Summer: not only an awesome name but also a season of great warmth and thirst. As Summer got into full swing I decided I needed something to cool the house down. A fan? But then I’d have to go to the store and find a nice one at a good price then get it home and set it up and risk having it permanently borrowed – No. Air conditioning? Who could afford it? Icy pole pack? Yeah! Of course this option also has the permanently borrowed risk to it, but I have the solution: I find the cheapest, lowest quality and ugliest icy pole maker available on the internet and buy it and wait a month for its arrival. In the meantime, cold showers? ( I don’t know about you, but there is something about cold showers that feels a bit like wearing a fedora; forever alone).
I have tried it twice; Apple juice once and orange juice once. The apple juice I only made enough for 2 icy poles. When it came time to get them out I had to run hot water over them for about 60 seconds, risking my hands as I go but hoping it’s worth it. One icy pole decided it wanted to stay in the container, but the handle came out for me. The other one Dad tells me tasted great, so I’ll take his word for it. The OJ ones were very strong. Ice built up with it of course and everyone else loved that. I couldn’t get behind that as much for some reason. The juice didn’t take long to start dripping down the icy pole, down my hands, down my clothes, onto my floor… Once they were all gone all that was left was cleaning the container. OJ is annoying to clean off things at the best of times and this thing was certainly no exception.
I feel like I really wanted this to work, for nostalgia value as much as for the ability to stave off the heat. Instead I have a very cheap and basic looking icy pole maker that I wish I could replace for the nicer ones. There are so many pretty ones out there. Admitedly they cost around $30, whilst mine cost about $3, but still.
So here are some tips for you when you go out and buy some icy pole makers:
- Don’t get the cheapest one just because it’s cheap, because it really is cheap and won’t be as fun as the others.
- Don’t buy ones that down have a catchment area at the bottom if you can help it. Or do buy it and buy some rubber gloves and/or some paper towels. Up to you.
- Do get ones that are pretty. You’ll probably want to use them more then, the novelty won’t wear off as quick and people will enjoy your hospitality more (unless you don’t like people, in which case the cheap ones are great).
- Do ensure the container is large enough to fit your hand in acceptably as you will most likely be using said hand to clean out sticky-clingy OJ later.
- Do more research than I did before purchasing anything. Whilst writing this blog I have come to realize their is no limit to the leaps and bounds of technology. I cannot believe zuko pops existed and I missed the memo. *consumer reviews are 50/50 on the quality of the product, but the zuko icy pole and ice cream art out there makes me want to buy it anyway. ooOOo and they have regular and mini sizes! Google image zuko pops art. My favourite pictures so far are the nutella ice creams and the pic of the machine next to a bunch of green beans. Who turns beans into an ice cream? Probably me, if I ever get one of these. So much want.
The ones I had as a child I found later after buying the cheapest ones. They look similar, but have a straw section and a catchment area and, if you’re not too worried about pretty/kitchy, then these may just be for you:
Luckily the days aren’t so hot right now and I have 2 large and 1 small fan to keep me cool, so the icy pole maker can stay in it’s box. Now to add Zuko to my list of things to buy for the kitchen (right under blender and food processor and above sushi maker).
To having a chillastic day,
Summer Tay.
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