Best Countertop Ice Maker: Top Choices & Guides

Use it to make minty mojitos, fruit cocktails, or Long Island Iced Tea. Also, be sure to read our guides on the best ice cream maker, best ice tea maker, and best iced coffee maker.

1. GE Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: GE

• Capacity: 3 Pounds

• Voltage: 120 Volts

• Product Dimensions: 17.5"D x 13.43"W x 16.5"H

Product's highlights

Nugget ice is ideal for blended cocktails because it keeps the mixture cooler for longer and does not dilute the flavors. This machine makes restaurant-quality ice that isn't wet, making it easy to separate if it becomes stuck.

This stylish ice maker produces a pound of ice nuggets per hour and has 1 storage bin that can store up to 3 pounds. The clear, illuminated bin shows how much ice is available and is simple to pull forward when scooping ice. You can open the bin during ice is still being made, and any ice that is made simply falls into the water reservoir. The bin is also insulated, which helps to keep the ice cold.

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Pros

• Quickly creates chewable nugget ice

• Simple to use and clean

• Elegant style

• Wi-Fi connection

Cons

• Noisy

2. Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: Luma Comfort

• Model Name: IM200SS

• Capacity: 74 Pounds

• Wattage: 130

• Voltage: 120.00

• Product Dimensions: 14.8"D x 11.3"W x 14.1"H

Product's highlights

This ice maker makes very clear, high quality ice. This machine has a 10-cup water capacity and produced the most ice per hour of any of the tested ice makers. They also mentioned how quiet the machine is and how it isn't overly branded.

The machine has push button controls and a LED display, as well as alerts that notify you when the ice collector is full or when the water level is low. It's fairly large and bulky—not so large that 1 fridge with its ice maker is a more suitable option, but if you just have a small kitchen, this machine may require a dedicated space other than your countertop. It does not require any installation.

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Pros

• Almost completely silent

• High batch output

• It quickly produces ice.

Cons

• Ice will need to be broken up.

3. NewAir Portable Ice Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: NewAir

• Model Name: AI-215SS

• Capacity: 0.8 Cubic Feet

• Wattage: 170

• Voltage: 120

• Product Dimensions: 16.88"D x 14"W x 16.75"H

Product's highlights

The NewAir Portable Ice Maker, which pulls out all the stops, is unbeatable. It can make up to 50 pounds of ice per day and has three different cube sizes to choose from. It also has an 18-hour timer so you can program when your ice is ready, as well as a removable bin for transporting ice.

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Pros

• Self-cleaning feature

• Timer with programmability

• Ice comes in three sizes.

Cons

• Heavy

4. Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker Machine

Important Specifications 

• Capacity: 2.2 liters

• Color: Black

• Display Type: LCD

• Installation Type: Countertop

• Material: Stainless Steel

Product's highlights

The Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker Machine can produce up to 40 pounds of ice per day and comes in three sizes. You can program when you want your machine to start producing with an 8-hour delay timer.

The ice basket is removable and can hold up to 2.2 pounds of ice. If it melts before you remove it, the water recycling system will filter water back through the system, where it will be converted back into ice.

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Pros

• Timer with an 8-hour delay

• Ice cubes in three sizes

• High daily output

Cons

• Bulky

5. Frigidaire EFIC103 26-Pound Freestanding Ice Maker

Important Specifications 

• Brand: FRIGIDAIRE

• Model Name: EFIC103-AMZ-SC

• Capacity: 26 Pounds

• Wattage: 120 watts

• Voltage: 120

• Product Dimensions: 14"D x 12"W x 15"H

Product's highlights

Bullet ice, a.k.a hollow cube ice, is a more cylindrical shape than nugget ice and even works well in a variety of beverages, including soda and mixed drinks. This Frigidaire model produces the largest and thickest bullet ice we've witnessed from a countertop ice maker, and also it does so quickly. The Frigidaire EFIC103 can produce 26 pounds per day, and in our tests, it produced nine pounds in just eight minutes. Because the ice is so thick and large, a small amount goes a long way. This machine made hollow, bullet-shaped ice that was as thick and as fast as the brands that cost twice as much. It was also so quiet that she had forgotten it was on.

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Pros

• Large, dense ice bullets

• Ice comes in three sizes.

• Portable

• Extremely quiet

Cons

• There is no self-cleaning cycle.

• There is no refrigerated ice storage.

1. How do countertop ice makers function?

While models differ, most ice makers start by pumping water into the molds to make the ice. The freezing process is monitored by the ice maker, and once the ice in molds has frozen, the molds then are slightly heated so the ice can easily release and next be ejected into the storage bin. The process is still repeated until there is no more water or space in the bin for more ice.

2. Is it necessary to have a water line for countertop ice makers?

Most countertop ice makers have a reservoir for water and don't require the dedicated water line because they are designed to be portable. However, some commercial units that home users may choose require a water line and, in some cases, a drain.

3. Do countertop ice makers consume a lot of power?

It depends on the product, but ice makers typically do not consume a lot of power. The draw differs depending on what the ice maker is doing—pumping, freezing, or heating the molds—and also the range is fairly wide, ranging from 50 to 160 watts per hour on average.

Even if your refrigerator has an ice maker built in, you may want to keep a more portable countertop ice maker on hand so you always have enough ice for parties and holiday dinners—especially since these machines can start producing ice cold cubes (or nuggets or bullets) in a matter of minutes.