11 Best Portable Ice Makers (2024) – Reviews And Buying Guide
arshiya syedaBA (Literature & Psychology), PG Diploma Experience: 7 yearsArshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articl... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
There’s nothing as bad as running out of ice on a hot summer day! Freezing another set of ice cubes takes up time. This is where a portable ice maker comes in handy and caters to all your needs. There are two types of ice makers – countertop ice makers and under-counter ice makers. The most convenient and popular choice is the countertop ice maker as it does not take up a whole lot of space and is easy to use and carry. If you have guests or friends coming over, we urge you to invest in a portable ice maker to make your life easy while sipping on cold beverages. From making to storing ice, a portable ice maker will solve all your problems! We have shortlisted the 11 best portable ice makers available online right now. Check them out below!
In This Article
11 Best Portable Countertop Ice Makers – Reviews
1. GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker has the perfect compact design for a household. This portable ice maker is quick and makes ice that is crunchy and soft within 20 minutes. It is Bluetooth-equipped to make it easier for you to set up an ice-making schedule conveniently from your phone via its GE Profile Opal Application. This countertop ice maker even senses when the bin is full to ensure that it does not overfill it with ice. It is compact and can easily be plugged into any 120V electrical outlet. You don’t need to hook it up to a water outlet – simply fill its reservoir. Also, if and when the ice melts, the water is circulated back to the reservoir and reused to make more ice.
Features
- Bluetooth-enabledapplication.
- 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
- Size:15.25 x 14.25 x 17.25 inches
- Weight: 47 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 24 pounds per day
- Material:Stainless steel and plastic
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 20 minutes
- Powerful and durable
- Makes ice quickly
- Easy to carry
- Water is recycled for use
- Can remotely switch on and schedule ice-making
- The product cannot be returned
- Makes squeaking noises
2. Igloo ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker Machine
Igloo’s automatic electric ice maker is portable, compact, and designed for convenience. The quick-freezing quality of this portable ice maker is what makes it perfect. It also has a large ice-making ability with a huge water tank of 3 quarts that can make 26 pounds of ice. You can store up to 2 pounds of ice at a time in this compact ice maker, and the ice can be made in 9 small or large cylindrical shapes. This countertop ice maker comes with an LED light that indicates when you need to refill water when the ice is ready or full, and also allows you to pick the size of the ice cubes. This ice maker also comes with a transparent lid that ensures easy and convenient viewing of the ice cubes remaining in the basket.
Features
- Can produce 26 pounds of ice in a day.
- Transparent lid for easy and quick viewing.
- Size: 9.61 x 14.69 x 12.4 inches
- Weight: 22.7 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26pounds per day
- Material: Plastic
- Power: 120 volts
- Time to Make Ice: 7 minutes
- Large water tank
- Sizes of the ice cubes can be adjusted
- Durable
- Makes ice quickly(in 7 minutes)
- LED light indicator
- Requires draining water from melted ice
- Makes noise
3. IKICH Portable Ice Maker Machine For Countertop
The IKICH Portable Ice Maker Machine is smart and easy to use. It is compact and works perfectly as a countertop ice maker. It comes with a simple control panel – you can simply add water, select the ice cube size, and turn it on. That’s all the mechanism it needs. It has an indicator that lights up when the ice is ready, full, or needs water to be added. It comes with an outlet and a drain plug which can be used easily to empty the unused water. This countertop ice maker freezes and gives 9 bullet-shaped pieces of ice in just 6 minutes. The machine is built in a way that is energy-efficient and works on low noise levels. It consumes less electricity with its powerful compressor. The ice cubes can be customized in 2 size variations – small and large.
Features
- Removable ice basket and ice scoop
- Does not need a water hook-up source.
- Size: 13.39 x 10.24 x 14.57 inches
- Weight: 17.36 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: ABS shell + PP + nickel-plated pure copper
- Power: 110-120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 6 minutes
- Easy-to-use control panel
- Easy-to-empty drain outlet.
- Durable
- Compact
- Low noise
- Energy-efficient
- 2-year warranty
- 45-days return policy
- Needs extra time to preheat before making ice
4. HOmeLabs Portable Ice Maker Machine For Countertop
HomeLabs Portable Ice Maker Machine is an energy-efficient machine that is equipped with a compressor that runs on low energy to quicken the freezing process. This powerful ice maker produces chewable and bullet-shaped ice cubes that are smooth and easy to fit in any water bottle opening. This countertop ice maker has a water reservoir built in below the ice basket that reuses water from the melted ice to produce more ice cubes in the next cycle. It has a smart design with a warning light and an auto-shutoff function once the ice basket is full or when the machine needs a water refill.
Features
- Makes bullet-shaped cubes.
- Built-in water reservoir to reuse water.
- Has a removable ice basket and ice scoop.
