


To find this list of the best countertop ice makers, we used our expert knowledge of the kitchen appliance space to narrow down our pool. Look for one that produces less than 40 decibels of sound, which is about the noise level of a library. If your ice maker will be running all the time, you’ll appreciate a quiet machine that doesn’t hum or clink constantly.

Just keep in mind that most machines recommend using filtered water to prevent mineral deposits from building up. Reservoir ice makers need to be refilled with water when they run out, but the major benefit is they don’t require any plumbing connections-you just fill the tank and they’re ready to use. Water SourceĬountertop ice makers either use water from a built-in reservoir or a connected water line, but the former option is most common. Larger households or offices may appreciate a more productive machine that churns out 30 or more pounds of ice per day. This is more than enough for households of four to six, assuming there are no major ice demands (like a party). Most countertop ice makers designed for home use can produce 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours. If you have more counter real estate available, go with a larger machine, which generally will produce more ice. If your kitchen is small, look for a more compact machine that measures less than 13 or 14 inches on the longest side. If you plan to use your ice maker regularly, you’ll need room on your counter to accommodate it. Sizeīefore you invest in a countertop ice maker, consider how much space you can dedicate to the new appliance. Finally, nugget ice cubes are soft and chewable-they’re the cube of choice at restaurants like Sonic and Chick-fil-A-but they melt quickly and tend to be more expensive due to their popularity. Square cubes are often produced in large batches, but they come out of the ice maker in sheets, forcing you to break them up by hand. Some of the most popular shapes for countertop ice makers are bullet, square, and nugget ice cubes.īullet cubes are the most common, and they can often be made in multiple sizes. There are a surprising number of ice cube styles out there today. Ice might not seem like a complicated matter, but there are quite a few considerations you’ll want to keep in mind as you shop for a countertop ice maker.
