Ice is one of those kitchen necessities that you take for granted until you run out. And this is when you’ll wish you had a countertop ice maker. If you frequently make iced drinks at home, whether cocktails, iced coffee, or simply a killer lemonade, one of these machines can be a worthwhile addition to your kitchen. Due to its delicious nugget ice, high output, and self-cleaning features, after testing six of the top models, I found that the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank was the best countertop ice maker overall. For a more affordable option, the smaller Igloo Automatic Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker outperformed other portable ice makers and will churn out enough bullet ice for a cocktail hour. You may read more about it here ice makers for home.
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The following are the winners of my testing process:
- Best Overall Countertop Ice Maker: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank
- Best Value Countertop Ice Maker: Igloo Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker
Though an ice maker may appear unnecessary, there are numerous reasons to invest in one. Many freezers’ built-in ice machines could be faster and better at best. It takes time and effort to make ice cube trays. And hauling heavy ice bags from the supermarket can be difficult (not to mention chilly and wet).
Dedicated ice producers are a fantastic solution. They range from simple countertop machines that churn out no-frills, perfectly serviceable ice to ice makers that promise crystal-clear cubes or delightfully chewy ice nuggets for $150 or less.
While pricey, the Opal isn’t just a one-time buy. It now has a permanent place on my countertop. And it’s still as good as new after six months of heavy use best ice makers.
Best Countertop Ice Maker Overall
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Really Does Make “The Good Ice”
GE Profile Opal Portable Ice Maker 2.0
Ice cubes. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a. The excellent ice. The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker With Side Tank is ideal for individuals who enjoy crunchable ice pebbles. (Let’s name it the Opal for now.)
The Opal, which has been in production for several years, has had viral moments on TikTok and has something of a cult following. “A lot of people enjoy the texture,” says Camper English, an ice specialist and author of the forthcoming The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts. “It’s easier and more fun to chew.” (Note that many dentists advise against eating ice.) English writes that this style of ice quickly chills drinks and dilutes them. “It’s better for a cola next to the pool than, say, a glass of Scotch whisky that you want to sip slowly,” he explains.
The Opal generates “the good ice”—crunchy, soft nugget ice that is excellent for chilling drinks… [+]
Jones, Carey
However, if you’re looking for a light, absorbent style of ice, the Opal stands alone. The only way to get a hold of this is if you’re willing to pay for it. (Others in this category, like the Gevi, had many negative reviews claiming that the ice maker broke after only a few months—not ideal for such an expensive machine.)
The only way to get a good night’s sleep is to have a good time. The churning machine produces nearly a pound of ice per hour—roughly three cups, enough for six cocktails (or two large plastic soda glasses filled to the brim). About 3 pounds of nugget ice are waiting for you when it’s full, which takes around 3 hours. As the ice melts, the water is automatically routed back into the tank, reducing the need to refill. Furthermore, the ice bucket is clear and easy to access, making it excellent for continuous use during a party. It’s party ice at its core. It makes me happy to paraphrase Marie Kondo.
Opal ice nuggets fill a glass to the brim.
Jones, Carey
The Opal 2.0, like many appliances in 2023, comes with an app. Over time, I found the paired app to be more bother than it was worth. “Scheduling” ice wasn’t something I could predict well enough to be effective, and I found the machine shutting down multiple times because a scheduled ice-making window had passed. The app isn’t a knock against Opal, but it’s not a useful feature, and I soon stopped using it entirely.
It also creates more noise than the other ice machines I tested, a low hum that my husband described as “a very quiet trash compactor.” It’s not as loud as a dishwasher, but it’s also quiet.
The true disadvantage is obvious: the price. If there’s a market for this machine, it’s my family; the original Opal is one of my husband’s favorite earthly possessions, and I’m still determining if I’d pay more than $500 for our preferred model. That’s like a top-of-the-line Vitamix or a brand-new All-Clad set. (Or a car payment.) However, if you’re drawn to Opal, there are compelling reasons to invest. I’ve seen the Opal on sale quite frequently, occasionally for as much as $100 off. Our Opal 1.0 has performed flawlessly under heavy use for the past six years.
