To keep up with my family’s demand for ice, a countertop ice machine seemed like the best way to supplement. While we love crunchy “Sonic” ice and the giant cubes that our craft ice maker creates, sometimes bullet ice is the perfect size for our favorite beverages. Bullet ice is slower melting than nugget ice and our Best Overall pick, the Frigidaire EFIC189 Compact Ice Maker, cranks it out quickly without a lot of extra fuss.

Getting Started Was a Breeze

Getting the Frigidaire EFIC up and running was pretty straightforward. All I had to do was find a clear spot on the counter—sometimes the hardest part—because the machine needs 4 inches of clearance around the sides and back to run properly.

Once plugged in, I poured water into the reservoir tank until it hit the “Max Fill” line. Then, I just selected the ice size. I chose “Large” to begin with, and pressed the On/Off button to start ice production.

Everything worked as expected, and the machine started cranking out the first batch of ice within seven minutes. After I grabbed ice for my drink, I switched the size to “Small” and let it run until the “Ice Full” light came on. The Frigidaire EFIC produces up to 26 pounds of ice per day and the basket holds just over 2 pounds, so there’s plenty to go around.

Before using it again, I removed the plug from the bottom of the machine to drain the rest of the water from the reservoir and wiped it out, because the manual says to change the water every 24 hours for best performance. As I was moving it around, I noticed that it didn’t have a handle. This wasn’t a huge bother, but it made it a little more difficult to transport from the kitchen sink for draining to its place on the counter.

Simple Design Makes It Easy to Use—Even for Kids

All it takes is two button pushes to have ice at the ready—On/Off to start the Frigidaire EFIC, and Select to choose between small and large ice cubes. Indicator lights let you know when you need to add water, the ice basket is full, the machine is turned on, and which size ice cube is being produced.

When the water tank is low, the “Add Water” indicator illuminates, and when the ice basket is full, the “Ice Full” light comes on. The Frigidaire EFIC opts for basic controls over a more advanced touch display, but I’ve found that less tech-heavy controls make the machine more accessible for my kids, too.

Similar to other ice makers, melting ice in the basket drains back into the water reservoir if it hasn’t been used. I appreciate this feature because water just cycles back through the machine to make more ice, so I don’t have to worry about hooking it up to a continuous, direct source.

The noise level is relatively low, too. I really don’t notice the ice maker while it’s running, even when the house is quiet. The only time it makes a noticeable sound is when the ice transfers into the basket, and I actually forgot I had it on a few times until I heard it.

There Isn’t a Ton of Difference Between Ice Sizes

The Frigidaire EFIC makes up to 26 pounds of ice per day and the basket holds just over 2 pounds, which is relatively standard for a countertop ice machine. It’s nice that there are two size options available, but to be honest, I don’t see a huge difference between them. The large cubes are thicker than the small ice cubes, but they’re close to the same length. If you’re wanting more size variety, I recommend the Kenmore Top Load Ice Maker. The large bullet-shaped ice cubes are noticeably larger and thicker.

Final Thoughts

The Frigidaire EFIC is our top pick for a countertop ice maker based on its simplicity, ease of use, and overall value versus performance. It doesn’t come with an app or built-in WiFi, just a few simple buttons, but this actually makes it stand out among the myriad complicated smart appliances taking over the home space.

It’s uncomplicated to set up, produces batches in just seven minutes, and reuses melted ice water so there are always cubes in the basket, ready to complement your favorite beverages.

Shop the Frigidaire EFIC189 Silver Compact Ice Maker

More Countertop Ice Makers We Recommend