Who doesn’t adore an endless supply of quality ice?
Being a lover of iced drinks or a large family member, a sufficient ice supply can be problematic for you in the summer. Most of the refrigerators came with built-in ice makers, but they are not efficient enough to fulfill a large family’s demand.
Here come the stand-alone ice makers for your rescue. Once you get addicted to an ice maker’s solid and crunchy ice cubes, then there is no way back. We have enlisted some stand-alone ice makers with notable characteristics. But Before we jump into the list, here are a few things to know beforehand. If you’re in for a deeper analysis, refer to our Buying Guide at the end.
Find our Stand Alone Ice Makers List Below.
Working principle of an Ice Maker
A machine that is used for making ice is called an ice maker. Sometimes it is fitted inside the freezer of the refrigerator or a free-standing device for ice making. Specifically, the word ice-making machine refers to the stand-alone ice makers. The working of an ice maker is similar to that of the refrigerator. The air is compressed by the compressor. This compressed air is sent to a condenser, which condensed compressed air into a liquid with high pressure. Then in the final step, the liquid is evaporated through the reactions in the evaporator and forms the ice.
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Types of an Ice Maker
- Portable and Counter-top ice makers: these are designed in a way to stand at the counter of your kitchen. They are compact and small in size. They are supposed to make ice cubes within 10 minutes. But they are not a freezer, so the ice cubes quickly melt, and the ice maker again starts producing ice.
- Under-counter ice makers: they are in a way to be fitted between the cabinets under the counter by the plumber. You have to provide a permanent water supply and drainer to the ice maker. They can produce and store a large quantity of ice for a more extended period of time.
- Modular ice makers: they are best suited for commercial purposes because they produce ice in much more quantity than counter-top ice makers. There is a separate and exclusive section for ice collection. They store ice cubes for a much longer time than usual.
- Self-contained ice machines: usually, they are less capable of producing and storing ice cubes. Ice cubes are made and stored in a single unit in these types of ice makers. They can easily be fitted in congested spaces.
- Budget: Your budget is the most significant thing that you should keep in your mind before making any purchase. A small budget will give you a primary ice maker, or they will be sufficient for personal use with nominal features. But you have to increase your budget if you want to buy a reliable and durable ice maker. Invest in an ice maker that values your money.
Now Let’s Dive In!
Best Stand-alone Ice maker 2022
Here are some of the best Stand Alone Ice Makers available in 2022.
1. NewAir Countertop
Why do we love it?
- This stand-alone ice maker produces restaurant quality, clear, solid, and crunchy ice cubes anytime you want.
- It stores ice cubes in its cold storage, which prevents quick melting of the ice.
- Comes with a one-button operation system, which means that you can operate this ice maker with only one button.
- It can easily be fitted in the small kitchen and spaces because of its small footprints.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Slower melting time | ❌None |
| ✅Better taste | |
| ✅Enhanced reliability | |
| ✅Insulated interior | |
| ✅Intuitive controls | |
| ✅High capacity | |
| ✅Efficient design | |
| ✅High durability |
Don’t miss our take on the Best Countertop Ice Machine.
2. Frigidaire EFIC189
Why do we love it?
- It produces crystal-like ice cubes in less than 6 minutes. So there is no need to rush to the store for getting an ice bag.
- Comes with a see-through window enabling you to monitor ice level and ice-making process.
- Gives you to choose from 2 sizes of ice cubes so that it can be adjusted in terms of your desire.
- It also has a drain pipe for easy and mess-free cleaning of the ice maker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Minimal noise | ❌A bit heavy |
| ✅Better control and functionality | |
| ✅Easy to install | |
| ✅Energy efficient | |
| ✅Easy to use | |
| ✅Well shaped ice cubes | |
| ✅Easy cleaning | |
| ✅Powerful compressor |
3. Igloo ICEB26RR
Why do we love it?
- This small stand-alone ice maker is designed to facilitate the customer by making this ice maker portable and compact.
- It has a large capacity to produce solid ice cubes, and it also has a big bucket to store ice cubes produced by the ice maker.
- It has a digital panel installed on the machine. An indicator on the panel indicates when the capacity of ice bucket is reached and the water level is low.
- You can view the ice-making process through the transparent lid on the ice maker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Large ice storing capacity | ❌Ice melts quickly |
| ✅Efficient working | |
| ✅2 ice cubes sizes | |
| ✅See-through window | |
| ✅User friendly control panel |
You might also like our picks for the Best Tabletop Ice Maker.
4. Northair Stainless Steel Portable Countertop
Why do we love this?
- It is equipped with smart features such as an indicator for low water levels or full bucket ice cubes.
- This stand-alone under-counter ice maker is a compact counter-top ice maker that produces bullet-shaped ice cubes and a serving scoop for the ice cubes.
- It uses the melted ice in the basket to produce ice cubes.
- It comes with enhanced durability because of the high-quality machinery used in the manufacturing of the ice maker.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Fast and efficient | ❌Noisy operation |
| ✅Modern design | ❌Low melting point |
| ✅Smart features | |
| ✅Digital display | |
| ✅User friendly |
Also, check Best Freestanding Ice Maker.
5. Igloo ICEB26WH
Why do we love it?
- It has a huge ice-making capacity that means you never run out of ice in this summer season.
- This cheap stand-alone ice maker has a pipe for water drainage. When the machine turns off, you can drain water with the pipe.
