The 5 Best Countertop Ice Makers Of 2023

In short, yes! "A countertop ice maker is not only a great way to have more ice on hand for your household and for entertaining, but it's also the easiest hack to make your drinks taste better," says Owens. "Standard ice in freezers can contain impurities that transfer to your drinks, as the filters might not be capable of removing contaminants that are found in tap water. My iced coffee in the morning tastes at least two times better using homemade ice that was made with properly filtered water. It's also very noticeable in cocktails and alcoholic drinks, where the dilution that occurs as the ice melts will not give the 'freezer burn' taste that you get from a standard ice machine," he adds.

Bleyer notes that these small appliances function like standard refrigerator ice makers. “Water gets filled into an internal chilled tray, thanks to a water pump in the system,” she explains. “The water runs over the tray multiple times, building layer after layer of ice until it's filled to the top of the tray.” After the tray is full, the ice is dumped in the ice bin.

To operate a standard countertop ice maker, plug it in, run a clean cycle through the tubing system, then add fresh water. From there, press start to begin the ice cycle, Bleyer says.

Nugget ice makers and standard machines differ based on how water moves through the system and how ice is formed. “Water gets pumped from the nugget ice maker's water tank into a cold metal cylinder that's located in the machine's interior,” says Bleyer. “Ice then forms on the walls of the cylinder, and a spinning auger scrapes it off as ice chips.” She explains that these ice chips are compressed and pushed through small holes. From there, a metal cone breaks the ice, dumping nugget-shaped ice cubes into the attached bin.

Thanks to this built-in technology, the nugget ice maker “can start producing ice cubes in as little as 20 minutes,” says Bleyer.

Clear ice makers, like the Newair version, work by forming ice in layers, which prevents air bubbles that cause other types of ice to look foggy. To begin the process, fill the water reservoir to the fill line. From there, water is pumped from the bottom of the reservoir into a water filter and into an ice tray at the top of the machine. The heat exchanger’s prongs are then lowered into the water of the ice tray, which allows ice to form on the spikes starting in just minutes (small ice typically starting in about six). Countertop ice machines can vary in their ice making processes based on the brand, so be sure to read specific manufacturer instructions for even more information on your model.

Owens notes that nugget, bullet, and clear ice are different based on their size and shape, which ultimately dictates how fast they'll melt and how well they can mesh with your drink.

Nugget Ice: Nugget is the smallest form of ice (think: the ice in a fast-food soda machine!) and is usually “soft” and "crunchable,” he says.

Bullet Ice: “Bullet ice is the most common form of ice found in countertop makers,” Owens says. “It's in-between the size of nugget ice and traditional ice found in freezers, with a medium-sized surface area and typically hollow in the center.”

Clear Ice: Are you a self-proclaimed mixologist? Then clear ice is for you. While Owens says that clear ice makers are “often the most expensive and produce the least amount of ice,” they dish out “premium, transparent ice that melts slower than the other types.”

Yes, in fact, you should. You’ll need to leave your countertop ice maker on to prevent the ice from melting. “Just like your refrigerator needs to remain plugged in, so does your ice maker,” says Bleyer.

While she explains that some ice makers have eco-friendly modes that help reduce energy consumption, the machine will still temporarily shut off when not in use. The ice then melts and gets recycled to make new ice when the machine is on.

Countertop ice makers typically sound like a functioning refrigerator or a bit louder. “It's a noise that you might get used to, but since it's constantly on, it's best to store in a place that wouldn't interrupt you while sleeping,” says Bleyer. “You will hear the motor, pump, and the ice being made and dropped.”

“While most countertop ice makers don't come with filters, they are recommended if you have hard water and your system is compatible with a filter system,” says Bleyer. “The GE Opal nugget ice maker has filters that you can purchase and use in the system. If your ice maker doesn't come with a filter or filter compatibility, we recommend filling your system with filtered water.”

You do not need to clean these filters. Simply replace them as recommended by the manufacturer.

First off, check your countertop ice maker manual in case there are specific cleaning instructions. Otherwise, Bleyer recommends cleaning your ice maker before first use. She recommends using a “white vinegar and water solution to descale it like you would a coffee maker.”

Make sure to review the manual again to figure out cleaning cadence. “I've seen recommendations that say only twice a year, but definitely check with your machine,” says Bleyer. “And if you're using hard water or live in a humid climate, you may need to clean more regularly.”

If you're in the market for a countertop ice maker, there are several factors to consider before making a purchase. Keep in mind, most countertop ice makers aren't made with a freezer component to keep your ice frozen, so you'll have to transport it to your freezer for storage. Many of these models will cycle melted ice through the machine to be frozen again.

Machine Size: Each countertop ice maker should be small enough to fit on your countertop, but the dimensions vary. "The larger the ice machine, the less you'll have to refill it with water, and more ice you'll have, so the perfect size will really depend on what your anticipated needs are for the ice and how much space you have," says Owens.

Ice Cube Size & Shape: If you like to mix up the size ice cube you use depending on your drink, you'll want to look for a machine that has different size options. Most of these ice machines produce bullet- or nugget-shaped ice.

Speed: Owens says it's most ideal for a countertop ice maker to produce ice in less than an hour, and as quick as 15 to 30 minutes. Seixas adds that it should estimate about 1.5 pounds every hour.

Cleaning: Seixas recommends countertop ice makers with a self-cleaning function for easy maintenance. Simply "pour some bleach solution or vinegar" inside the machine and let it take care of the rest.

Extra Features: Do you want a no-frills ice maker, or something with all the bells and whistles? If you're making ice frequently, you may want to look for a machine with helpful features like an alert to add water or remove ice or a transparent window so you can peak inside and see the status of your ice.

Robert Seixas is the food director at Delish.

Griffin Owens is the co-founder of YUZUCO.

Eva Bleyer is the home and kitchen appliances reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute.

Allison Arnold is the associate SEO editor at Delish, where she writes about kitchen gadgets and food and culture.

Nashia Baker is a commerce editor at Hearst covering the latest and greatest products across the home and lifestyle categories. Throughout her career, she has interviewed chefs and food experts to learn about top trends in the culinary world. For this story, she interviewed Delish's food director, a beverage expert, and GHI experts to learn what to look for when shopping for the best countertop ice makers.