For ice-a-holics and amateur bartenders, nothing beats high quality, bullet ice cubes from the comfort of your home. Compared to standard ice cubes, bullet ice cubes melt more evenly and quickly chill your drink. They’re also much quicker to make, provided that you have the right tools.
With a reliable ice maker, making professional-grade ice cubes at home is easier than ever. And it can take as little as 6 minutes to whip up a batch. With a standard plastic ice cube tray in a -18 l °C freezer, ice cubes can take up to 4 hours to completely freeze through. Who has time for that?! An ice maker machine can help ensure that you always have high-quality ice on hand.
Keep reading to learn more about countertop ice makers and how to choose the right model for your ice-making needs and preferences.
Our Top Picks:
- Best Portable Ice Maker: Igloo ICEB26HNAQ
Jump to Review - Best Budget Ice Maker: Frigidaire EFIC123-SS
Jump to Review - Most Versatile Ice Maker: NewAir AI-100SS
Jump to Review - Best Value: Dreamiracle Ice Maker
Jump to Review - Best For Large Batches: NewAir AI-215R
Jump to Review
Why Get an Ice Maker?
The main reason why people invest in ice makers is that they’re convenient. Compared to ice trays or built-in freezer ice makers, stand-alone ice makers can make a batch of ice in just a few minutes. The quality of the ice is also unbeatable, if bullet-shaped ice cubes are what you’re looking for.
Ice makers are also very easy to use. You’ll typically just have to add water, select an ice cube size, press start, and wait a few minutes for your ice cubes to be made. Since they make ice very efficiently, ice makers are great for stocking up on ice before a party. Some ice makers can make up to 50 lbs of quality ice cubes per day!
The 5 Best Home Ice Machines in Canada in 2024
Here is our selection of the best ice machines for your home that are available in Canada this year.
Igloo Portable Ice Maker
The Igloo ICEB26HNAQ is another portable ice maker worth considering if you don’t need a large capacity. The machine can make up to 26 lbs of ice per day and takes about 7 minutes per batch. You have two sizes of ice cubes to choose from, which is standard. What really sets the Igloo apart from others is its portability and self-cleaning function.
The Igloo ICEB26HNAQ has a built-in carrying handle which makes it convenient to transport. It’s also very compact, compared to other ice makers, measuring just 12 x 9 x 13 inches (L x W x H).
Cleaning ice makers can be a pain, but the Igloo has one of the best automatic self-cleaning functions. The cleaning process undergoes 5 cycles to prevent mineral deposits from damaging the machine.
Made from stainless steel with an aqua coating, the ICEB26HNAQ is also stylish, provided that it suits the style of your home. We also love that it doesn’t take up much counter top space.
Frigidaire Countertop Maker
If you’re looking for an affordable ice maker for making small batches of ice, the Frigidaire’ EFIC123-SS ice maker is an excellent choice. It can produce up to 26 lbs of bullet-shaped ice cubes per day and only take 6 minutes to produce a batch of ice.
Asides from its affordable price, the main advantage of this ice machine is its compact size and portability. Measuring 12.2 (D) by 8.7 (W) inches, the EFIC123-SS won’t take up much space on your counter top. However, since it’s a small ice machine, making large batches of ice is not possible unless you can quickly transfer the ice to a freezer.
Another advantage of the EFIC123-SS is that it can produce two sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes. It has a large clear window on top of the machine, so you can peak it on the ice-making process.
NewAir AI-100SS Portable Ice Maker
The NewAir AI-100SS Ice Maker is stainless steel and produces up to 28 pounds of ice per day. With its compact design, the AI-100SS is perfect for use in small spaces like offices, small countertops, boats, or RVs. It also produces three sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes: small, medium, and large.
While it can hold up to 2.2 pounds of ice at a time, it does not freeze the ice in the ice bucket. This means any leftover ice in the bucket will melt and be recycled for the next batch. This is true for many ice machines on the market so be wary.
With an ice-making efficiency of 28 pounds of ice per day, it’s slightly more efficient than similarly priced ice machines on the market.
Dreamiracle Ice Maker Machine
Producing 33 pounds of ice per day, the Dreamiracle Ice Maker is a powerful and efficient ice maker. It also comes with a higher ice and water storage capacity, storing over 3 lbs of ice and 2.8L of water. This means you won’t have to fill your fridge with ice, unless you’re stocking up for a party, of course. You also won’t have to refill the water reservoir as often.
