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Best Ice Makers Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Speed
The most important thing about any ice maker is making sure that it is going to do a good job at making sure that you will have ice at the ready at any time. All the ice makers on this list will do a good job of making it easy for you to not have to worry about if there will be ice ready. There are some general baselines to look out for when looking for an ice maker that will meet the average requirements. A good ice maker will take less than ten minutes to give you the first set of cubes. This is a good amount of time for if you first get home, and need to wait for enough ice cubes for a drink. The best ice makers will take around five minutes to get a set of ice cubes out for you. There will always be an element of waiting, but the higher the rating in this category, the less waiting there will be.
Capacity
This is another important element to look for in an ice maker. There are two parts of the ice maker that have capacity as an important element of their design. There is always a tank in the back of the ice maker that you fill with water. This is the ammo that will make the ice for you. Look for an ice maker that has at least a few quarts of room back there for water. Every time that it runs out, you will have to fill it up again. The more capacity back there, the less time you will have to spend maintaining your ice maker. The other element of the ice maker where capacity is important is in the front of the ice maker. The ice will usually drop into a tray. The best ice makers will have lots of room up here so that you can make a huge amount of ice and then forget about it. If the cooling tray is properly insulated, then you can just make as much ice as you want and then forget about it.
Effectiveness
The ice in an ice maker is made very quickly. Because of this, it is often the case that the ice isn't as frozen as you are hoping for. This is okay sometimes. Many people point out that the ice that an ice maker produces is wet ice. This is because it is made so quickly that it doesn't have time to completely freeze on the outside, so there is still some moisture on the outside of the ice cube. Other ice makers will do a good job of giving you completely frozen ice. It isn't always the case, but the longer that the ice maker takes, the more likely that the ice will be of a higher quality. This category is a rating that will let you know how frozen you can expect the ice that you are getting to be.
Ease of Use
Anyone buying themselves an ice maker probably wants the experience of using it to be as painless as possible. The options on this list will all make it very easy to use them. You want to be able to set it and forget it. Fill up the reservoir, and then turn it on, and then let it do its thing. Look for ice makers that are designed to stop making ice once the max capacity in the front of the machine has been met. This will make it easier for you to be able to leave the ice maker alone. There are other useful things to look out for like if the ice maker lets you know when certain things need to be refilled. This could be something like an indicator light that lets you know when the ice bucket is full, or maybe something that lets you know when you have to refill the ice maker with more water.
Protection
This is another important thing to look out for. There are some ice makers that will do a better job of keeping your ice frozen. This can be seen in the amount of insulation that the ice maker has been designed with. If there is a lot of plastic in between the ice and you, then it is likely that the ice isn't very well insulated. On the other hand, some of the ice makers on this list are designed so that you can remove the ice bucket from the maker and then put it in your freezer so that you can use it later. This is great for keeping the ice, while not having to keep the ice maker on all the time. Some people enjoy the convenience of being able to leave the ice maker on for long periods of time, and if that fits your description, then make sure to look for an ice maker with thick insulation.
10 Best Ice Makers
1. NewAir
The NewAir is great for anyone who wants to make sure that they are never worried about running out of ice.
Tons of Ice
This ice maker is great because it can make pounds and pounds of ice for you every single day. It is easy to fill up with water, and then it can make enough ice to last for anything that you might need it for. It also does all this very quickly, and can make you some ice within fifteen minutes of being turned on.
Other Features
There are a lot of other things to love about the NewAir. It is designed to be used on the road. It has a very convenient shape that makes it easy for you to be able to bring it along with you to anywhere that you need to go. It is designed for use in the home, but also in other places like on a boat or on an RV. It also comes with a few different settings that make it possible for you to choose the ice that you want.
Cost and Value
The NewAir doesn't cost as much as it could, either. It is a very good deal for anyone who considers the amount of money they can save on going to the store to buy ice. It also produces much more ice much more quickly than any ice trays that you might buy. The NewAir is the perfect choice for anyone who wants their ice cubes at the ready at any time.
2. Aicock
The Aicock does a great job of making sure that you are always rich in ice. It is easy to use and makes ice very quickly.
Efficient Ice Maker
This machine is capable of making around nine ice cubes per every 6 to 10 minutes. This quick speed means that it can make a whopping 26 pounds of ice in a 24 hour period, making this machine great for being able to very quickly make the ice that you need for your daily drinks.
