popsicles, but will also increase your freeze time significantly.
- If you put alcohol in your popsicles, don’t be surprised if they don’t freeze well. Depending on the amount of alcohol, they may not freeze at all.
Conclusion
The best thing you can do is prepare yourself for that and just be patient! Dial your freezer down to the lowest temperature and let the magic happen. Give yourself at least 4 hours for fruity, homemade popsicles.
Low and slow makes great popsicles. Fast freezing, while great for satisfying our impatience, makes for larger ice crystals in our popsicles. Lower temperatures and more time mean smaller ice crystals and a creamier texture to our popsicles.