- Size: 12.9 x 9.5 x 14 inches
- Weight: 19.26 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: ABS
- Power: 115 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 6 to 8 minutes
- Warning light
- Auto-shutoff function
- Reuses water to make new ice
- Energy-efficient
- Sometimes makes a lot of noise
- Sensors do not work accurately
5. Crownful Ice Maker Machine For Countertop
Crownful Ice Maker Machine is a quiet cooling system that runs on low energy and makes no noise. It makes 9 ice cubes in 8 to 10 minutes with an intuitive one-button operation that starts in a snap. It comes with a feature that lets you know when you need to refill water, when the ice is ready, and if it needs cleaning. The design is chic and stylish, and you can use this countertop ice maker indoors as well as outdoors. The removable ice bucket has a huge capacity to hold up to 70 to 80 ice cubes.
Features
- One-button operation for quick ice freezing.
- Comes with a removable ice bucket and ice scoop.
- Size: 14.6 x 14.2 x 10.7 inches
- Weight: 17.58 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 8-10 minutes
- Huge capacity to store ice cubes.
- Compatible for indoor and outdoor use
- Quiet functioning
- Easy to use
- 12-month warranty
- Lifetime support
- Sometimes stops working mid-way and needs to be restarted
6. Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker Machine
Euhomy’s countertop ice maker has a transparent window that makes it easy to monitor the process and check the ice level. It also has a light indicator that informs about the water level in the water reservoir and when the bucket is full. It has an advanced refrigeration technology which is energy-saving along with a quiet compressor that enables cooling without making any noise. This countertop ice maker makes bullet-shaped ice cubes in 2 sizes. The machine has an infrared sensor along with a removable ice basket and scooper.
Features
- Transparent window.
- Makes 2 sizes of ice cubes.
- Comes with a removable ice basket and scooper.
- Size: 12.59 x 9.64 x 12.59 inches
- Weight: 17.2 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 8 minutes
- Quiet functioning
- Durable and sturdy
- Designed for limited spaces.
- Transparent window for monitoring
- 1-year warranty
- No draining system
- Slightly heavy to carry
7. Frigidaire EFIC108-RED Compact Ice Maker
The Frigidaire Compact Ice Maker is a stylish red machine that is sure to instantly appeal to everyone with its chic finish and design. It has a large see-through window which allows you to check the ice level without opening the lid. It produces 9 opaque pieces of ice cubes within 7 to 15 minutes in 2 different sizes. This portable ice maker has a convenient drain plug to remove and clean the machine quickly and without any hassle. It also has soft-touch electronic controls with LED indicators and a built-in air outlet fan on the side. It is easy to install – simply pour water in the tank and plug in the unit.
Features
- Chic design and color.
- Transparent window to monitor ice level.
- Easy-to-drain outlet and built-in air outlet fan.
- LED indicator and soft-touch electronic buttons.
- Size: 14.9 x 11.2 x 14.8 inches
- Weight: 19.7 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: Stainless steel
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 7 to 15 minutes
- Quiet functioning
- Makes ice cubes of 2 sizes
- Comes with an ice shovel
- Easy and hassle-free to use
- Durable
- Limited color options.
- Needs regular cleaning and draining
8. Tavata Countertop Portable Ice Maker Machine
Tavata’s Countertop Ice Maker Machine has an LCD display with soft-touch buttons and indicators to select and adjust the settings as per your requirements. It also has warning lights and an auto-shutoff function for when the ice bucket is full or needs a water refill. The ice cubes are smooth and circular with a hollow shape in the center which makes the ice float on the drink. These ice cubes can be set in two different sizes – small and large. The functioning of this portable ice maker is easy – add water, press power, and select ice cube size.
Features.
- LCD display with indicators.
- Makesround and hollow ice cubes that float in the drink.
- Size: 12.3 x 8.74 x 13 inches
- Weight: 15.65 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: Stainless steel
- Power: 115 volts
- Time To Make Ice:6 to 8 minutes
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
- Waterproof and scratch-proof surface
- Easy to use
- Makes 2 sizes of ice cubes
- Works quickly
- No draining outlet.
- May leak sometimes
9. Smartrun Portable Countertop Ice Maker Machine
Smartrun’s portable ice maker is equipped with advanced infrared sensing technology. When you open it to fill water or remove ice, the indicator lights up and the machine stops working to save energy. You can also adjust the size of the ice cubes from large to small, as per your requirement. It also comes with a removable basket that can be stored in the refrigerator to prevent the ice from melting. This countertop ice maker is easy to clean and has a stopper at the bottom of the machine to discharge extra water.
Features
- Works on an energy-saving mode.
- 2-year warranty
- Size: 14.8 x 14.6 x 8.4 inches
- Weight: 17.86 pounds
- Ice Capacity:26 pounds per day
- Material: Stainless steel
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 7 to 9 minutes
- Makes 2 sizes of ice cubes
- Easy to drain
- Can be used to store fresh food or refrigerate juice
- Energy-efficient
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Makes noise while working
10. NOVETE Portable Countertop Mini Ice Maker Machine
NOVETE’ Mini Ice Maker Machine saves energy as it consumes 40% less power compared to other ice makers. This helps the machine to cool faster and freeze ice quicker. This countertop ice maker has a built-in spoiler that effectively decreases noise even when the machine is working. It is equipped with an infrared light that notifies you when the ice is done freezing and when to add water. It has an upgraded cyclo-pentane foam layer that isolates external heat and stores ice up to 8 hours.
