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If you're RV camping, you can ditch the cooler full of ice for a portable ice maker.
Keeping a lot of ice handy on camping trips is crucial, especially if you're packing ice for cold drinks and fresh food. Stopping by a convenience store for multiple bags of ice before setting up camp is normally on the to-do list for most campers. This usually takes up tons of space in the RV freezer or just puts someone in charge of carrying a heavy cooler full of ice. To save room, grab a compact ice maker from our best portable ice maker list.
Countertop ice makers are very convenient kitchen appliances. They don't take up much space, and you can find them for around $160. Their portability is also a plus. It sure does beat carrying a heavy cooler.
If your camping crew just seems never to have enough ice, or you have a spouse that just won't fill up an ice tray, it's time for an ice maker machine.
Why Portable Ice Makers Are Worth It
First, not everyone has an ice maker in the refrigerator. Even some newer fridge models don't have them. Sure, they're stainless steel and shiny, yet no built-in ice maker.
So, you have three options, endless trips to the store for heavy bags of ice, getting a new fridge, or buying several ice trays. Upgrading your fridge can be pricey, and refilling ice trays can be an annoying task, plus, ice in the fridge can sometimes smell like food (even with baking soda). This is where a countertop ice maker comes in handy.
Get ready to enjoy more freezer space.
Best Portable Ice Makers
1. Frigidaire 26 lb. Countertop Ice Maker EFIC117-SS
Frigidaire has one of the best portable ice makers available. You'll really like the compact design. RV countertop space can be pretty limited, so you don't have to trade freezer space for crowded counter space.
This stainless steel ice maker produces 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours, but there is a 2.5-pound storage capacity. Once you choose an ice setting, you'll have a batch of ice in seven minutes. Many customers are pleased with the ice cube size.
2. NewAir ClearIce40, Countertop Clear Ice Maker Machine
The NewAir ice maker is larger than the Frigidaire portable countertop ice maker. The production capacity is 40 pounds per day. If 20-30 pounds isn't going to cut it for you, this is something you should look into.
It even comes with a scoop! (No dirty hands inside the ice maker.)
Costway's ice-making machine is a top pick for best ice makers under $130. The high-quality ice machine has a 2.2-liter water tank and is environmental-friendly. The ice maker can make up to 26.5-lbs of ice per week! The ice maker reviews are fantastic.
An Amazon customer gave the portable ice machine five stars and wrote, "I know I'm going to love this thing. My 20+ year old freezer's automatic ice maker has been busted for years. I've had it with ice trays. After reading all the reviews, I decided to buy this and I'm so glad I did. First, it makes ice so quickly. Much quicker than an ice maker inside your refrigerator/freezer. I started at 11AM and by 4:30PM (5 ½ hours), I had filled two one-gallon freezer bags."
4. Igloo ICEB26HNSS Portable Electric Countertop Ice Maker
Here's Amazon's Choice for Igloo portable ice makers. Of course, we know Igloo is one of the most popular brands for coolers, but they're also in the ice-making game. It's no surprise that it's one of the best portable ice makers on the market.
This machine can make the first batch of ice in seven minutes! If you're picky about the type of ice you use, this is a great option. You'll be able to make small and large ice cubes. That's impressive.
The large-capacity ice maker has a carry handle, which is very convenient for portability. And of course, there's a self-cleaning function. There is a drain plug, so you'll be able to drain water easily when the ice melts (and it's not in use). For warranty information, check out this page. (You won't think twice about sending it back, though.)
A customer gave the ice maker five stars and wrote, "One of the few with a cleaning cycle which you will need to buy cleaner 4 but will keep black mold from forming as it does in all ice machines. Also i use bottled water so no chlorine taste in ice. Great machine for bedroom, RV or BOAT. I use in bedroom."
Who doesn't love fresh ice? I'll be honest, I love getting large cubes out of the ice basket and chewing on them! I know, probably not the best habit.
5. GE Profile Opal | Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
When you're really picky about sizes of ice, you know to get excited about nugget ice. If I put ice in my water bottle, I'm not too picky. But if I'm drinking a soda, I want small ice similar to Sonic so I can chew it after. (Guilty-pleasure.) Also, nugget ice is great for cocktails.
A gin and tonic, while you enjoy a spectacular view sounds amazing.
This machine is pricey compared to others, but the ice maker makes a large amount of ice! Consider this ice maker if you want something you can reuse for probably a decade or so. The machine has a built-in Bluetooth connectivity so that you can schedule fresh ice from bed.
Melted ice returns to the water reservoir. This is definitely one of the best portable ice makers yet.
6. hOmeLabs Chill Pill Countertop Ice Maker
If you need a compact ice maker for different sizes of ice (small and medium), consider this ice-maker machine. The ice production speed is fantastic. You'll have ice cubes in just about six minutes. Homelab's energy-efficient compressor has indicator lights for when the ice basket is full or needs to be refilled. It has an automatic shut-off and uses melted ice to make more ice.
Be sure also to consider freestanding ice makers from Magic Chef and Euhomy. Ditch the ice bucket for good.
This post was originally published on November 15, 2019.
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