The Best Ice Makers for Restaurant-Style Ice at Home

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Ice Makers for Restaurant-Style Ice at Home and hope the blog can help you.

You don’t have to swing by your favorite fast-food restaurant to get the ice you love so much. These machines offer a way to make your beloved frozen accessory wherever you want—including your countertop.

Whether it’s the soft nugget-style ice or the large clear cube that looks great in a cocktail, there are likely some strong opinions on what makes the perfect ice and which ice makers can make just that. Ice makers—and especially countertop options—offer a convenient solution for RVing, camping, and tailgating. They can even act as a substitute for a broken ice machine in your fridge.

Now, thanks to better technology and plenty of demand, there are more choices than ever for producing restaurant-quality ice. We researched numerous options to find the best ice makers so shoppers can make their preferred shape of specialty ice for use in cocktails or for late-night crunching.

1. BEST OVERALL: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Frigidaire Compact 26-Pound Countertop Ice Maker
3. BEST SMALL: GoveeLife Portable Countertop Ice Maker
4. BEST LARGE: Newair Countertop Clear Ice Maker
5. BEST FOR PORTABILITY: Igloo 26-Pound Automatic Portable Ice Maker Machine
6. BEST FOR NUGGET ICE: Easyera Nugget Ice Maker
7. ALSO CONSIDER: Aglucky Countertop Ice Maker Machine

How We Chose the Best Ice Makers

We are picky about ice, and for good reason. It can make carbonated drinks tastier and enhance a cocktail-sipping experience. Or, for those of us who simply enjoy crunching on ice, soft, chewable ice is practically a must-have. Whatever the case is, we know you have equally high expectations, so we went to work researching the highest-rated ice makers. We looked at more than 25 ice makers, assessing ice type, size, design, capacity, and speed, and poring through real user reviews.

We also consulted with Jason Phillips, who is a chef, food writer, and contributing editor to Also the Crumbs, Please, on what consumers will want to look for when purchasing a countertop ice maker. Phillips explains how he’s researched this topic quite a bit thanks to living in numerous small places and his love of camping. “The first thing I look for is the capacity. I prefer larger batch ice makers but sometimes have to sacrifice this option due to a lack of countertop space.”

Phillips goes on to explain, “The second thing consumers should look for is a feature for different size cubes and shapes. This may seem trivial, but it eventually becomes important because the shape and size of the cube determines the density. Density determines how fast the cube melts. Ice makers will produce ice in a variety of shapes: crescent, square, round, cube, or nugget.”

Our Top Picks

The following are our top picks for the best ice makers. Whether you like nugget ice, clear ice, or just need a lot of ice, there’s an ice maker on this list that fits the bill.

Best Overall

GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 16.5 inches tall by 10.5 inches wide by 17.5 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 38 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: 3 pounds
• Time to ice production: 10 minutes

Pros

• Restaurant-style nugget-shaped ice perfect for everyday use
• Stylish, sleek stainless steel design that fits on countertop
• Produces up to 38 pounds of ice per day, or 1.6 pounds of fresh ice per hour
• Wi-Fi enabled and voice activated for monitoring ice production while away
• Bin holds a sizeable amount of ice (3 pounds) before it needs to be emptied

Cons

• Some reviewers complain of noise during production
• Tall design is not as compact as other ice makers

The GE Profile Opal nugget ice maker sets the standard for so many other ice makers. Out of the box it starts producing ice within minutes—10 minutes, to be exact. It makes an incredible 38 pounds of fresh ice per day, or 1.6 pounds per hour, so buyers can use it for entertaining, tailgating, or if they simply enjoy crunching on ice throughout the day.

Compatible with Alexa and Google, the Opal features Wi-Fi connectivity and smart controls for those who may need to monitor ice production before hosting an event or those who need to start ice production from another room. While some reviewers complain about the noise level being high, the crystal-clear ice, true nugget shape, and substantial ice production may well be worth it—as evidenced by the thousands of rave reviews.

Get the GE Profile ice maker at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, or GE.

Best Bang For The Buck

Frigidaire Compact 26-Pound Countertop Ice Maker

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 14.75 inches tall by 13.5 inches wide by 10.25 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 26 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: 1.5 pounds
• Time to ice production: 6 minutes

Pros

• A budget-friendly option that produces a hefty amount of fresh ice per day
• Includes a window so users can monitor ice production
• Makes 2 sizes of bullet ice cubes for different needs and preferences
• Sleek, stainless steel, and compact design suitable for a variety of kitchens

Cons

• Some users say that removing the plug to drain the unit can be difficult

The Frigidaire countertop ice maker is a budget-friendly option that offers decent ice production and convenient features. Not only does this compact machine churn out 26 pounds of fresh ice per day, but it also starts producing ice within 6 minutes—rivaling or beating more expensive brands. The basket itself holds 1.5 pounds of ice, which is on the smaller side, but the speed of this little machine’s production may make up for that.

And noise? It operates at a 38-decibel level, which is quieter than the popular “quiet” dishwashers on the market, so it won’t drown conversations, music, TV, or other activities. A drain plug at the bottom of the unit allows for quick and easy release of excess water when it’s time for cleanup.

