This is standard practice for all countertop units of this type, as it flushes out the internals. The Frigidaire Nugget Ice Maker is a popular choice for anyone who enjoys nugget-style ice. This ice maker is designed to produce soft, chewable ice similar to the type you might find in restaurants or convenience stores.
Clear-cube makers (like our pick) take longer to make a batch of ice—about 25 minutes or so. Some of these machines have ice-thickness controls with plus and minus buttons to add or take away freezing time, but we found them to be temperamental. Clear-ice makers produce solid blocks of ice that you often need to break up into individual cubes. They’re also bigger than typical bullet-ice machines and usually more expensive.
The clever shape melts slowly, keeps drinks cold, and is fun to chew on afterward. But anyone who has lamented the rapid melting of ice — with nothing to show for the crystalline cubes other than frigidaire freezer a diluted drink — can understand the importance of shape and quantity. Too much ice and there’s not enough room for the intended beverage; too little, and we’re left with a watered-down tipple.
Clear ice keeps beverages carbonated longer than bullet ice does. In a side-by-side test, a soda with clear cubes from the Luma Comfort IM200 fizzed much less in a glass and tasted bubbly and sharp, while a soda with cloudy cubes quickly tasted flat. Countertop ice makers are also a good option for use in RVs, campers, boats, or even food trucks. They are, however, meant to be used in a temperature-controlled environment (around 70 °F). So if you have dreams of putting this ice machine outside near a pool, you should invest in a cooler instead.
This makes it convenient for use in various locations, such as kitchens, bars, offices or outdoor spaces. It’s also just much more convenient to have a constant fresh stash of nugget ice all ready for my next drink. Overall, the Luma made the most ice in an hour during our tests. 10 cups of water resulted in 24 perfectly shaped cubes or just about 1 pound and 4.5 ounces of ice in just under 24 minutes. Given the product’s high water capacity, we estimate that this ice maker can produce at least two dozen pounds of ice daily.
Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). If the NewAir NIM045SS00 Portable Countertop Clear Ice Machine or the Frigidaire EFIC452 are the only clear-ice makers you can find, they are fine options. They made clear ice very well and lost points primarily for their frigidaire washing machine less-intuitive controls and because we had to wait a minute or two for their ice to be soft enough to break apart. The Magic Chef MCIM22/HNIM27 is a variant of the classic bullet-ice machine, but it has some functional details we appreciate and tends to be widely available and easier to return. Staff writer Andrea Barnes covers large cleaning appliances, including dishwashers, and also provides tips on how to get the most out of your dishwasher and laundry appliances.
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That’s the kind of speed and efficiency we’re looking for when we’re hosting a crowd. The machine is large; it takes up about as much room as an espresso machine. It’s also expensive, typically costing nearly five times the price of the bullet-ice makers we recommend. But if you have a thing for nugget ice, it’s a terrific choice. If you drink a lot of sodas or seltzers, or you just want better-looking ice, consider a waterfall-style, clear-cube ice maker like the Luma Comfort IM200. Clear ice cubes don’t make carbonated drinks fizz as much as cloudy ice does, so your bubbly beverages will taste better for longer.
The nugget ice makers we’ve featured here — and indeed most you’ll find that are specifically geared toward the production of nugget ice — do not require a water connection. Simply fill a tank or reservoir as needed, so these machines are pretty much plug-and-play. In terms of actually using your ice, the KBice maker has the nugget ice market cornered on built-in dispensing. That said, a few models do require a water line, so be sure to check what’s required before purchasing. Widely considered to be the gold standard among at-home nugget ice makers, the GE Profile Opal 2.0 can produce an impressive 24 pounds of ice per day.
This bullet-ice maker is compact and has a self-cleaning mode. But because of its slightly smaller size, you need to refill it a bit more frequently. We tested the blue version and it has just the right pop of color without being loud on your countertop. The front also has a Frigidaire Gallery stainless steel-colored faceplate. When it’s kept stain-free, it gives the icemaker a clean look. When you first unbox the EFIC255, the manual recommends you run a cleaning cycle.