Buying guide for best portable ice makers
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Do you need lots of ice in short order? A portable ice maker could be the perfect solution for you. Sure, you could spend a couple of days building up an ice supply in your freezer, but that’s a tedious process. You could buy commercial bags of ice, but transporting and storing them would be a hassle. Even your refrigerator's built-in ice maker imposes a time-consuming recovery period between productivity cycles.
A portable ice maker helps you create table-ready cubes in a matter of minutes. Most machines can store several pounds of ice at a time, and some can even recycle melted ice into new cubes.
Editors’ picks
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker
Editors’ Favorite
Dimensions: 17.5” L x 13.43” W x 16.5” H | Capacity: 3 lb | Ice Shape: Pellet | Pounds of Ice Per Day: 38 | Self-Cleaning: Yes
The GE Profile Opal 2.0 is a powerhouse ice maker that can deliver nearly 40 pounds of crunchy, chewable pellet ice just like you’d get from your favorite drive-thru. It has a large-capacity water tank that produces up to three times as much ice as similar machines with smaller reservoirs. It doesn’t require constant refills, either.
We also love how easy the Profile Opal 2.0 is to use. It features a sleek touch display that allows you to easily turn the machine on and off and check its status. It can also connect to Wi-Fi, so you can use the GE Smart HQ App to schedule ice production and ensure you never run out. You can also connect it to a smart-home assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant, letting you use voice commands to control the machine.
Cleaning this ice maker is just as easy. The Profile Opal 2.0 features an advanced cleaning system that sanitizes and descales the machine with the press of a button. That ensures your ice always tastes fresh and helps prolong the ice maker’s lifespan.
Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker
Great Value
Dimensions: 11.42” L x 8.74” W x 11.57” H | Capacity: 1.3 lb | Ice Shape: Bullet | Pounds of Ice Per Day: 26 | Self-Cleaning: Yes
Bargain hunters will definitely appreciate the Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker, which offers many of the same features as many pricier models. It can produce up to 26 pounds of ice per day and can hold over a pound of ice at a time. It features a portable design, weighing under 15 pounds and offering a sturdy handle that makes it easy to take on the go.
While it has a powerful 170-watt compressor, this machine is extremely quiet. It operates at just 45 decibels, making it no louder than average room noise. It’s also extremely energy-efficient, consuming just 4 kilowatt-hours per 24 hours, so you don’t have to worry about running up your energy bill just to ensure you have a steady supply of ice.
This Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker is one of the most user-friendly models on our list, too. It has an infrared sensor that flashes an indicator light to let you know when the ice basket is full. It also alerts you when it’s time to add water, while the self-cleaning cycle makes maintenance a breeze.
Igloo Portable Ice Maker Machine
Best for Its Fast Output
Dimensions: 12.2” L x 9.06” W x 12.8” H | Capacity: 1.25 lb | Ice Shape: Cylinder | Pounds of Ice Per Day: 26 | Self-Cleaning: Yes
If you don’t want to wait around every time you need ice, the Igloo Portable Ice Maker Machine can make a batch in a hurry. Its quick-freezing compressor allows it to make eight large cylinder-shaped ice cubes in just nine minutes. It has a 2-quart water tank to prevent frequent refills, too, and can make up to 26 pounds per day, so you’ll always have plenty of fresh ice on hand.
Its built-in ice basket can hold 1.25 pounds of ice at a time. This basket is removable, too, so it’s easy to transfer the ice to your fridge, cooler or ice bucket. It also has a drain plug that lets you drain the water quickly and easily.
The automatic five-cycle cleaning function makes complete cleanup even easier. It automatically cleans the machine, so your ice is always perfectly clear and fresh-tasting. You’ll know instantly when it’s time to add water or empty the ice basket, too, because the LED-lighted control panel illuminates to alert you.
Silonn Countertop Ice Maker
Best for Entertaining
Dimensions: 13.15” L x 8.98” W x 11.14” H | Capacity: 9 cups | Ice Shape: Bullet | Pounds of Ice Per Day: 26.5 | Self-Cleaning: Yes
The Silonn Countertop Ice Maker offers quick, efficient ice production, making it perfect for parties and other occasions when you need to serve multiple guests. It needs just six minutes to deliver nine bullet-shaped ice cubes and can produce more than 26 pounds per day, so you’ll have plenty of ice for entertaining. You can choose between ice cube sizes, too.
The machine’s LED control panel is extremely user-friendly, so it’s easy to operate. It has four indicators that let you know when the ice maker needs water, the ice basket is full or when it’s in ice-making mode or self-cleaning mode, allowing you to know its status at a glance.
Despite its generous ice production, the Silonn Countertop Ice Maker has a compact design, so it can fit in small kitchens, offices and recreational vehicles. It even has a convenient carrying handle, so you can move it from place to place with ease.
EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker
Best Budget Nugget Ice Maker
Dimensions: 11” L x 9.1” W x 12.6” H | Capacity: 1.3 lb | Ice Shape: Nugget | Pounds of Ice Per Day: 35 | Self-Cleaning: Yes
The Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker produces soft, chewable nugget or pellet ice cubes but at a fraction of the price of some of the high-end models. These small cubes melt more slowly than larger cubes and have a delightfully crunchy texture that many people prefer. The machine needs just seven minutes to make a batch and delivers 35 pounds of ice per day, so you’ll always have a steady supply.
Don’t worry about it being difficult to operate. You only have to press the “Ice” button to start the machine making a batch. Similarly, when it’s time to clean, you just press and hold the “Clean” button for five seconds to start the cleaning cycle, saving you from scrubbing the machine yourself.
Its ice basket can hold over a pound of ice at a time, which means you’ll never have to worry about running out. The ice maker also comes with an ice scoop, so you can easily remove the ideal amount to fill any glass.