Self-Cleaning
If you've ever owned an ice machine before, you know that they can grimy instead very quickly. A bonus of this machine is that it has a self-cleaning function. All you need to do is add some water and vinegar and choose the cleaning option on the machine and voila - pure ice every time.
Cost and Value
This product is more affordable that the NewAir option that took our first place. It's a smart looking device that will look great on your countertops and is very efficient at producing ice.
3. FirstBuild Opal Nugget
This ice maker creates that most treasured of ice, the opal. Opal ice is incredibly portable and will look great in just about any situation.
Opal Ice Maker
Opal ice is like a more good-looking version of the crushed ice feature on your fridge. It is perfect for any kind of drink that would benefit from a little design flourish. The FirstBuild is also great for how much of this ice that it can make at one time. The drawer will become completely full of the stuff within about an hour.
Other Features
The FirstBuild has some other clever design choices. It makes ice at a very rapid pace, and can make a pound of ice in an hour. It also comes with an app. The app means that you can make ice whenever you want. You don't have to go up to the ice maker to get this done, and can just press a few buttons on your app so that you have ice waiting for you when you are ready.
Cost and Value
This ice maker is great because it does a good job of making the most aesthetically pleasing ice that you could hope for. There's lots more to love, including the convenient app, and the very portable nature of this ice maker. It costs quite a bit, but not as much as the Della. This is a good choice for anyone who likes a big pitcher of Mojito once in a while.
4. Frigidaire
The Frigidaire is great because it does a good job at making your ice in the quickest time possible. This one is great for those who like things on the fly.
Quick Ice Maker
One of the biggest things that people look for in an ice maker is the ability to make their ice quick. Running out of ice is no good at all. The Frigidaire promises to start clinking some ice down within six minutes. This means that you won't have to wait very long at all. It makes the classic nugget ice that you would expect to see out of a refrigerator.
Other Features
There are lots of other things to love about the Frigidaire. It is designed with your ease of use in mind. It comes with a viewing window on the top so that you can see what is going on inside of the ice machine. It is also great because it comes with a little ice scoop so that you have easy access to the ice as it falls down.
Cost and Value
This ice maker is great for another very important reason. It can be bought at a very reasonable price. This ice maker is designed for anyone who wants the quick and easy solution to their cold drink needs. The fast output and the easy access makes this a good choice for anyone who is too forgetful to make their ice on a schedule.
5. Avalon Bay
The Avalon Bay ice maker is another choice if you want your ice to come out quickly. This is a good choice for anyone looking to fill up a drink or two.
Very Quick Ice Maker
The Avalon Bay is another ice maker that promises to give you your ice within six minutes. This makes this a good choice for anyone who just wants some ice for their own personal use. It will give you nine pieces of ice in six minutes, which is just enough to fill up a glass or two with just the right amount of ice.
Other Features
This ice maker is designed with your convenience in mind. It has lots of little features that make it easy for you to use. It has a convenient warning light that lets you kn ow when more ice is needed in the ice maker. This makes it possible to always be on top of the ice maker so that the stream of ice is constant. It can make around twenty-five pounds of ice in a day, as long as you stay on top of it, and that it made easier through the use of its digital display.
Cost and Value
The Avalon Bay is another good choice for anyone who wants to make sure that their ice cubes are coming at a rapid pace. This is a good ice maker for personal use. It doesn't make too many ice cubes per cycle, but it does it quickly enough that you don't have to worry too much about it. It also costs so little that just about anybody can buy it.
6. Vremi
The Vremi is perfect for anyone who wants their life to be as simple as possible. It is most akin to an ice maker that you would find in a fridge.
Convenient Ice Maker
This ice maker is great because you can use it just like a refrigerator ice maker. It is designed so that it will make ice automatically that you can just leave in the tray without needing to worry about if it will melt. It will keep your ice nice and cold, and it will only make ice until the bucket is full. Just leave it plugged in and refill it once in a while, and you'll be in the clear.
Other Features
The Vremi is great for many other reasons, too. This ice maker is a good choice for those who are worried about energy consumption too. Because it is designed to remain plugged in, the Vremi has taken steps to not add too much to your energy bill. The Vremi is also a very portable size, which makes it perfect for anyone's home.