The 1-year limited warranty on the Opal 2.0 covers repairs or a replacement machine if the ice maker breaks due to a defect in materials or artistry. (GE does not guarantee extended warranties supplied by third parties.) Remember to keep your ice maker in good working order. Then again, if you’re like me, you’ll want to know that you’re not the only one who thinks that way. If your ice appears to be off (it comes out as ice chips rather than nuggets), start by running the machine through a cleaning cycle.
The Opal 2.0 has held up nicely after six months of use. In a household where we use the Opal multiple times a day, every day – for iced coffee in the morning, sodas or sparkling waters in the afternoon, and the occasional frosty cocktail, especially during the warmer months – we leave the machine running continuously, unless we’re traveling or otherwise know we won’t be using it.
It’s not as dazzling as the Opal. It’s improbable that there will ever be a viral moment. But, at around one-quarter the price of the Opal, the Igloo Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker is a fantastic deal. It’s also lighter and more portable than the Opal.
Like the other value machines I tested, the Igloo produces bullet-shaped cubes with hollow centers. It produced the first handful of cubes in 8 minutes, a few cups (almost a pound) in an hour, and nearly 1.5 pounds when fully loaded—enough for eight to ten drinks.
The small but powerful Igloo can make enough bullet-shaped ice cubes to chill up to ten drinks per hour.
Jones, Carey
The Igloo’s self-cleaning capability is a huge benefit compared to other affordable ice producers I tested. Filling the Igloo with a cleaning solution and cycling it through the machine regularly goes a long way toward keeping your ice clean and flavorful. (Without this feature, your best option is to completely disassemble the machine and get as much as possible inside its tubes and crevices, which is difficult.) It’s not easy to access, let alone clean, the various parts of the interior, and running a cleaning cycle helps get into nooks and crannies where bacteria may lurk.
While the Igloo is very small on the countertop, it weighs about 20 pounds, so calling it genuinely “portable” is a bit of an exaggeration. Would you take it camping with you? Nope. But would you toss it in the trunk to a rental cabin, beach home, or tailgate? Yes, why not?
This retro-style ice maker is available in pink and aqua. You can alternatively choose an ice maker without a handle in black or stainless steel (this may make transporting the machine more difficult). The available colors have changed during the last six months.
Best Value Countertop Ice Maker
The Igloo Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker Is Small But Mighty
Amazon
Igloo Automatic Self-Cleaning Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker Machine
Frigidaire Compact Countertop Ice Maker: At a comparable price, this ice maker was operationally very similar to the Igloo—in size, ice style, ice-making speed, and even aesthetics. The Igloo’s self-cleaning feature, many available colors, and marginally higher brightness give it the edge in my opinion. However, the Frigidaire is a very close runner-up, and if you manage to find it on sale or love the look of it, I strongly recommend it.
NewAir Portable Ice Maker 50 Pounds: This machine is larger than the Opal, too large to fit under my kitchen cupboards, and weighs 37.6 pounds, making it a beast to maneuver around the kitchen. It’s by far the fastest, highest-output machine of the bunch, running roughly twice as quickly as the Igloo or Frigidaire.
Every 9 minutes, 12 large bullet cubes tumble down at a rate of slightly under 2 pounds per hour, with a full bucket weighing just under 3 pounds in around 90 minutes. There are three cube-size options, an amazing self-cleaning mechanism, and a timer to schedule ice-making ahead of time. This machine may be overkill if you maintain an ice maker on your counter for normal household drinks. But if you’re going to a party and want as much ice as possible, I recommend it.
Several machines touted “clear cubes,” and a countertop machine that produced stunning, crystal-clear cocktail ice would be a welcome innovation. Unfortunately, neither of the machines I tested achieved this. Both of the
Luma Comfort Countertop Clear Ice Maker: This machine boasted “clear cubes,” a countertop machine that produced stunning, crystal-clear cocktail ice would be a welcome innovation. However, it failed to deliver: cubes were small, inclined rather than cubic, and not frozen through. It is difficult to suggest it at double or triple the price of the value pick.
Other Countertop Ice Makers I Tested
Frigidaire Compact Countertop Ice Maker: At a comparable price, this ice maker was operationally very similar to the Igloo—in size, ice style, ice-making speed, and even aesthetics. The Igloo’s self-cleaning feature, many available colors, and marginally higher brightness give it the edge in my opinion. However, the Frigidaire is a very close runner-up, and if you manage to find it on sale or love the look of it, ice makers for sale I strongly recommend it.
