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Who knew ice could be so good?
Nothing beats a cold, refreshing drink on a blistering hot day. While it may not be top of mind for you, good ice is one of the key ingredients to a perfect cocktail or cold brew coffee. And with the help of a countertop ice maker you can say goodbye to flimsy ice cube trays and bags of freezer-burned ice. These appliances are compact enough to fit on your kitchen counter and can produce high-quality ice in the matter of minutes.
Put yours to work with minty mojitos, fruit cocktails, or a Long Island Iced Tea. Also, be sure to check out our other guides for the best juicers, best blenders, and best cold brew coffee makers.
The Silonn Countertop Ice Maker can produce up to 26 pounds of ice per day. "After adding water, it takes roughly 7 minutes for the ice cubes to be complete," said one reviewer. "I love how you have the option to select small or large size ice cubes. [The] product is quiet and after running, gives you an indication that the ice is full or water needs to be added."
In just six to eight minutes, you'll get nine bullet-shaped ice cubes with the AGLUCKY Countertop Ice Maker. "This unit is awesome, works great," said one reviewer. "Makes plenty of ice, runs very quiet and takes up minimal counter space."
The Frigidaire Compact Ice Maker will give you nine cubes of ice in just 7 to 15 minutes. It has a compressor cooling system in addition to indicators that will alert you when the machine is full and when it's low on water.
You can't go wrong with the NewAir Portable Ice Maker, which pulls out all the stops. It produces a whopping 50 pounds of ice per day and lets you choose from three different cube sizes. It also features an 18-hour timer so you can program when you want your ice ready, in addition to a removable bin for transporting ice.
The Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker Machine churns out up to 40 pounds of ice per day in three different sizes. With an 8-hour delay timer, you can program when you want your machine to start production.
The removable ice basket holds up to 2.2 pounds of ice. If it melts before you remove it, the water recycling system will filter water back through the system to be made into ice again.
While it may be pricey, the GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker makes some great ice, according to reviewers. It has a sleek design and produces nugget ice, which is made from compacted ice flakes.
"It makes soft, chewable, small, nuggets," said one reviewer. "We are completely delighted with the quality of the ice. It also makes ice pretty fast." This model includes a side tank that can produce about three times more ice, but it's also available without it.
Each of these countertop ice makers have high ratings and great reviews. We looked for units that are efficient, reliable, and produce high-quality ice.
If you're in the market for a countertop ice maker, there are several factors to consider before making a purchase. Keep in mind, most countertop ice makers aren't made with a freezer component to keep your ice frozen, so you'll have to transport it to your freezer for storage. Many of these models will cycle melted ice through the machine to be frozen again. Here are some of the other factors to think about:
Machine Size: Each of these machines are small enough to fit on your countertop, but the dimensions vary. Make sure to take a look at the dimensions before making your purchase.
Ice Cube Size & Shape: If you like to mix up the size ice cube you use depending on your drink, you'll want to look for a machine that has different size options. Most of these ice machines produce bullet- or nugget-shaped ice.
Extra Features: Do you want a no-frills ice maker, or something with all the bells and whistles? If you're making ice frequently, you may want to look for machines that have helpful features like a self-cleaning function, alerts to add water or remove ice, or a transparent window so you can peak inside and see the status of your ice.