The 7 Best Countertop Ice Makers for Pounds of Ice On Demand
These handy small appliances ensure there’s a continual supply of cubes to keep your drinks cold.
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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, along with some advice on what to look out for as you make your pick.
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.
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her four years as a product tester, she's tested hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as Forbes, USA Today, The Spruce, Food52, and more.
Lizzy Briskin, a food writer and product reviewer who runs Earthen Food Co, is a trained chef and avid home cook who loves to put new gadgets to the test to help people make informed buying decisions; she contributes food, cooking, and lifestyle content to publications including the Chicago Tribune, Simply Recipes, Munchery, Insider, and others. She also tests and develops recipes for national food brands. When she’s not cooking, eating, or writing, she can be found hiking, cycling, and training for marathons.
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