A home ice maker is a great asset, nothing beats the cooling sensation of chilled drinks, especially during the hot summer months. What’s more, having a machine that can quickly meet all of your daily ice needs, and it is conveniently located on your countertop – yes, it will save you the stress of running around for ice to make your cool drinks.
There are over 100 models in the residential ice maker category. It can be a time-consuming task to choose the ONE from the many options available. Not to worry, we are here to aid you with our helpful buying guide and, a list of the best tabletop ice machines.
In a hurry? The number 1 spot on our top-rated list is the beautiful GE Profile Opal. It is an ice machine that is loaded with smart features for making ice easily.
We love its spacious ice bin and attached side tank, helping you to make and keep more ice than regular ice machines. Once you taste the soft opal ice, nothing else can compare.
Want to check out our in-depth comparison and review? You are a step away from finding the ideal choice. Let’s dive in!
Benefits & Buying Guide of the Best Tabletop Ice Makers
It is easier to make the best choice when you know the features to look out for, below is a sort of guide that we are certain would help you to get the perfect tabletop ice maker.
- Size of the machine: You need to consider your space before going ahead to get an ice machine, if you do not have much countertop space, you have no business buying a big machine. To save yourself stress, measure your space, and ensure it tallies with the dimensions of the ice machine.
- Durability: Ice machines with a higher warranty are more likely to last longer than machines with a lower warranty. Although it might be a bit pricier, getting a durable machine will save you valuable money and stress.
- Ease of Use: If you would be using the ice machine at home, you might want to consider buying a machine that is easy to set up and one with smart features like indicator lights, transparent lid, drain plug, and co. These features make it easy to make ice without much external help.
- Type of Ice: Different ice makers produce different types of ice like bullet-shaped ice, nugget ice, and more. What type and shape of ice do you need? Once you determine that, you can now proceed to get an ice machine that makes your kind of ice.
- Ice Making Capacity: If you host parties often or you have a large family, you should opt for an ice machine with a large daily ice making capacity. If you need just a minimal supply of ice, a medium or small capacity ice machine should do.
- Price: After highlighting what you need in an ice maker, it is equally important to consider your budget before making a choice. Choose an ice machine that is closest to your budget or one that sits comfy within your budget, this is one of the best advice that we can give you.
The Best Tabletop Ice Makers of 2021
1. GE Profile Opal – Editor’s choice
- OPAL NUGGET ICE, THE GOOD ICE - Serve up chewable, crunchable, craveable nugget ice that's ready fast and retains its flavor,...
- 24 POUNDS OF ICE PER DAY - Never run out of nugget ice; This ice maker produces one pound of fresh ice per hour and has a...
- SMART - Built-In Bluetooth Connectivity: Schedule fresh ice, monitor your ice makers status and order accessories, all...
Our foremost option is the GE Profile Opal. It is a pro at making fluffy and crunchy ice.
If you need a smart ice maker that can be used from the comfort of your tabletop, you just found one of the best tabletop ice makers. Its elegant stainless-steel design and compact size make it a perfect choice for tabletops.
It is a fast and portable ice maker with smart and easy to use features including a smart refill function, built-in Bluetooth connectivity, a side tank for keeping a lot of ice, and more.
It’s outstanding ice making capacity stands it out on our list. Check out its top-notch features below.
Features –
- Compact and Sleek Design: GE profile opal comes in an elegant stainless steel and plastic design that would match most kitchen decors. It is also a compact sized machine that won’t use up too much of your tabletop space.
- Portable Machine: The ice maker does not need to be connected to a water source. All you need to do is to fill the water reservoir and plug it into a power source. Also, melted ice finds its way back to the reservoir and it is used to make more ice cubes.
- Outstanding Performance: GE profile opal is a powerful performance ice machine that makes soft nugget ice in just 20 minutes. In a total of an hour, it makes 1 lb. of soft and crunchy ice and up to 24 lbs. in 24 hours.
- Smart Machine: GE profile opal is equipped with an automated system that starts running when the ice bin is almost empty, the automated system also stops making ice once the bin is filled up with nugget ice.
