The 8 Best Countertop Ice Makers for Your Iced Coffee, Pop and More
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There are few things more elite than the tinkling sound of fresh ice pouring luxuriously into a glass. Sadly, not everyone is privileged enough to have an in-fridge ice-maker, and while those TikTok influencers with eight different freezers may have the time (and space) to pour, freeze and display several different shapes of ice cubes for their variety of beverages, some of us have lives to attend to!
But fear not, whether you’re having friends over for a craft cocktail or you just need to keep your early morning iced coffee cold, investing in a countertop ice maker–like the the Joy Pebble ($110; $85), GE Opal ($580; $545) or Gevi nugget ice maker ($500; $370)–will ensure you never run out of the good stuff. So sit back with a soon-to-be-iced drink as we walk you through our eight favorite options for countertop ice makers.
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The 8 Best Countertop Ice Makers at a Glance
How Do I Choose a Countertop Ice Maker?
There are a few things to consider when choosing the right countertop ice maker for you. If you’re tight on kitchen counter space, you might want to look for something small and compact. Maybe you, like the rest of America, are obsessed with Sonic nugget ice—in which case a nugget ice machine is going to change your life for the better. Got a huge family who can’t get enough of ice crunching? Opt for a countertop ice maker that can churn out up to 50 pounds of the stuff a day. Rest assured, no matter your lifestyle or icy needs, there’s a countertop ice maker out there with your name on it.
How We Chose the Best Countertop Ice Makers
We scoured the internet, poring over the reviews, materials and sales records of a slew of countertop ice machines before picking out the top-rated and best-selling options. We also considered a range of sizes and price points, so you could find one that fits your budget, lifestyle and ice cravings.
1. GE Profile Opal Ice Maker
For nugget ice lovers, it doesn’t get much better than the GE Profile Opal. This ice maker can make up to 38 pounds of perfectly sized nugget ice in a 24-hour period, has an advanced cleaning and sanitation system that enables users to skip the scrubbing, and even offers WiFi connection and voice control capabilities so you can schedule ice-making on demand. Better yet, it has a sleek stainless-steel construction with an ultra modern touchscreen and clear, slide-out ice bin that allows you to see exactly how much ice you have available.
2. Joy Pebble Ice Maker
This compact and portable countertop ice maker (which comes complete with a convenient handle) will have you chomping on nine pieces of bullet-shaped ice cubes within six minutes, and it can churn out up to 26.5 pounds of ice every day. Its one-touch auto-cleaning system sanitizes the machine in a 30-minute cycle, so there’s no need to bust out the scrubbing brushes between uses. Meanwhile, the powerful ice-making system is both quiet and energy efficient, so it shouldn’t disturb your dinner party or barbecue.
3. Gevi Countertop Ice Maker
As seen on the countertops of the TikTok famous, this much-loved ice maker can make up to 30 pounds of delicious and chewable nugget ice every day and comes equipped with a self-cleaning function and muted exhaust fan to ensure your day isn’t interrupted by the loud drone of yet another kitchen appliance. The ice tray is tucked behind a pull-down door, so it looks perfectly sleek on your countertop, and, per the brand, makes the design especially drip-proof since the door catches any extra moisture. It also comes with a 12-month warranty and lifetime tech support to make sure nothing gets in the way of your easy access to fresh ice.
4. Aglucky Countertop Ice Maker
The price on this baby is hard to beat—at $40 on sale, it’s the most affordable option on our list and still boasts great reviews from ice lovers worldwide, who say it works quietly and efficiently to produce 26 pounds of ice daily. It comes with a carrying handle for convenient portability and features a self-cleaning function to boot. Not only will this compact ice maker fit comfortably under your cabinets, it’ll also come in under your budget.
5. Igloo Portable Ice Maker
Designed to be portable with an easy-grip handle, this ice maker can easily be moved from room to room, so you can bring the ice to wherever the party is. It has the ability to make up to 26 pounds of ice every day and features an automatic cleaning cycle, an LED control panel that enables you to choose between two different sizes of bullet ice, and even a cute little viewing window so you can watch the ice being made. Say hello to ice-cold goodness, no matter where you are.
6. Frigidaire Freestanding Ice Maker
There’s nothing like clear, cubed ice that shines like a diamond and melts slowly in your drink. If that sounds like your jam, this countertop ice maker is the one for you. Cranking out up to 40 pounds of classic cube ice daily, this stainless-steel number boasts a fully automatic control system that alerts you when the machine is full, and has a water draining port for easy cleaning and maintenance. Reviewers add that it’s mostly quiet compared to other models.
7. Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker
Don’t want to sacrifice valuable counter space for yet another huge appliance? Coming in at just over 11 inches tall and 8.7 inches wide, this countertop ice maker has earned hundreds of 5-star reviews for its small footprint and powerful abilities. It can make up to 26 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period, and produces new ice within six minutes of turning it on. Plus, it boasts an easy-to-use self-cleaning feature and infrared sensor technology that stops ice production when the basket is full. Shoppers say that, thanks to its size and portability (complete with carrying handle), it can also be taken camping and on vacation.
8. KBice Self-Dispensing Countertop Ice Maker
Want to save yourself the scooping and dispense ice just like you do at your favorite fast food joint? Consider this innovative countertop ice maker that pops perfectly crunchy nugget ice straight into your glass. It produces up to 30 pounds of the stuff in 24 hours and has an internal capacity to hold 2 pounds of ice at a time. This machine also has an easy, one-button autoclean function to ensure you’re always getting the freshest ice.
Do You Leave Your Countertop Ice Maker on All the Time?
You can, but unless you’re throwing 24-7 cocktail parties, you probably don’t need to. A countertop ice maker isn’t the same as a freezer, so if you turn it off, the ice will eventually melt and turn back into water. If you want to save energy, bag your fresh ice, throw it in the freezer for later, and turn off the ice machine until you need it.
How to Clean a Countertop Ice Maker?
To ensure you’re always getting the best quality ice, it is essential to regularly clean your countertop ice maker to avoid adding dirty or stale ice to your drinks. While the cleaning techniques will vary by machine, in general, you will first want to make sure your ice maker is unplugged. Drain or dump any remaining water from the reservoir, then take out all the removable pieces and wash them thoroughly with soap and water. Mix together water and vinegar and use this concoction to scrub down the inside of your ice maker, using a toothbrush to get hard-to-reach spots. For some extra cleaning power, make ice with the water and vinegar solution to ensure that every part of the ice machine is touched with the solution. Then dump the vinegar ice and rinse out the whole machine with water. Afterwards, you’ll be ready to serve up some ice-cold drinks.
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