For those seeking more variety in terms of ice cube sizes, the Dreamiracle ice machine lets you choose between two sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes: 0.8 inches and 1 inch.
A perk for the curious folk out there is that you can peek in the window to watch the ice cubes being made. Also, its user-friendly LED indicator lights will tell you when the water tank needs to be refilled or when the ice container is full.
With its high efficiency, and higher water and ice storage capacity, we recommend this ice machine for big families or offices with higher ice cube turnover. But if 28 pounds of ice per day isn’t enough for your needs, keep reading.
NewAir AI-215R Portable Ice Maker
The NewAir AI-215 is another highly efficient stainless steel ice-making machine, producing a whopping 50 lbs of ice per day. It’s the ice maker with the largest capacity on this list. With three sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes to choose from, it’s a great machine if you’re in need of a variety of ice cube sizes.
This is the best home ice maker in terms of efficiency, capacity, and ice options. With 50 pounds of ice per day and three different cube sizes to choose from, this ice maker is perfect for parties and events where quick ice-making is necessary. In fact, it can produce a batch of ice in as little as 6 minutes!
Another benefit of this ice maker is that it will keep your ice frozen for a couple of hours, which means you can let the machine work its magic without too much manual work required. A downside is that the machine is a bit on the noisy side.
Is it Worth Getting an Ice Machine?
Compared to standard freezer ice cubes, having a stand-alone ice maker machine comes with many benefits. Here are a few reasons why an ice maker is a solid investment:
Make ice quickly
You don’t have to start prepping your ice a week before your event, filling plastic bags and Tupperware containers only to run out of space in the fridge. Most ice machines on the market will produce about 6 to 9 ice cubes in less than 10 minutes. Over the span of 24 hours, you can end up with between 25 and 50 pounds of ice.
Have access to high-quality ice
Standard plastic tray ice cubes tend to melt quicker, which can end up diluting your beverages. These typical homemade ice cubes also have a bad reputation for absorbing odours from the freezer, especially if the tray sits for more than a couple of days. Most ice makers will make bullet-shaped ice. These cubes are the most common in bars and restaurants due to their versatility and ability to quickly chill a beverage. They also melt more evenly than the standard ice cube.
Make ice without a mess
We’ve all been there: you press the ice button on a fridge, hoping for 1 or 2 cubes, but end up with a full cup and a floor full of ice cubes. Ice cube trays are not much better. It’s never that easy to remove one cube without twisting out 3 and cracking the plastic tray while you’re at it. Ice cube machines conveniently store your ice and normally will come with a scoop to help retrieve a few cubes without creating a slip‘n slide on your kitchen floor.
Most are portable
Most home ice maker machines are portable which makes them convenient for backyards, sporting events, camping, or even road trips. Unlike built-in fridge ice makers, they don’t have to be hooked up to a water supply.
What Features to Look For in an Ice Maker?
There are several factors to consider when shopping for a home ice machine. Here are a few key criteria:
Capacity of the machine
Depending on your ice cube needs, this may or may not be important. While most ice cube machines on the market can produce anywhere from 25 to 50 pounds of ice per day, they certainly cannot store all of this ice. If you need a machine that can store a good amount of ice, look at the capacity of the ice container. Most ice makers will store between 2 and 3 pounds of ice at a time.
Efficiency of the machine
The efficiency of an ice machine can be measured by how many ice cubes can be produced per minute. Typically, you’ll see anywhere from 6 to 9 ice cubes per 10 to 15 minutes.
Efficiency can also be defined in terms of pounds of ice cubes per 24 hours. Most ice machines can produce between 25 and 50 pounds of ice per 24 hours. No machine will produce ice continuously for 24 hours, so keep in mind that you’ll have to empty the ice cube bucket and store this ice elsewhere throughout the day.
Noise level of the machine
Depending on how frequently you plan on making ice, you may or may not want a noisy machine sitting on your counter. Some machines will beep, while others rely on LED light indicators instead. In general, higher-watt machines tend to be louder, but the quality of the machine really makes the most difference.
Shapes and sizes of the ice
There are many different shapes of ice cubes that can be produced. Some shapes float better than others, while other shapes melt less quickly than others. If you’re okay with bullet-shaped ice produced by most portable ice makers, you’ll be just fine. But if you want more options, some machines will offer a variety of shapes and sizes.
