Portable Ice Maker... anyone have one?

10 years ago

I am ready to purchase a counter top portable ice maker. The one in our refrigerator just cannot keep up with us in the summer. My husband golfs every day of the world and makes a huge Bubba Keg of water or pop. I make a lot of ice tea in a Mr. Coffee ice tea maker and I do love to fill the pitcher with ice instead of water... so we just use a lot of ice around this house. I am aware that they do not keep the ice frozen once it makes, when the ice melts the water is recirculated and made into more ice.
I wondered if anyone here has or has had one, what brand and if you were happy with it?....

Comments (9)

marygailv
10 years ago
I went to Amazon and read their reviews, so that should be helpful to you.
rob333 (zone 7b)
10 years ago
I was hoping someone would post their personal experience. Because, based on Amazon, the Smart+ Products SPP15AIM Portable Stainless Steel Ice Maker linked below would be stellar. Six reviews all of them five starts. Wonder if that is the best?

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon link
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I have the Emerson IM90T. I got it for myself for Christmas. It was $120 or so at Target. I love the thing! Personally, I absolutely HATE the crescent ice cubes that are made in refrigerator ice makers. They are fine for using in a cooler, but they do not work well in a drinking glass. The Emerson makes a bullet-shaped cube...it's hard to describe. It's like a cylinder but one end is rounded. My favorite feature is that I can use water from my Berkey purifier and the ice is tasteless. It is not clear like bar ice, but it is tasteless. There are a couple of quirks that you have to be willing to deal with, however. For one thing, you have to keep it filled with water because if it runs dry the motor can burn out. Another quirk is that it does take a while to make ice. Each individual cycle is pretty quick compared to having to freeze water in trays, but it does take quite a while to accumulate a big batch of ice. As you already know, it does not keep the ice cold so you have to remove the ice periodically and put it in the freezer. I wait until there are 2 or 3 cycles of ice in the basket and then I "decant" it to a ziploc bag and put it in the freezer. Once the ziploc bag is full I move it down to my basement freezer and keep a stockpile there. When I need ice, I get a bag out of the chest freezer and put it in the bin of the icemaker in my kitchen freezer (the same icemaker that stopped working after 2 months and makes the dreaded crescent cubes). My solution for these little quirks is that I pick a day every few weeks when I'm going to be around the house all day and I run the thing all day and make a big batch of ice. I set my oven timer for 30 minutes and when it goes off I decant the ice and refill the water and set the timer to go off in another 30 minutes. It's a little bit of a process, but it's worth it to me to have a better shape of ice that's been made from purified water. That being said, when I do my kitchen remodel I am still planning to get a fridge with an icemaker but I will use that ice for using in a cooler or for chilling wine. . . not for consumption. I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
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susie53_gw
10 years ago
I have an stainless steel Igloo brand ice maker. If you want ice quickly this is not the one. We use it all the time in the summer. Once it makes ice it stays frozen. I think it makes 25 pounds a day. I make it a couple times a week and just bag it and put it in our freezer. I bought it on sale for $89.00.
debo_2006
10 years ago
We had one from Home Depot and used it several times for our summer parties which was convenient. It worked quite well. You could choose from three sizes to make the cubes.

We have since sold it on CL due to getting a fridge with an ice maker, otherwise, we would have kept it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ice Maker
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
10 years ago
I researched these heavily recently for my mother in law, we concluded this was not the way to go. One of the reasons is that there were many complaints of how hot it made the room because it vents the air off the motor into the room. Many people buy them for RV use and several of the reviews there said they had to put them outside the RV because of the heat issue. Be sure that where ever you put one the counter or backsplash will not be damaged by the heat exhaust.

One of these small installed ice makers cost a little more but are much more useful. My sister went with one of this type and they love it. I don't recall the brand they got.
Built-In Ice Maker
lisa_fla
10 years ago
I wouldn't mind one myself. We have a 31 cu ft refrigerator and the ice maker doesn't always keep up with us either. Luckily we have a neighborhood club house with a huge ice machine which I use to fill a cooler a 2-3 times a week. If I saw a great deal, I'd buy an ice machine. I'd put it in the garage to avoid the heat/exhaust issue. I think I'll put portable ice maker in my deal alerts!
MiMi
Original Author
10 years ago
Debi... The Magic Chef is the brand I have been looking at... but it is 139.00 at Walmart vs 189.00 at Home Depot.

ravencajun... Interesting.. I haven't read anything about the heat from them, that is definitely something to research, thanks for that tip.

Robb333... that is a great looking stainless steel model for sure... the only problem is, I could not find the measurements of it.. unless I just overlooked them. Also, it did not say where the vent it, possibly on the left side, or back, since it shows the right side... That would be nice to know since it's possible I might actually use it on the counter top. I have a big enough pantry to use it in, or in the garage, haven't really decided...

I do know that Target has some instock so think I will go look at them, it would be a lot easier to return something from there.... If I don't like them I think I will order the Magic chef from Walmart...
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
10 years ago
If you have a Camping World store around you they keep a few models in stock. I looked at some there.
Marilyn Sue McClintock
10 years ago
I have one made by Magic Chef. I have not used it since I bought my new refrigerator, but may have to sometime again, especially when I have to make a lot of iced tea. I like mine very well, the only thing is it does not store any ice, if left in it will melt. I bought mine at Kohl's some years back paid around $75 for mine then with discounts.

Sue

Portable Ice Maker... anyone have one?

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marygailv

rob333 (zone 7b)

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Marilyn Sue McClintock

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Portable Ice Maker... anyone have one?

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