This was the nugget ice maker that made our tester throw out their ice trays once and for all. It takes everything we liked about the previous version GE Profile Opal 2.0, and boosts the ice production speed, upgrades a smattering of components and functions to make it easier to clean and enhance its lifespan, and includes an external water tank and ice scoop to boot.

We’ve found that it churns out ice at a rapid enough pace to keep round after round of cold beverages for a sizable gathering. It has an easy-to-use app that offers smart functions such as scheduling alerts for maintenance. Additionally, its sleek design has a timeless vibe that won’t look dated two years from now.

It’s got a footprint nearly that of two shoeboxes side by side, which is a bit big for a smaller kitchen. It can also get somewhat noisy when it’s actively producing ice—about the volume of a loud refrigerator—though it’s basically silent when it’s just keeping it cool. But if you’re looking for reliable, convenient ice on demand, there’s none better.

Key Specs

Small apartments and dorm rooms can benefit from this Igloo nugget ice maker. It’s unassuming and modest and has a much slimmer build than some of the other ice makers we’ve tried. It doesn’t take up too much room on a counter, and fits neatly next to a coffee maker. While it lacks any smart features, it’s still a solid ice maker if your priority is convenience.

To start the setup process, we ran the cleaning mode using a 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar and water to get out any residue. This took about 10 minutes to complete and seemed to neutralize the chemical-like, plastic smell of the interior of the ice maker.

When it was ready to make ice, we simply pressed the power button, and the machine got to work. It took 8 minutes and 50 seconds for the first batch of ice to drop down from the cooling rods, and the cubes were the proper thickness right from the jump.

We noticed that the “ice full” indicator light came on before the basket was actually completely full, but it’s possible that an ice cube obstructed the sensor and triggered the alert. We suggest emptying the basket as you go or giving the finished ice a stir with the included scoop to disperse the cubes that have piled up.

Igloo Self-Cleaning Countertop Nugget Ice Maker Full Review

Key Specs

Though we haven’t tested this countertop ice maker in person yet, it’s one of the most popular amongst our readers, and we agree that it’s a worthy recommendation based on its features and price point. The Euhomy machine has a compact design and an angled opening to make scooping ice easier for you or your guests.

Your first cubes of nugget ice will be ready in around 7 to 10 minutes, and there is a pull-out water tank that easily detaches. Simply fill the reservoir as needed.

It has a self-cleaning function, an indicator to add water if levels are getting low, and a light inside the ice bin to illuminate its contents. There’s nowhere to place the included ice scoop, but storing it inside the ice basket when not in use is very easy.

The ice maker produces up to 40 pounds of ice in 24 hours, which is a much higher production than most of our options on this list. Just remember to only run the amount of cycles you need for hosting or a regular supply, as the insulation isn’t great and could cause ice to melt faster than you’re using it.

Key Specs

The Frigidaire ice maker is neither a high-end nor cheap design, but it’s sleek and has the ability to produce plenty of ice on a consistent basis. During our testing, it took about 8 to 10 minutes to produce one small batch of bullet-shaped ice cubes.

Once the cubes have formed on the metal cooling rods, they automatically drop down, and a lever pushes them into the ice basket. An indicator light lets you know when it’s full, and the ice stays frozen up to 18 hours.

We appreciate that the melted ice water is reused for new cycles, so we didn’t have to refill the reservoir very often. However, the machine will stop making ice if the ice basket is full, even if there is water still in the reservoir. And since the bin is on the smaller side, you could find yourself emptying it more frequently in order to start a new cycle.

Overall, it’s easy to set up. It’s important to note that like most ice machines, you have to wait two hours before running the first cycle once it’s plugged into the outlet for the first time, which is a bit annoying, but this is a common instruction for most nugget ice makers on the market.

Key Specs

The Gevi 2.0 is the kind of ice maker you won’t mind taking up prime countertop real estate, given its polished design. The bin holds almost five pounds of ice (the largest capacity on our list), and the machine has thick insulation on all sides to keep cubes frozen for longer.

One of our favorite features is the door on the ice maker that opens to a 90-degree angle. To achieve this, the Gevi ditches the viewing window that’s present on other models, but this design choice allows you to pull the ice basket forward. This made it very simple to scoop our pellet ice once the container was full.

The instruction manual says that it takes about 15 to 30 minutes for the first cubes to form, but I noticed a couple pellets had dropped around the 9-minute and 20-second mark. They were fairly wet to start but began forming more compactly over time and were the perfect, crunchy texture. However, it takes a few hours to get a full basket, which is tricky if you need ice immediately.

The water reservoir is kind of awkward to access with the door style, but the Gevi also comes with a hose that hooks up to your tap if you want it to fill automatically.

Key Specs

We really liked using the companion app on this smart ice maker. It wasn’t difficult to pair thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, and once the app had registered the machine, it got straight to work. We played around with the display lights and ice thickness levels and watched as the app tracked how many cubes were made with every cycle. You can also schedule ice making ahead of time so you’re always prepared.

This isn’t a pellet ice machine, but it gives you the option to choose between three different sizes of bullet cubes that pair well with plenty of beverages. During testing, we tried “small” to start with as the machine got up and running. We were surprised that the cubes came out relatively close to their ideal texture from the first batch. It took about 9 minutes and 17 seconds for them to form on the cooling rods and lever into the ice basket.

It took about ten rounds of production for the basket to fill up all the way, and we got alerts that the basket was at capacity and to use the ice as soon as possible. You’ll also get notifications for water levels, and the overall automation of this smart ice maker makes it a win for us.