- This ice maker has a removable basket for transferring ice cubes without making any mess.
- It has a digital display on the machine, which gives you to control various device options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Self-cleaning | ❌Random malfunction requires restaring sometimes |
| ✅Control panel | |
| ✅Removable basket | |
| ✅User friendly | |
| ✅Efficient operation |
6. Euhomy Ice Maker Machine Countertop
Why do we love it?
- It comes with a highly efficient compressor which increases its ice production speed and capacity.
- This stand-alone freezer with an ice maker is equipped with the latest infrared technology, which automatically stops the machine when the bucket is full.
- This ice maker is compact and small enough to fit into your boat, RVs, and counter of your kitchen.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅LED indicator | ❌No self-cleaning |
| ✅User friendly | |
| ✅Efficient compressor | |
| ✅Compact in size |
7. SOOPYK Ice Makers Countertop
Why do we love it?
- It has a powerful compressor which makes it energy efficient and decreases your electricity bill.
- When the ice is kept unused for a long time, it melts, and the ice maker uses this melted water again to convert it into ice cubes.
- The self-cleaning system of this ice maker is the most outstanding feature.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Durable | ❌Noisy Opeartion |
| ✅Self-cleaning | |
| ✅Powerful compressor | |
| ✅Infrared sensor | |
| ✅Portable and convenient |
8. Deco Rapid Portable
Why do we love it?
- It comes with insulated storage, so it prevents quick melting of the ice cubes.
- It has a digital display control panel installed on the ice maker, directing various operations.
- This stand-alone ice maker has a see-through window for monitoring ice and water level.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅Lightweight | ❌Not so solid ice cubes |
| ✅Insulated storage | |
| ✅Easy to use | |
| ✅Minimal noise | |
| ✅Modern design |
Buying Guide – Best Stand Alone Ice Maker
If you are fed up with filling ice trays and want to avoid the mess created from the ice trays then you need an ice maker. But you can get double benefit from a device if you invest in a stand-alone or freestanding ice maker. There are hundreds of options available in the market. We have enlisted the best ice makers to help you in selecting while buying an ice maker. If you are living in a hot region then an ice maker should be in your essentials. An ice maker can be placed on the countertop of your kitchen or your small business. In this buying guide, we have some options for stand-alone under-counter ice makers and top-counter ice makers.
Q: Can you leave the ice in an ice maker?
Yes, ice can be placed in an ice maker. These ice makers are designed in a fashion to do so. There is a storage bin under the ice basket. An ice maker can collect the melted ice and again use it to produce ice cubes. But you cannot leave the ice in an ice maker for a prolonged period because they are not freezers.
Q: How long do portable ice makers last?
According to an estimate, an ice maker can work perfectly for 4 to 5 years or a time of a warranty. The life span of an ice maker depends upon the usage of the machine, type of usage, and the maintenance of an ice maker. If it is well maintained, then it can last for 8 to 10 years.
Q: Should you turn off your ice maker?
If you leave the ice in your ice maker, then you should keep your ice maker running all the time. Otherwise, the ice in the basket will melt and turn into water. It works on the principle of refrigeration. You can turn off your ice maker if the bucket is empty.
Q: Can ice machines make you sick?
Yes, it can make you sick. The dirty mold for the ice collection in the ice maker is the most significant cause of sickness. If your collection basket is contaminated with germs and bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and shigella, then the consumption of that contaminated ice will make you sick.
Q: Why is my ice melting in my ice maker?
If the cooling inside your ice maker is low, then your ice will melt quickly and stick together. If the defrost cycle repeatedly occurs in the ice maker, this will also soften your ice cubes and indicate that the thermostat of the ice maker is not working correctly.
Q: Will an ice maker burn up without water?
If you keep your ice maker turn on without water for a long time, then this can cause severe damage to your machine. There is a card in the device; without water, they will heat up hence burning out the irreplaceable heater of the ice maker.
Things you should know before buying an ice maker
If you are planning to buy an ice maker, then you should follow our buying guide. This will help you in choosing the stand-alone ice maker for you. We have developed this list of stand-alone ice makers after proper research and study. You should have a basic knowledge about ice makers and their functionality; you should know basic types of ice makers and which type suits you best. It is suggested that you go through our buying guide and then pay a visit to the market for the final decision about your ice maker.
Nature of your work
Be clear about the nature of your work. If you are buying an ice maker for your home, you should go for smaller ice makers. On the contrary, for small businesses, your choice will be different. For a large company, you should have entirely different options for ice-making available in the market. Your required shape of ice cubes will also affect your choice of an icemaker
Your usage
If you are using an ice maker for a long time, you should look for heavy-duty ice makers, but if you are planning to use it at your home or on get-togethers, then a primary ice maker will be sufficient for you. Your usage will be the prime factor in determining your investment in an ice maker. You can use ice makers at your home for small businesses and large and well-established businesses.
Types
Always search for the type which suits you best according to your need and demand. The types differ in the quality of machinery used in manufacturing an ice maker, the capacity of the compressor, and efficiency for ice production. Keep in your mind the types of the ice maker and your demands, then go for the best-suited type.
Hi, I am Kat! I love writing about various kitchen appliances especially ice makers, refrigerators, freezers, ice cream makers & much much more. I am a freelance journalist who is determined to make the best out of everything life throws my way & to write content that actually makes an impact. When I am not writing, I am finding ways to be a better parent & helping mothers the world over by overcoming parenting challenges.
