Best Under Counter Ice Maker

Are you a person that loves to host parties and dinners but are tired of running to the market time and time again to get just some ice? Well, I used to be that person too until I found the wonder, namely, an ice maker.

Ice makers are bigger and heavier than iceboxes, but they make and store way more ice than the latter. They’re units that require around 25 gallons of water per day to produce up to 46lbs of ice.

The ice is available in different shapes and sizes, depending upon your needs. Also, there are different types of ice makers including under-counter, built-in, free-standing, or all-in-one.

Let’s read further to find out the best under counter ice maker for your space.

What are the different types of ice?

Simple day-to-day objects like ice even have different types. When roughly estimating, there are about 5 types of ice. 3 of them are mentioned below;

Dice shaped ice

This is the best kind of ice for mixed and soft drinks as the ice melts slowly, which means it won’t alter the flavor of the drink.

Crescent-shaped ice

This ice is not ideal for sipping drinks like whiskey or cocktail. This is because it melts quickly and dilutes the drink. Instead, this can be used for soft drinks, blended drinks, and mixed drinks.

Bullet-shaped ice

Perfect for drinks like margaritas and ice-teas, this kind of ice melts quickly into your drink, even quicker than crescent ice or dice ice.

Nugget ice

For people who chew ice, this is their kind of ice. This ice is perfect for drinks like soda and blended cocktails due to its small size and softness. It melts quickly, kind of diluting the drink. The softness fo the ice makes it chewable and refreshing.

1. Euhomy Commercial Ice-maker machine

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The initiative control panel enables easy operation with power, delay, and cleaning functions. Also, the panel lights up when a service such as cleaning is needed or when the bin is full.

High efficiency

It has a high-efficiency rate and it saves electricity as shown by its energy certificate. You can enjoy your drinks in a comfortable environment due to its high efficiency and low noise system.

Stainless steel design

The strong and durable body of the unit guarantees long term use. Also, the attractive stainless steel has easy access doors that slide up and out of the way.

Features

• Reliable, versatile product as it can be turned into a freestanding unit as well as a built-in unit.
• Produces up to 100lbs of ice per day in a 33lbs storage bin.
• Comes along with a variety of accessories including an ice shovel, water supply pipe, and a drainage pipe.
• Available in two different colors - silver and black.
• Takes about 11-20 minutes to produce a batch of 45 ice cubes per cycle.
• Has a curved flip cover design that prevents you from bending over.
• 1-key cleaning, simply press the ‘timer’ button for 5 seconds to enter automatic cleaning mode.

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2. Edgestar IB120SS built-in Ice Maker

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Innovative design

The up-to-date modern innovative design consists of a 25-inch black body with a stainless steel door. The compact design can fit anywhere, even under all types of countertops.

No drainage system required

Unlike the first product, this unit does not require a drainage system. The manual guarantees 0% melting of the ice or leakage of the system. Which in turn, does not need a drain since there will be no running water.

Ice production

The system promises production of at least 12 lbs of ice per day. The shape is not the normal nugget shaped but crescent-shaped ice instead. Crescent ice is great for mixed drinks and blended drinks, however not that great in cocktails and sodas.

Features

• Needs minimum installation hence no hassle.
• Can be turned into a freestanding, built-in as well as under-counter unit.
• 25 ft long with a ¼-inch water-line connected.
• Auto shut-off when the ice bin is full.
• Also operates as a regular freezer.
• Reversible door for left or right-hand swing.
• Requires 40-mins to make a single batch of ice.

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3. Oral countertop nugget ice maker

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Speed and efficiency

It produces a new batch of ice within 20 minutes of pouring the water in. It produces 24 lbs per day. The bin can store about 3lbs at a time.

Smart technology

The ice maker is Bluetooth equipped. The Bluetooth connects to your phone through an app called FirstBuild app that is, in fact, a free application. You can schedule your ice to be frozen or made at a certain time. With the help of this, you can stop the ice making when enough ice has been made.

Reusable water

The ice maker comes along with a reservoir. Fill the reservoir with 2.5 quartz water and as the ice melts, the water returns to the reservoir. That water is further used to make new ice cubes. This means it will save you time as you won’t need to refill the unit again and again.

Features

• No pre-water hookup is required.
• It comes along with a 1-year warranty.
• Elegant silver design with glass ice holder.
• It has the perfect counter size, being a 15.5 x 10.5 x 17.2 inches.
• It is portable - just plug into any 120v grounded (standard) electrical outlet.
• Attachable side tank to make 3x more ice.
• Opal cleaning solution is also available with it.
• Produces soft chewable nugget ice.

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4. U-Line UB195B00A Icemaker

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Crescent ice cubes

Less than 3 gallons of water is put into the unit. It produces 23lbs of crescent cubes daily. That is 4 times more than what a household refrigerator produces.

No drain required

The unit promises perfect freezing, therefore, ice does not melt or leak. This results in not requiring a drainage system. The no drain system further results in easy installation.

Sleek and smart design

It is ADA approved and fits under a 34-inch high countertop. It has a perfect sleek black matt finish which is pleasing to the eyes. The design will make your guests be in awe before they even taste the delicious ice inside.