- Attached side tank: If you are hosting a party and you will need a large supply of nugget ice to entertain your many guests, GE Profile Opal can meet your ice needs as it features a side tank that enables the machine to make 3 times more ice. The side tank can easily be attached to the ice maker.
- Large Ice Keeping Capacity: GE profile opal has an ice bin that is large enough to hold 3 lbs. of nugget ice at a go.
- GE Profile Opal App: The ice machine is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to have easy control over the ice machine. It features a GE Profile Opal App that allows you to set time for ice making, order accessories, and more, all from the comfort of your mobile device.
- Smart Accessories: GE profile app also features an ice scoop and dip tray for an easy serving of ready-made ice.
Pros
- Portable machine
- Makes quality nugget ice
- Elegant and compact design
- Drainable
- Automated system
- GE Profile Opal App
Cons
- This best-in-its-class ice maker is expensive. It’s true that you get what you pay for in this case.
2. CROWNFUL IM2102-UL stainless-steel ice maker
- [Efficient & Quiet] The ice maker can produce up to 9 pieces of ice cubes in just 7 minutes and 26 pounds of ice per day. The...
- [2 Ice Sizes & Portability] The ice machine can make both large and small size ice cubes, where the large ice cubes are not...
- [Easy to Use] The ice maker is just a simple one touch operation and is equipped with infrared sensor technology, where the...
CROWNFUL stainless-steel ice machine is one of the best-value ice makers for home use. It works almost as efficiently as other more expensive ice maker brands. It is a portable ice making machine with smart features that provides an easy way to get fresh ice for your daily needs. Read our full-review for CROWNFUL stainless-steel ice maker for tabletop.
Features –
- Nice Outlook: This CROWNFUL is a lightweight and compact sized machine that comes in a sleek silver casing that would blend gracefully with almost all decors.
- Smart indicator: The machine features LED indicator that alerts you when the water reservoir is empty, or ice is ready, or it needs cleaning. .
- See-through Lid: It has a transparent cover through which you can monitor what is going on in the ice machine. For example, you can know when the ice basket is full without opening the lid.
- Large bullet ice: This elegant unit makes cylindrical-shape bullet ice.
- Quick Operation: The ice maker produces 9 bullet-shaped ice in just 7 minutes. It makes a total of 26 lbs. of ice within 24 hours.
- Portability: This unit does not require a water line to work. Once the reservoir is filled with water, with the push of the start button, ice is on its way.
- Quiet powerful performance machine: The machine is powered by a quiet compressor that makes the machine work efficiently without making too much noise.
- Ice scoop and Basket: It also comes with a removable ice scoop and basket for serving ready-made ice cubes.
- Easy to clean: It is easy to clean after use. For quick cleaning, all you need to do is unplug the machine, empty it and dab clean with a damp cloth and allow it to dry before reuse. In case you need to do a thorough washing, there is a drain plug that allows you to clean and drain the ice maker without hassle.
Pros
- Quick and quiet performance
- Good insulation
- Lightweight
- Stain-resistant and transparent cover
Cons
- Ice cubes melt quickly
3. Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker
- Note : Please check the dimension and item weight of the product and confirm it fits your space
- Extra Large Stainless Steel Ice Maker - Easy to Clean!
- Produces 48 pounds of Ice in 24 Hours - 5 Liter Reservoir
Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker is our next best ice maker for home bar. It is one of Frigidaire’s best with a super-large ice making capacity. The ice machine is the perfect home companion for quality ice, especially during summer.
Featuring indicator lights, a see-through lid, removable tray, a compressor cooler, and a large daily ice making capacity, the ice machine provides you with good quality ice from the convenience of your home at any time of the day.
Its attractive elegant design is sure to give your tabletop a unique and classic look without taking too much of your space.
Features –
- Great Outlook: Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker comes in an elegant stainless steel design that is a breeze to clean. The Large capacity ice maker also has a compact design that would not take up too much space on your tabletop.
- Quick Ice: You need not wait for hours to get ice cubes, Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker makes ice available in just 7 minutes and produces a large amount of ice up to 48 pounds within 24 hours.