NewAir Portable Ice Maker 50 Pounds: This machine is larger than the Opal, too large to fit under my kitchen cupboards, and weighs 37.6 pounds, making it a beast to maneuver around the kitchen. It’s by far the fastest, highest-output machine of the bunch, running roughly twice as quickly as the Igloo or Frigidaire.
Every 9 minutes, 12 large bullet cubes tumble down at a rate of slightly under 2 pounds per hour, with a full bucket weighing just under 3 pounds in around 90 minutes. There are three cube-size options, an amazing self-cleaning mechanism, and a timer to schedule ice-making ahead of time. This machine may be overkill if you maintain an ice maker on your counter for normal household drinks. But if you’re going to a party and want as much ice as possible, I recommend it portable ice makers.
Several machines touted “clear cubes,” and a countertop machine that produced stunning, crystal-clear cocktail ice would be a welcome innovation. Unfortunately, neither of the machines I tested achieved this. Both of the ice makers at walmart.
Luma Comfort Countertop Clear Ice Maker: This machine boasted “clear cubes,” a countertop machine that produced stunning, crystal-clear cocktail ice would be a welcome innovation. However, it failed to deliver: cubes were small, inclined rather than cubic, and not frozen through. It is difficult to suggest it at double or triple the price of the value pick.
How I Tested The Best Countertop Ice Makers
While testing ice makers, I was especially interested in three things: speed, ease of use, and ice quality. We’re asking these machines to do something simple: make ice. Did they do it quickly? Was it very simple to set up the machines and make the ice? And would we genuinely want to use the ice cubes?
After unboxing each ice maker, I let it sit on the countertop for at least 2 hours (per manufacturer instructions, in case the machine was inverted or jostled during shipping). I read each handbook, set up each maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and cleaned each one as instructed.
Many product evaluations stated that a machine’s initial cubes aren’t the best, so I let each machine warm up (or chill down? ), completing two full test cycles before evaluating the third. On that run, I topped out each water tank and timed how long it took each machine to spew out its initial cubes. I then weighed how much ice it produced after an hour and how much it produced after running till the ice bin was full. The output varies greatly, and if you’re having a cocktail hour with a half-dozen pals, you’ll need enough ice to replenish drinks on a regular basis or commercial ice makers.
Because you don’t want to run out of ice when making drinks, I measured how much ice each machine produces… [+]
Jones, Carey
Finally, I evaluated the cubes for quality—size, clarity, and uniformity. Broken or splintered cubes and ice cubes that aren’t completely frozen might dilute a drink too quickly. Clear ice is not only more appealing, but it also includes less trapped air and melts more slowly.
All of my testing was done with filtered water. And, because numerous instructions stated that room temperature could affect output, all tests were performed at an ambient temperature between 68 and 70 degrees.
After those preliminary testing, I kept the machines on my countertop and used them infrequently over many weeks to become acquainted with their capabilities, eccentricities, and overall usability. During testing, many Spindrifts and Coke Zeros were iced (along with a G&T or two).
Camper English, known in the cocktail industry as the ice authority and author of the upcoming book The Ice Book: Cool Cubes, Clear Spheres, and Other Chill Cocktail Crafts, as well as Aaron Polsky, accomplished mixologist and founder of LiveWire, a ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, were also consulted. We discussed how different ice shapes could be used, the science of cooling and freezing, and what creates great ice.
Finally, to put the winner to the test over time, I kept the Opal 2.0 on my countertop for a long time, paying close attention to its performance over months. The only way to know for sure is to try it yourself.
How To Pick A Countertop Ice Maker
What type of ice do you want, and how much do you require? The gas price is the biggest thing to consider when deciding whether to buy a new car. Here are some criteria to think about.
Style Of Ice
The term “soap” refers to a term used to describe a product or service. The only way to get a good night’s sleep is to have a good time. If it isn’t your style, you might want to look into one of the “clear cube” producers (though those also have downsides).
Consider machines like the Opal if you want nugget ice. And what about clear, square cubes perfect for cocktails? I prefer a lower-tech solution: these silicone ice molds work excellently for straight-sided cubes. If clarity is what you want, try the Clearly Frozen ice-making device, which only takes up a little room in your freezer.