Get the Frigidaire ice maker at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Frigidaire.

Best Small

GoveeLife Portable Countertop Ice Maker

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 12.6 inches tall by 8.74 inches wide by 12.32 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 26 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: N/A
• Time to ice production: 6 minutes

Pros

• Produces 9 ice cubes within 6 minutes; up to 26 pounds of fresh ice per day
• Makes 3 ice cube sizes for a variety of needs and uses
• Convenient remote and self-cleaning mode
• Provides alerts via an app when the ice bin is full

Cons

• Ice must quickly be removed from bin or it will melt, according to reviewers

This small but mighty ice maker can squeeze into space other icemakers can’t, taking up just over 1 square foot of counter space. Even at its modest size, the GoveeLife ice maker produces 26 pounds of ice per day and can deliver up to nine cubes in just 6 minutes. It also offers a choice of three sizes to accommodate different glasses or preferences.

Better still, this ice maker is compatible with Google and Alexa, has its own app, and even includes a remote control—all of which enable use from just about anywhere. Cleaning is a snap too since it includes a convenient 10-minute self-cleaning option. While it may not be suitable for large events, the GoveeLife can hold its own for small get-togethers.

Get the GoveeLife ice maker at Amazon or Govee.

Best Large

Newair Countertop Clear Ice Maker

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 14.6 inches tall by 9.9 inches wide by 14.1 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 45 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: N/A
• Time to ice production: 12 minutes

Pros

• Produces enough ice for large gatherings; up to 45 pounds of ice per day
• Offers hollow and solid ice cube settings for greater customization
• Includes large viewing window for monitoring throughout the day
• Includes removable ice basket to easily transport ice to freezer or cooler

Cons

• Some reviewers complain of leaking from bottom of unit

Rivaling pricier built-in

under-counter ice makers

, the Newair ice maker produces up to 45 pounds of ice in a day. This impressive capacity virtually eliminates the worry of running out of ice during a party. In addition to its sizable capacity, it features an ice cube thickness selector, ranging from -6, which is a more hollow cube, to +6, which is a solid cube. Its intuitive LCD screen also provides full-ice-basket alerts and low-water alerts.

Of course, with this larger capacity comes a more robust size, which may mean it’s too large for some countertops. For kitchens where this ice maker does fit, however, the loss of countertop real estate may be worth it for the fresh, clear ice.

Get the Newair ice maker at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, or Newair.

Best For Portability

Igloo 26-Pound Automatic Portable Ice Maker Machine

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 16 inches tall by 11 inches wide by 14 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 26 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: 1.25 pounds
• Time to ice production: 7 minutes

Pros

• Compact design plus handle for extra-easy transport
• Produces small or large bullet-shaped ice cubes
• Includes a 5-cycle self-cleaning function for a consistent clean and less mess
• Removable basket makes it easy to move the ice wherever it’s needed

Cons

• Some reviewers say that just-made ice melts quickly

Whether it’s needed in the kitchen or on the deck, in an RV, or in a parking lot for tailgating, the Igloo ice maker is simple to take just about anywhere. Its built-in handle makes it easy to keep one hand free and carry this sturdy 22-pound ice maker.

This handy model makes 26 pounds of ice per day and offers options for small or large ice cubes. A straightforward LED-lit control panel indicates ice size and alerts the user to a full ice basket and an empty water reservoir. When the unit needs a deep clean, a convenient cleaning cycle will flush the user’s chosen cleaning solution (options indicated in the user manual) through the ice maker, including the water lines, five times.

Get the Igloo ice maker at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Nostalgia Products.

Best For Nugget Ice

Easyera Nugget Ice Maker

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Product Specs 

• Dimensions: 12.68 inches tall by 8.66 inches wide by 11.3 inches deep
• Ice production per day: 33 pounds
• Ice bin capacity: 1.54 pounds
• Time to ice production: 5 minutes

Pros

• Produces more ice per day than many models of similar size
• Features a self-cleaning mode to make upkeep even easier
• Includes removable ice basket and ice scoop
• Narrow profile and small footprint can fit in a variety of kitchens
• Straightforward operation panel makes for easy out-the-box use

Cons

• Makes 1 nugget of ice at a time; takes 20 minutes to produce 2 cups of ice
• Does not offer different nugget size options

The Easyera nugget ice maker is a great option for those who love nugget ice but may not have the counter space for the GE Profile Opal 2.0. Though it uses up less than 1 square foot of countertop space, it makes a whopping 33 pounds of ice in a day—enough ice to store for a large gathering or to have ice for several days of regular use. Plus, its intuitive control panel makes it easy to use right away. It only requires the push of a button to start ice production or cleaning, and lights indicate when the ice bin is full and when it’s time to add water.

While it takes some time to make enough ice to use and doesn’t offer different sizes, the Easyera delivers a large amount of a great type of ice.

Get the Easyera ice maker at Amazon.

Also Consider

Aglucky Countertop Ice Maker Machine