- 3 Sizes of Ice: Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker allows you to choose your ice cube size as it features an option for making large, medium, and small ice cubes.
- Transparent Lid: The classic ice machine also comes with a transparent cover that allows you to see through the machine and monitor its options.
- Drain plug: Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker is easy to clean as it is equipped with a drain plug that makes cleaning and draining as easy as ever.
- Light Indicators: It also features a light indicator that alerts you when the ice bin is full and needs to be offloaded. It also notifies you when the water reservoir is empty and needs to be refilled
- Ice Tray and Shovel: The ice machine comes with a removable ice tray and shovel for holding and serving ice. The machine can hold up to 2.6 pounds of ice at once.
- Portable Design: Frigidaire EFIC115 Extra Large Ice Maker comes with a 5-liter water reservoir that eliminates the need for using a water line.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Large ice making capacity
- Large water tank
- Big storage bin
Cons
- Heavy machine
4. Euhomy Ice Maker Machine
- Euhomy - GIVE YOU THE BEST ICE - Have you experienced a new type of bullet ice cube? Euhomy's newly designed bullet-type...
- SUPER ICE-MAKING CAPACITY - Euhomy's counter ice maker machine is equipped with a highly efficient compressor, which is not...
- SELF-CLEANING & EASY USE- Euhomy ice maker machine countertop is user-friendly, so you don't need to install it. The silver...
Euhomy Ice Maker Machine is one of our best ice maker for home bar. It comes in a petite size to match with an elegant design that would grace any countertop beautifully.
It comes with smart features for seamless ice-making operation including a simple control panel, good compressor, transparent cover, and more.
Furthermore, the machine can meet your daily ice needs and give you the frozen treat that you desire.
Features –
- Classic Design: Euhomy Ice Maker Machine comes in a unique stainless-steel design that is easy to clean and would be a great match for your tabletop. It’s compact size also makes it portable enough for a small space.
- Advanced Infrared Technology: The machine incorporates the most advanced infrared technology.
- Indicators: It also features indicator lights that promptly alerts you when the ice basket is filled up and when the reservoir is empty.
- Two Ice Cube Sizes: Euhomy Ice Maker Machine allows you to make large and small-sized ice cubes. This function can be accessed via its simple control panel.
- Fast Ice: With Euhomy Ice Maker Machine, you can have access to ice all day long as the ice machine gives you 9 pieces of bullet ice in just 8 minutes and 26 lbs. of ice in a total of 24 hours.
- Translucent Lid: The machine features a transparent lid through which you get to monitor the operation of the ice machine without lifting the cover
- Good Performance: It is equipped with a super-efficient compressor that works quietly and has great refrigeration capacity.
- Portable Machine: The ice machine does not need a water source to work as it features a 2.2-liter water tank for making ice. The water tank also has the advantage of recirculating unused water for more ice production.
- Ice Basket and Scoop: Euhomy Ice Maker Machine features a removable ice basket and scoops for serving the nugget ice cubes.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Efficient cooling compressor
- User-friendly features
- Quick ice
Cons
- A little noisy
- Rapid melting of ice
5. AGLUCKY Ice Maker Machine for Countertop – an affordable option
- Ice makers countertop and Wide Applications : AGLUCKY countertop ice maker has wide applications with compact size...
- Efficient and Quiet Ice Making : Our ice machine produces 9 ice cubes within only 6-8 minutes.It even can produce up to 26.5...
- Multiple Functions with Ice Scoop and Basket: Indicators of our ice machine maker countertop will remind you to take out the...
AGLUCKY Ice Maker Machine is a cheap portable ice maker with an amazing performance.
It is a pro at making good quality nugget ice for all kinds of occasions. Its compact size makes it easy to move from one point to the other when necessary, it is also a very portable choice for tabletops and its black design matches any type of decor.
If you need an affordable ice maker that is fast at making ice and very easy to use, you should check out AGLUCKY Ice Maker Machine.