How we analyzed
Ice makers can all seem pretty similar, which can make shopping for one a real challenge. To find the best ice makers, we analyzed customer reviews from multiple online retailers to determine which models best met user expectations. Specifically, we evaluated which ice makers offered the most efficient ice-making, the largest ice production, the easiest cleanup and the most user-friendly operation. Ultimately, we considered over a dozen ice makers and selected the top models based on performance, ice quality, overall efficiency and ease of use.
How a portable ice maker does its job
For the purposes of this shopping guide, we'll be discussing automated, portable ice makers — the type of machine that sits on your countertop and cranks out ice cubes, nuggets, or flakes on command. An ice cube tray could also be considered an “ice maker,” as could a built-in machine in your freezer, but we're not discussing those products here.
The ice makers recommended here require no external water line. Simply add water to the freezing chamber and turn on the machine. Inside the machine, metal probes connected to a heat exchange plunge into the water and freeze rapidly. Ice collects around these probes until it reaches a specific size. The excess water flows into the reservoir, and the heat exchanger reverses direction, prompting the metal probes to heat and release the cubes into an insulated compartment.
The cycle begins again when fresh water from the reservoir floods the freezing chamber and the metal probes revert to “freezing” mode.
Output and capacity
Do you want an ice maker that creates 35 pounds of ice per day, or would you be satisfied with a machine that cranks out about eight ounces at a time?
If your goal is to make enough ice for a large party, a small-capacity machine with an eight-ounce output would necessitate frequent ice transfers to other containers. For some party hosts, that would be a nuisance. A large-capacity machine that makes 35 pounds of ice per day would require fewer ice transfers, if any.
Ease of transport
Do you want a lightweight machine with handles that you can easily ferry around? Or do you plan to create a permanent space for your ice maker on your countertop?
The truth is, not all “portable” ice makers are easy to move from one place to another. Before buying, be sure to investigate any “ease of transport” features that would make your life easier — or harder.
For example, models with compressor freezer technology tend to weigh 30 pounds or more. Generally speaking, they’re the heaviest on the market. Smaller units weigh less, but their output may lag behind the competition.
Expert tip
Never place your ice maker in a warm or sunny spot. The ice will fight for its life in the heat and the function of your ice maker is compromised.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Ice types
The typical ice maker produces conical, bullet-shaped cubes with a hollow interior. This type of ice is perfectly acceptable for cooling beverages and packing food, but it lacks the clarity and density that some people prefer in their adult beverages.
More “adventurous” cube shapes and consistencies aren’t offered by every machine. They include the following:
- Chewy nuggets or tubes
- Dice-shaped cubes and half-cubes
- Crushed ice (great for slushies)
- Flaked ice (melts fast)
- Ice pellets (easier to find online than in most stores)
Some machines are capable of making small, medium, and large cubes. Customer reviews of these machines are mixed. The freedom to create different sizes is certainly appealing, but some say the smallest cubes melt too fast and the difference between the medium and large cubes is negligible.
Speed
How quickly do you need your cubes? Production cycle length varies from one machine to the next. Appliance A may churn out ice in six to seven minutes, whereas Appliance B may require 20 minutes or more to deliver its first batch.
We've learned through the course of our consumer research that stated ice production times don’t always match real-world results. Some smaller ice makers produce an initial batch of cubes within minutes but take a lot longer to make subsequent batches. Similarly, some larger machines take 15-20 minutes for the first batch but just a handful of minutes for subsequent batches.
Expert tip
Some ice makers are noisy. If you have a sleeping baby or an easily-startled puppy, check reviews and the manufacturer’s instructions for noise levels before purchase.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Tips
We’re proud of our highlighted products, but even the best appliances require a little know-how. Keep these tips in mind when using your ice maker.
- Think about what type of ice you want. The typical ice maker creates hollow, conical cubes. If you'd like a specialty shape, like crushed ice, you'll need to make sure your chosen ice maker produces it.
- Station the ice maker on a sturdy, level surface that can support the weight of both the machine and the water you pour into the reservoir.
- If you don't want to dedicate counter space to this “occasional” appliance, consider storing it in a cupboard between uses. Larger ice makers can take up as much space as a toaster oven.
- Empty your ice maker regularly. Almost all portable ice maker storage bins are insulated but not refrigerated. This means that finished ice cubes, when left unattended, could melt and refreeze, possibly creating a flow problem for the freezer unit and one giant ice cube in the bin.
FAQ
Q. I already have an ice maker in my freezer. Do I really need a portable one, too?
A. That depends on your personal circumstances. Those who entertain frequently may want to have extra ice on hand for party guests. You may find that in the summer it's practical to have an ice maker that you can bring outside with you on hot days. Travelers may want a way to produce their own ice while on the road. Fresh ice also becomes an important commodity during disaster relief operations in which perishable foods and medications need to be kept cool.
Expert tip
Always wipe down the body of the ice maker after using it for a party. Splatter from guacamole and other food around the party table can get on the body of the ice maker and leave an unsanitary mess.
BestReviews Cooking and Baking Expert
Q. What kind of maintenance is required?
A. Clean your appliance regularly to avoid the accumulation of mold or other allergens. Your owner manual should provide specific cleaning tips for your model. Remember, too, that the water tray must be emptied routinely to prevent ice cubes from freezing together and jamming your system.
Q. What's a reasonable price for an ice maker?
A. Cost runs the gamut from $100 to $500. In general, you can expect to pay $125 to $175 for an entry-level model, and $225 to $250 for a high-end ice maker.
Q. How much ice can I expect my new ice maker to produce each day?
A. It depends on the size and power of your machine. A few workhorse models can produce 35 pounds of ice per day, although the average production rate for most ice makers is closer to 20 pounds a day
