These Countertop Ice Makers Churn Out Pounds of Cubes at a Time

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You may not think much about ice until you need it and are out. Many refrigerators offer a supply of crescent-shaped cubes with the push of a button, though built-in ice makers are prone to breaking and require upkeep. Filling up ice cube trays at the sink can be cumbersome, especially if you need large quantities of ice or don’t have extra freezer space.

Rather than rely on your fridge, a countertop ice maker can churn out pounds of ice over a 24-hour period for soda, cocktails, and iced coffee. Some compact models can also be handy for tailgating, RV trips, or car camping.

But like any small appliance, they have different attributes to consider to find a model that suits your needs, including size, capacity, water source connection, and features like LED lighting and a self-cleaning mode. Whether you’re looking for a kitchen or portable model, these are the best countertop ice makers we recommend to keep beverages cold.

The Best Countertop Ice Makers

• Best Overall: Frigidaire EFIC189

• Best for Nugget Ice: GE Profile Opal 2.0

• Best Budget: Crownful Ice Maker

• Best for Home Bars: NewAir 44-Lb Ice Maker

• Most Portable: Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker

What to Consider

Ice Style

Consider your ice cube style preference when deciding on a countertop ice maker. Some of the most popular shapes are nugget ice cubes. Many machines that make bullet cubes offer two sizes–small and large. Nugget ice cubes, also known as pellet or sonic, are soft and chewable. They’re the cube of choice at restaurants like Sonic and Chick-fil-A, but they melt quickly, and the machines that make them tend to be more expensive due to their popularity.

Size

There isn’t much of a difference in size among the best countertop ice makers. Some space-savers are tall and narrow while others are lower and deep, ideal to fit beneath a kitchen cabinet. At most, countertop ice makers range from roughly 10 to 15 inches deep and 12 to 17 inches high.

Capacity

Most countertop ice makers designed for kitchens produce 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours. This is more than enough for households with four to six people, assuming there are no major ice demands (like a party). Larger households or offices may appreciate a more productive machine that churns out 30 or more pounds of ice per day.

Water Source

Countertop ice makers either use water from a built-in reservoir or a connected water line, but the former is most common. You’ll need to refill a reservoir ice maker with water when it runs out. The major benefit is it doesn’t require any plumbing connections—you just fill the tank and it’s ready to use. Just keep in mind that most machines recommend using filtered water to prevent mineral deposits from building up.

Noise Level

If your ice maker will be running all the time and you don’t want to hear constant humming and clinking, look for a model that produces 40 decibels of sound or less. Some ice makers automatically run when they sense the basket is running low on ice—keep this in mind if you prefer a quieter machine.

Self-Cleaning

Self-cleaning is an important feature to consider and look for, as cleaning a countertop ice maker requires dumping ice and removing and replacing several components. With a simple click of a button, you know your machine is clean and the ice will taste fresh. After all, using the best quality ice amplifies the taste of your beverages, too.

How We Selected

To put together this list of the best countertop ice makers, we used our expert knowledge of the kitchen appliance space to narrow down our pool. Elizabeth Briskin—the original author of this guide—is a chef, recipe developer, and food writer who is all too familiar with the necessity of ice in the kitchen. She uses her own ice maker multiple times per day for tasks like shocking her delicate veggies after blanching them—this keeps them from continuing to cook and getting soggy.

We researched the best-performing brands and most-loved products according to customer reviews, product descriptions, latest models, and testing. While researching, we looked for products in a range of price points, sizes, capacities, and feature sets (like multiple ice cube sizes, water dispensers, portability, and a self-cleaning function). We also considered noise level, speed, and quantity of ice these can make in 24 hours.

EFIC189 Compact Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

This high-powered ice maker from Frigidaire is our top pick thanks to its thoughtful design, high output, and easy-to-use interface. You can choose from two sizes of bullet ice cubes—which are cylindrical with a rounded tip and hollow center—and the ice maker produces its first cubes in less than six minutes.