Features –
- Compact Style: AGLUCKY Ice Maker Machine is a compact-sized countertop is a maker that is easy to move around and a perfect option for small spaces. Its black color design would not look bad on your tabletop. It is one of our best residential ice makers.
- Quiet and Fast Operation: The ice machine works quietly yet efficiently. It can produce 9 ice cubes in 6 to 8 minutes and can make up to 26.5 pounds of ice in 24 hours.
- Smart indicators: AGLUCKY Ice Maker Machine features light indicators that notify you when the ice basket is full and when the water reservoir is empty.
- 2 Sizes of Ice: The machine makes Large and small-sized ice cubes and this function can be accessed via its control panel.
- Ice Basket and Scoop: It also comes with a removable ice basket and serving scoop for transporting and serving ice cubes.
- Transparent Window: It features a see-through window that allows you to monitor the operations of the ice maker without touching the lid.
Pros
- Quick ice
- Compact size
- Affordable option
Cons
- Ice melts quickly
6. IGLOO ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Ice Machine
- DESIGNED FOR CONVENIENCE: Portable, convenient and compact in size, this retro metallic red ice maker looks good on a...
- LARGE ICE MAKING CAPACITY: Keep the water tank filled and this unit will produce 26 pounds of ice in a 24 hour period enough...
- WATER TANK CAPACITY: 3 quarts
Although IGLOO ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Ice Machine is our last option, it is still one of the best residential ice makers.
It also provides a cheap and easy way to meet your daily ice needs, no need to wait for regular freezing time to get ice.
The smart ice machine is loaded with incredible features including a transparent viewing window, drain plug, reusable coffee filter, and more. Check out its sleek features.
Features –
- Good Looking Piece: IGLOO ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Ice Machine comes in nice color designs including red and aqua, that will look good on your counter, it would be nice to match it with a corresponding decor.
- Compact Design: It is a portable ice maker with a compact size, it is easy to use and easy to move around. If you have a small space and you need a portable sized ice machine, you just found one
- Fast Operation: IGLOO ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Ice Machine makes as many as 9 large or small-sized ice cubes in 7 minutes. You can also get up to 26 pounds of ice within 24 hours.
- Illuminated Control Panel: It features light indicators that alert you when your ice basket needs to be offloaded and when your water tank needs to be refilled.
- Transparent Cover: Via its transparent lid, you get to monitor the operations of the machine without touching the cover, especially while the machine is running.
- Drain Plug: The ice maker is easy to clean and drain as it is equipped with a drain plug that simplifies the cleaning process.
- Ice Basket and Scoop: It comes with a 2-pounds capacity basket for keeping ice and a portable scoop for serving ice.
- Portable Machine: IGLOO ICEB26AQ Automatic Portable Ice Machine comes with a 3-quartz capacity water reservoir and does not need an additional water line to work.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Large water reservoir
- Durable machine
- Fast ice machine
Cons
- A little loud
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a dedicated water line for a portable ice maker?
A portable ice maker does not need a dedicated water line to get it running and that is one of the major advantages of a portable ice machine. Portable ice machines feature water reservoirs that are to be filled manually to make ice.
What kind of water should I use to make ice?
You can use filtered or distilled water if you have it handy and if you don’t, ensure that you use water that is clean enough to drink for making ice.
Does a portable ice maker keep ice cold?
Most portable ice machines do not feature insulators that help to keep ice. It is expected that unused ice left in the machine would melt over time and be recircled back to the water reservoir for another batch of ice.
How long do countertop ice makers last?
To answer this question, you need to consider the durability and warranty of the ice machine. The lifespan of an ice machine can also be influenced by its frequency of use.
No matter how long the warranty is, an ice maker that is used often is most likely to break down faster than one that is used once in a while.
How do you clean a portable ice maker?
Cleaning a portable ice maker can either be done manually or using the self-cleaning mode.
For manual cleaning, you can pour an equal portion of vinegar and water into the ice machine and start the machine. Ensure to drain the machine before reuse.
However, for the self-cleaning mode, you are expected to pour an equal portion of water and vinegar into the ice maker and allow the machine to run using its self-cleaning mode. Rinse and dry afterward.