What Is The UK’s Best Countertop Ice Maker?
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best countertop ice maker machines. We’ve compared speed of operation, output, noise levels and cost to give you our top recommendations.
Countertop Ice Maker Reviews
Ice Maker Machine Buyer’s Guide
You’re hosting a family BBQ and you want to make some super impressive drinks. But unless you have a convenient bar fridge with a reliable freezer cabinet, keeping up the supply of ice could be a problem.
Solution: buy your own Ice Maker Machine! But, what do you look for? How do you choose which one is right for you? Here’s a few suggestions to help you make that all important entertaining decision:
Ice Production
How long do you want to wait between rounds, that’s a pretty important question? Look for ice maker’s with a quick turn-around time. Also, compare whether this time is based on the largest or smallest ice cubes. Another point to consider is whether or not the unit must be connected to your water supply, and if you’ll need a plumber to do this. Some ice makers are free-standing, others will have this limitation.
Capacity
This refers to both the amount of water taken in, and the ice produced into the bucket. You want to make sure that the balance is right, remember when frozen, water will expand to almost 10% of its liquid state. A smaller ice bucket to water reservoir could mean disaster.
In addition to this, you also want to check just how much ice the machine can produce within a 24hr period. Whilst you may not be making ice in that volume, it’s a good indicator of the machine’s reliability and production speed.
Size of Ice Cubes
To say ice cubes come in three sizes is pretty useless, but this is what most ice maker’s will tell you. If possible, look for physical dimensions of the ice, and consider what size is the most appropriate to your needs; small for cocktails, medium for soft drinks etc, and large for chilling food or for crushing.
Control Options
Look for easy to operate controls that won’t be compromised by wet hands or spills. A sealed unit with LED display is great, as are buttons with easily read labels. Try to avoid machines that do not have viewing windows, as this will expose the ice to warmer air causing them to clump together.
How to Clean an Ice Maker Machine
When not in use, an ice maker should be disconnected, cleaned and dried thoroughly. To do this, dispose of any remaining ice cubes, and drain any leftover water from the chamber. Then, with a hot and soapy soft cloth, wipe down all the sides, being careful wipe off any residual soap before drying thoroughly with a lint-free cloth or towel. DO NOT rinse under running water, or immerse the ice maker in water.