It holds up to 1.5 pounds of ice cubes at a time and produces up to 26 pounds per day, so it’s a good choice for larger households. The flip-up lid is transparent so you can see your supply straight away. As unused ice melts, the machine recycles the water to make fresh ice, saving you from draining it constantly.

Profile Opal 2.0 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

Nugget ice—also called Sonic or pellet ice—is popular thanks to its soft, chewable texture. If you’re willing to spend a little more, the Profile Opal 2.0 gives you a continual supply of the opal-shaped nuggets.

This high-tech ice maker begins making ice in less than ten minutes and can produce 1.6 pounds of it per hour. This means that in 24 hours, you’ll have 38 pounds of ice, and the bin holds 3 pounds of ice at a time.

The side-mounted water reservoir can hold up to 3 gallons of water—more than most—and you can even control this appliance from your smartphone, thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity.

Nugget Countertop Ice Maker

This compact model is a great budget-friendly option. The Crownful Nugget Ice Maker efficiently produces bullet-shaped ice cubes in under 10 minutes and makes 26 pounds in 24 hours. You can choose from two sizes—a feature some premium models don’t offer.

Making ice is simple, with a one-touch button and an infrared sensor so the machine knows when the ice basket is full. It will also alert you when you need to refill the water reservoir.

This Crownful is lighter than most, so it’s ideal for taking on the road when you know you’ll have a power hookup. The company also offers a one-year warranty, which is a perk at this price.

44-Lb Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

Your guests are sure to be impressed by the NewAir Countertop Ice Maker, which has a cool modern design that won’t distract from the look of a home bar. Its all-black exterior is accentuated by the LED-lit ice cube compartment.

In addition to its sleek look, this high-end ice maker creates nugget-style ice and can produce an impressive 44 pounds of it per day—significantly more than many other machines. It even has a handy draining tube in the back that makes it easy to empty, plus a self-cleaning setting.

Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

You can bring this countertop ice maker almost anywhere thanks to its relative light weight and convenient carrying handle. Whether you’re headed on a picnic or are hosting an outdoor gathering and need ice, this portable machine provides all the conveniences and eliminates the hassle of hauling bags.

While many ice makers weigh over 20 pounds, this one is just 13 and can produce up to 25.5 pounds of bullet-shaped ice per day, with the first cubes ready in as quickly as six minutes.

The model features an insulated ice compartment and is easy to operate. It’s a good choice for backyard barbecues, office parties, or even just everyday use, and it’s very affordable. There’s also a self-cleaning function.

Automatic Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

This affordable model from Igloo delivers excellent value, with a solid lineup of features and compact footprint. It produces two sizes of cylindrical ice—26 pounds in 24 hours—with a 1.5-quart water tank. The only caveat is that there’s no insulation to keep the ice frozen, so any that’s left in the ice basket melts and water goes back to the reservoir.

Self-Cleaning Nugget Ice Maker

With a sleek, modern design, this ice maker complements any kitchen counter and gives you two options to refill the water— either by pouring water into the reservoir or through a hookup.

This ice maker produces 26 pounds of ice per day, producing a little over one pound of ice per hour. If you have a big gathering and need extra ice, this machine has you covered, thanks to its extra ice basket that can hold an additional 3.3 pounds of ice.

Like many other ice makers on the market, it features a self-cleaning mode. All you have to do is press “clean” for three seconds for the cleaning cycle to begin.

Countertop Ice Makers Q&A

PM: Can you use tap water in a countertop ice maker?

EB: Yes, whether you hook your ice maker up to a water line or use a refillable tank, you can keep it supplied with tap water. However, if you find that your tap water has an unpleasant flavor, you may prefer to use filtered water.

PM: Can I leave my countertop ice maker on all the time?

EB: Yes, it’s perfectly safe to leave most ice makers on during the day and night. Of course, if you’re not using the ice, you will be using electricity to keep it running.

PM: Do ice makers need a water line?

EB: Some countertop ice makers require a water hookup. This means you’ll need to place the machine near some plumbing in your kitchen. If this isn’t an option for your home, however, many of the machines we love use a refillable water reservoir instead of, or in addition to, a water line.

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