Consider what style of ice you prefer: nugget, bullet or cube.
Carey Jones
Size And Aesthetics
These ice machines take up a significant amount of counter space, which begs the question, “How much space can you devote to it?” The goods I tested ranged in width from 10 to 14 inches and height from 14 to nearly 17 inches. Even taller machines should fit below most cabinets, but it’s worth measuring if you need more clearance. Consider where it will sit on the counter since the machines require 2 to 3 inches of clearance behind them to guarantee appropriate airflow.
Is it also something you’d want to look at if this is an appliance you’ll have out all the time? The GE Opal is large but sleek, but the Luma resembles a bread maker—one giant metal box.
Speed And Capacity
Broadly speaking, size and capacity are correlated; logically enough, bigger machines do produce more ice, more quickly. If you want a less bulky machine, consider how much ice you’re likely to need at a given time. Are you just looking to have ice cubes ready to chill down drinks for a few family members? Or are you planning on using the machine to entertain, and therefore might want a much bigger capacity?
Ease Of Use And Cleaning
In general, size and capacity are connected; larger machines produce more ice more quickly. Consider how much ice you’ll need at any one time if you want a less bulky machine. Do you want ice cubes ready to chill drinks for a few family members? Or do you want to use the machine to entertain and require a considerably larger capacity?
My Expertise
For the past 15 years, I’ve been writing about food and drink for publications such as Food & Wine, Bloomberg, Saveur, and many more. I’m the author of several cocktail publications, including Be Your Bartender: A Surefire Guide to Finding (and Making) Your Perfect Cocktail, which I co-wrote with my husband, John McCarthy. By writing about bartending, I may help people make better cocktails at home; the one constant ingredient in almost every cocktail is ice.
And we go through an incredible lot of it in my own home. My husband is not only a mixologist and spirits writer by trade, with strong beliefs about great cocktail ice, but he’s also Southern and drinks more iced tea in a week than most people do in a year. We’ve had an earlier version of the GE Profile Opal 2.0 in virtually constant usage for about six years; we’ve committed counter space to it for the entire time and moved it five times between three states.
How Often Should You Clean Your Countertop Ice Maker?
If a countertop ice maker is constantly churning out new ice, it’s easy to forget about cleaning it—after all, it doesn’t appear dirty. Over time, I found that if the Opal 2.0 isn’t cleaned every few months, its performance will suffer. If your ice appears to be off (it comes out as ice chips rather than nuggets), start by running the machine through a cleaning cycle.
When Shouldn’t You Use Nugget Ice?
Because this style of ice quickly chills and dilutes drinks, I wouldn’t recommend pouring straight spirits over it or using it to serve a stiff drink like an Old Fashioned. In those cases, choose solid ice cubes from normal ice molds or a clear ice system like the ClearlyFrozen.
Is The Opal Easy to Use?
In a nutshell, sure. Setting up the machine takes a little time, but manufacturing ice is as simple as filling up a tank and pressing a button once it’s clean and ready to go.
The app designed for Opal was less user-friendly – difficult to install, with few useful functionalities – so I ignored it. However, installing the app is not required to use the machine.
Does the Opal Make Noise?
A previous version of the Opal was quite loud. It was “screechy,” which made me unplug while watching TV in the same room. Thankfully, with the 2.0, that problem has been mostly rectified. My husband described it as a “quiet trash compactor,” and he was right; it emits a low, continuous hum when manufacturing ice. It’s quiet, but it’s also not unpleasant or annoying.
Does the Opal Last?
After six years with an older version of the Opal and six months with the Opal 2.0, I’m sure these machines are built for the long haul. Any minor issues I’ve had with the machines have been simple to resolve. For example, a few months after I started using the Opal 2.0, I noticed that the ice output was becoming sporadically mushy – the classic well-shaped nuggets intermingled with less formed, snow cone-like ice.
As a first step, the troubleshooting guide in the manual suggested cleaning the machine. (That’s when I realized I’d been using the Opal for months without cleaning it; my fault.) After draining the machine and running it through a cleaning cycle, which took about half an hour in total, the next batch of ice was much better, the ice nuggets returning to their normal shape. Lesson learned: If you use a machine on a regular basis, clean it once in a while.
