
Though it’s nearly impossible to replicate this premium ice at home, the Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Makeris designed exclusively for this purpose.

The nugget ice absorbs the flavor of anything it’s submerged in, making it the perfect ice to chill a cocktail or fancy drink. Nugget ice is pillowy soft, made from compacted ice flakes for an airy, luscious texture. If you’ve ever craved the chewable, delicious ice at Sonic, you’ve tasted the elusive nugget ice that has garnered a near cultlike fanatic fan base. See more: the best slow cookers, the best food dehydrators, and the best convection ovens. After filling enough bins with ice to build a functional igloo, our editorial team weighed the pros and cons of each and chose the five best ice makers. We evaluated the overall value, appearance, noise level, control panel, durability, materials, storage capacity, and taste, and customization of the ice. We reviewed over 25 of the best countertop ice maker machines and 10 under-counter ice makers to find the best models. Most countertop ice makers will cost between $120 and $250, depending on the features you want and the production capacity. Price: Ice maker machines may cost anywhere from about $100 for a countertop machine to $5,000 or more for commercial models. If you need more storage, you might want to consider an under-counter option. The storage is usually not insulated well, which means the ice will melt. Storage Capacity: Countertop ice makers have very limited storage-usually just about two pounds of ice-so if you don’t remove the ice, the machine will stop producing. If you want the flexibility of choosing different sizes of ice, look for a device that makes small and large ice cubes. Bullets are most common, and if you’re looking for crushed or Sonic-like nugget ice, your choices will be sparse. Ice Size and Shape: Ice maker machines may produce ice in various shapes and sizes, such as bullets, cubes, or nuggets. Use this information to determine if the machine is adequate for your needs. For example, an ice machine may be capable of producing 24 pounds of ice per day with a rate of nine cubes every eight minutes. Most ice maker machines note the daily production capacity in pounds as well as the production rate in terms of how much ice is produced per cycle and how long each cycle takes. Production Capacity: One of the most important factors to consider is how much ice the machine can produce per day or per cycle. Commercial ice makers are restaurant quality and produce and store even more ice. They have significantly more storage capacity and usually produce more ice per day but often need a water input line. Under-counter ice maker machines are roughly the size of mini-fridges and sit under the counter.
TOP NUGGIT PORTABLE
Portable ice makers may make between 24 and 40 pounds of ice per day. Storage is minimal and ice will melt if not removed. Water is poured into a reservoir and ice is dumped into the tray as it is produced. They require access to a grounded outlet but do not need a drain or waterline.

Countertop, also known as portable ice maker machines, are roughly the size of bread machines and are designed to sit on top of a counter or be taken in an RV or used in an outdoor entertaining setup. Type: There are three primary types of ice machines. What should you know before finding the best ice maker machine? Sanitize your ice maker and flush the insides to get rid of germ growth. Just like any appliance in your kitchen, ice makers will get unsanitary if they aren’t cleaned frequently.

Here are the most important considerations when buying a countertop or under-counter ice maker: BRITANNICA REVIEWS TIP You will want your device to be easy to clean, simple to operate, reliable, and able to meet your needs in terms of quality and quantity of ice. Anytime you’re shopping for an appliance, it’s important to get something well-made, durable, and functional, and ice maker machines are no exception.