Features

• Requires ¼ inch outside diameter water-lined connection
• Uses minimal electricity - 120 volts
• It is available in two styles - freestanding and under counter-top
• Meets ADA height compliant requirements
• Stops running automatically when the bin is full

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5. Scotsman CU50GA Icemaker

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Quality ice produced

This unit produces uniquely designed, crystal clear ice that melts slowly, giving you full time to enjoy your drink while making it cool quickly. The ice is odorless and since it melts slowly, it will not dilute your drinks.

Smart technology

The smart technology helps turn hard water into drinkable water as the water quality sensor detects hard water conditions. Then the control system removes mineral-laden water with every harvest. This helps extend the time between cleanings.

Easy to use

It comes along with a user-friendly panel that helps with many functions. It informs when the power is on, alerts when the water is absent, and even reminds you when to clean. This makes it the best under counter ice-maker.

Features

• Produces up to 64 lbs of gourmet ice in 25 hours and stores up to 26 lbs of ice in the bin at one time.
• Can be placed in tight locations due to 15-inch cabinet width.
• Has a stainless steel exterior which increases durability.
• Requires a gravity drain along with a cord.
• Have 1-inch adjustable legs.
• Produces gourmet ice cubes.

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6. SPT Under Counter Icemaker

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Sturdy exterior

The stainless steel door with black cabinets adds to the durability of the unit. It prevents dents and provides a classic finish. The black cabinets add a pop of color to the silver exterior.

Great ventilation

The unit cools down easily due to the large exhaust fan in the front. Without it, the unit might heat up and shut down.

Warranty

Often, icemakers stop working after a while. To prevent any loss of the customer, it comes along with a 1-year warranty.

Features

• Easy installation of the unit
• Makes crescent-shaped ice
• Makes around 12 lbs of ice daily
• Has a reversible door
• Types include built-in or free-standing application
• Only 1 color available - gray

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7. Whytner MIM-14231SS Icemaker

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No drainage system required

No such drainage system is required as the unit promises to keep ice frozen all the time. When the ice is frozen 24/7, no melting or leaking will occur, hence, no need to drain any water.

Automatic shut down

This ice maker can store up to 12 lbs of ice in its bin at a time. When the bin is full, the system automatically shuts off and stops producing more ice. Hence, it does not require much attention.

Type and accessories

This ice maker can be turned into a free-standing unit, a built-in unit as well as an under-counter unit. It also has a front venting system. It comes along with an ice bin and an ice scoop.

Features

• High-efficiency CFC- free compressor
• Low power consumption
• Makes crescent-shaped cubes
• Produces 23 lbs of ice per day
• Has a front fan vent that promotes good ventilation
• Is made of stainless steel that makes it durable
• It has no automatic defrost function and has to be defrosted manually

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Things to consider when buying an under-counter icemaker

Although the primary function of all ice-makers is t make ice, there are a lot of things instead of just production that need to be considered before buying an ice maker. To help you through the process of finding the best under counter ice-maker, here are a few tips you should consider.

Production capacity

The first thing to consider when buying an ice maker is its production capacity. This depends on what you need it for, whether for your house or industrial business.

If you need it to host a large party or run a bar or restaurant, you will need to buy one with a large production capacity, one that produces around 50-60lbs a day. If you need one for just normal every-day use, buy one that produces around 12-15 lbs a day.

Storage capacity

If the ice production is good, however, the storage capacity is not great, ice would melt or overflow. That would defeat the whole purpose of having a high production icemaker.

Some ice makers store half the amount of ice they produce in a day. So it important to take them out and maybe store them in a zip lock bag in your freezer until further use. For example, an icemaker producing 25 lbs of ice will store up to 12 lbs of ice.

Placement

The placement of the ice maker is a necessary factor to consider when buying one. Whether you need to place it beneath a counter, above a counter, or put it somewhere open. Then you will buy an under-counter type, a built-in or a free-standing machine.

Also, it is important to consider the size of your counter, the height beneath it, and the dimensions of the ice-maker you have in mind. It is essential to do so to avoid any problems like misfit corners.

Warranty

Often complaints arise that ice-makers stop working a few months after they are bought. Hence they need to be replaced. Also, it is noticeable that some versions of the same model make more noise than others. For those who prefer quiet environments, this can be a nuisance.

To protect the customers and for their benefit, most companies give a 1-year warranty along with their products. It is, therefore, necessary to consider the warranty before selecting a product.

Budget

Different machines have different amounts of features. The features increase the quality hence increasing the price. It is important to keep your budget in mind when selecting a particular machine. Disregard features that you do not need. For example, if you need a smaller ice maker then no need to look for a bigger one. Or if you could function with one without many accessories, then choose one without them as it could save your money.

Conclusion

Yes, ice makers save a lot of trouble running back and forth to the grocery store to fetch more ice. They even save space in your freezer, giving you more space to freeze ice creams. Now whenever you have guests over or are having a party, be stress-free as you will never run out of ice!

Ice makers are larger and noisier than iceboxes however they produce more ice and store more ice as well. For making them a better option when it comes to long-term storage.

I’ve mentioned the types of ice and their suitable drinks, different ice makers, and tips to consider when looking for the best under counter ice maker.

I hope this article is helpful and made you learn new tips and tricks when selecting an ice maker. Let me know in the comments below if you found your perfect ice maker.