Features
- Compact and sleek design.
- Consumes 40% less power compared to others.
- Easy draining plug at the bottom.
- Transparent window-top for easy monitoring.
- Size: 15.5 x 14.4 x 11.4 inches
- Weight: 19.56 pounds
- IceCapacity:28.7 pounds per day
- Material: ABS
- Power: 120 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 6 minutes
- User-friendly interface and LED indicators
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Quiet functioning
- Stores ice for 8 hours without melting
- Energy-efficient
- May leak sometimes
11. VPCOK Portable Ice Maker Machine
VPCOK’s countertop ice maker is easy to operate and has a transparent window to monitor the ice-making process and its level. It has a high-graded frost shell that is durable. It also has a high-quality evaporation column that ensures a good cooling effect. It makes very noise and has a large water storage capacity to avoid constant refills. This portable ice maker has infrared sensing technology that stops the machine each time you open the lid to ensure less energy utilization. This intelligent detection system increases the longevity and durability of the machine. This machine makes round ice cubes with a hollow center that enables them to float in the drink.
Features
- High-quality evaporation column.
- Transparent window for monitoring.
- Comes with an ice cube shovel.
- Removable ice basket for cleaning purposes.
- Large water storing tank to avoid constant refills.
- Draining hole at the bottom of the machine.
- Size: 8.74 x 12.32 x 12.60 inches
- Weight: 16.52 pounds
- Ice Capacity: 26 pounds per day
- Material: ABS
- Power: 115 volts
- Time To Make Ice: 10 minutes
- Does not require constant refills
- Easy to clean
- Energy-efficient
- Easy to clean and drain water
- Ice melts quickly.
- Makes squeaky noises
Before investing in a portable ice maker, there are certain things that you should take into consideration to pick the best one for your needs. Check them out in the buying guide below.
A Few Things To Look For Before Buying A Portable Ice Maker – Buying Guide
- Material: It is important to ensure that the material is durable, sturdy, scratch-proof, and chemical- or toxin-free.
- Size Of Ice Cubes: It is necessary to own a portable ice maker that enables you to adjust the size of the ice cubes. Most of these machines offer two options for ice cubes – small and large.
- Storage Capacity: You can’t be making and storing ice in small batches if you are hosting a party. Remember to opt for a larger storage capacity that is between 26 and 28 pounds per day.
- Time Taken For A Round Of Ice Making: Look for a portable ice maker that makes a round of ice quickly in less than 10 minutes. It is only then that you can make the utmost use of a portable handy ice maker.
- Speed:If it does not make ice quickly, the portable ice maker is basically of no use. Ensure that the machine has a powerful compressor to enable quick freezing.
- Digital Control:An LED or LCD control panel makes it easy for you to select options to customize your needs.
- Energy Consumption: Invest in a portable ice maker that is energy-efficient and consumes less energy to reduce your electricity bill.
- Portability: The ice maker should be light enough so that you can carry it anywhere. This is especially important if you throw lots of outdoor parties.
- Self-Cleaning: There’s nothing as good as a portable ice maker with a self-cleaning option. Such machines have an automatic draining option that rinses out the old stored-up water to maintain hygiene.
- Care And Maintenance:Even if the ice maker does not have a self-cleaning option, ensure that it has a drain outlet so that you can clean it more often to prolong its durability.
Those were some of the best portable ice makers in the market that we reviewed for you. Most of these models have similar features, yet we urge you to go through the pros and cons to see what fits your needs perfectly. Pick your best choice and consider buying it to keep your summer days filled with quick and easy ice! Ensure that the one you pick ticks all the above-mentioned boxes before you invest in it. Happy shopping!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are portable ice makers safe?
Yes, most portable ice makers these days are safe to use as they are made of high-quality materials and do not have any harmful elements.
How to clean and drain the water out of a portable ice maker?
Follow these 5 easy steps to clean and drain your ice maker:
- Unplug and empty the machine.
- Remove all the detachable parts.
- You can add a few drops of vinegar to discard any type of odor.
- Plug out the draining outlet and rinse your machine thoroughly.
- Allow the machine to dry before re-installing the parts and adding fresh water.
Do portable ice makers use a lot of electricity?
This depends on the brand. However, most portable ice makers are energy-efficient these days.
Do portable ice makers need a water line?
No, portable ice makers do not need a water line.
What’s the best water to use in a portable ice maker?
You can use the usual drinking water at a temperature between 51°F and 90°F.
Can you put juice in an ice maker?
Yes, you can replace water with any kind of juice to make frozen juice cubes.
Do any portable ice makers keep ice frozen?
No, most portable ice makers are not meant for storing ice unless mentioned otherwise.
