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A removable reservoir
A removable reservoir makes refilling easier, especially if the machine is far from the sink.
The most convenient feature of all the ice makers I tested was a removable reservoir. Some of the budget models had built-in water tanks, which meant you had to either keep the machine near the sink or bring water in a separate vessel to fill it.
The Whynter ice maker has a built-in water tank, which I found trickier to fill.
The removable reservoirs proved uniquely handy for refilling, especially for the midsized machines that required more refills to keep up with demand.
Ice type
Most home ice makers make either nugget or bullet ice.
Most at-home ice makers make one of two types of ice: bullet or nugget. Nugget ice can be made quickly and is great for chewing on but it melts fast in drinks. Bullet ice seems to be the go-to ice type for budget-friendly ice makers. It’s more similar in structure to ice you would find in an in-fridge ice maker.
Then there are the specialty ice makers, largely designed for cocktail making. Frigidaire has a $300 ball ice maker, while Klaris’ $524 ice maker makes perfect, air-pocket-free blocks for sipping your favorite brown liquor or mixed drink.
Size and production volume
Midsized ice makers like the Frigidaire and Ecozy hold enough ice for about 7 drinks.
The smallest ice makers are good for crowded kitchens but the production is limited so it might not be worth even the meager space they take up. The Cuisinart and Igloo, for instance, hold just 2 pounds of ice, enough for roughly 7 drinks.
Most ice makers hold about 2 liters, which equals roughly 2.5 pounds of ice, good for about nine drinks. The bigger ice makers, including our top pick, the GE Profile Opal Nugget ice maker, hold 3 pounds at once, enough for 12 drinks, but the footprint on your counter is significantly bigger.
The GE Profile Opal Nugget ice maker, hold 3 pounds at once, enough for 12 drinks.
One thing to note is that the overall size of the ice maker doesn’t guarantee it will produce more ice per day than a smaller machine, only that it makes more in one full cycle. The GE Opal, for instance, makes a few pounds less per day than the Ecozy and Frigidaire if you were to continuously fill them for 24 straight hours. The benefit of having a bigger machine is that you won’t have to refill it as often.
You’d be wise to consider the space where you plan to put your ice maker before you purchase. Many homes may only require extra ice in the summer, so if you can budget the space for three or four months only, you can spring for a larger model that produces more. If it’s going in the basement or garage to replenish ice as needed or to be pulled out for special occasions, size may not be a concern.
Cost and value
The Opal Nugget Ice Maker is our top pick but it’s also one of the more expensive options.
The most affordable ice makers we tested were less than $100. All of these models were small in stature and made bullet ice — similar to ice from a fridge ice maker. Ice makers that produce nugget ice, which is easy to chew and looks nice in cocktails, typically start at about $300. Premium ice makers, such as the Opal 2.0 and Klaris specialty ice maker, cost about $500 to $700.
Cleaning mode
Most of the ice makers we tested have a cleaning function that sends water mixed with a food-safe cleaning product or a vinegar solution through the channels to descale. We recommend buying an ice maker that has this feature to prevent tainted ice down the line.