Cost and Value
The Vremi is a good choice for anyone who misses the ice maker in the refrigerator, and want something as similar as possible. This thing is very easy to use, and will remain convenient for just about anybody. It also doesn't cost very much, either, which will make it a relief to just about anybody who wants it.
7. hOmelabs
The hOmelabs option is a good one because it does just about everything right. It is quick, quiet, and comes with a good deal of features.
Portable Ice Maker
This ice maker is a good choice because it does all the things that other ice makers can do, but with a very convenient shape and size. This ice maker is a little taller, rather than thicker, which makes it perfect for the countertop. It makes it very easy to leave this one out, without needing to move anything around in your kitchen.
Other Features
Another great thing about the hOmelabs ice maker is that it does a great job at making you ice in the most convenient way. It comes with a easy to remove basket that will let you move the ice to the freezer after you are done. It also comes with a scoop, so that you don't have to get your fingers cold when you are getting a cup of drink ready.
Cost and Value
The hOmelabs is a good choice for just about anybody. It is designed to be very easy to use, and it does everything else just as quick. It will only take a few minutes to get you enough ice for a drink. This ice maker is great for anyone who is low on space in their home. Even better, it comes at a very reasonable price, even when compared to the other cheaper ice makers.
8. Igloo
The Igloo is a good choice for anyone who wants to be able to choose the kind of ice that they get out of their ice maker.
Choose Your Size
This ice maker is special because it will let you choose the size of your ice. For some drinks and uses, larger ice cubes are better. It has the smaller ones that you would get from the other ice makers on this list, too. That is great for getting to choose the ice that you would like. Larger ice cubes are great for things like chilling a cooler, as well.
Other Features
The Igloo has some other great features too. It is designed to be very quick and easy to use. Just set the type of ice that you would like, fill up the reservoir in the back, and you should start getting ice within the next seven to ten minutes. It will also hold a great deal of ice for its size. The Igloo can comfortably hold two pounds of ice cubes before it will shut itself off.
Cost and Value
The Igloo is great because it gives you some choice in what you want from your ice cubes. The larger cubes are great for keeping their shape for longer, and the smaller ones will really cool down a drink. The Igloo is also wonderful for being able to store so much ice at a much smaller size. It also doesn't cost very much, which is a welcome thing to see.
9. Hamilton Beach
The Hamilton Beach is a useful and easy to operate ice maker that will do a good job of making sure that you never run out.
Easy to Understand
The Hamilton Beach ice maker is great because you will always be on top of what you need to do to keep that ice coming. It has been designed with multiple warning lights that let you know just what needs to be done in the ice making process. There is a light for letting you know when the water is low, and also lights for when the ice tray is full, and when ice is being made.
Other Features
This ice maker is great for many other reasons too,. It does a good job of getting the ice out as quickly as possible. It should take under ten minutes for some ice to be made. Another great feature is the ability of this ice maker to have different sizes of ice that it can make. It also has a good capacity, and can fit two pounds of ice in its tray.
Cost and Value
The Hamilton Beach is actually the cheapest option on this list, so far. It does a great job for the price. It is missing some of the extra features you might be looking for, but it is great for always letting you know what you need to do to get more ice made. It also has a small and portable design which makes it a great choice for smaller kitchens.
10. RCA
The RCA is a quiet and efficient ice maker that will do a good job of keeping your house full of cooling ice.
Large Reservoir
This ice maker is great because it will make it easier for you to always have water at the ready. It has an extra large reservoir that can hold over two quarts of water. This means that it will take a little while before you run out. Less steps in the ice making process is always a good thing, and the RCA will make your life easier in that way.
Other Features
There are other great things going on with the RCA ice maker. It has a decently-sized tray that can hold up to one and a half pounds of ice. It is also very quick, and will have you sipping on a nice cold drink in under six minutes. It comes with a few options for the size of ice that you want, which is great for choosing the right ice for the occasion.
Cost and Value
The RCA ice maker is a really good choice for anyone who is in the market. It does everything just right. This includes the price, which is not overly expensive at all. This ice maker is great for anyone who wants the process to be as streamlined as possible. It is designed with your ease of use in mind.
Sources
- , How Icemakers Work, Article
- , How to Transport a Fridge the Right Way, Article
- , Cleaning your Portable Ice Machine, Article
