The Absolute Best Nugget Ice Makers, According To Reviews

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You may have been lucky enough to grow up in a household with a built-in ice machine in your fridge. Never would you have to worry about room-temperature tap water, or lemonade that was a little too warm to be enjoyable. The age-old "you never know what you have until it's gone" didn't set in for us until we moved into a home without an ice machine and realized that we had to come up with a work-around — fast. 

So, we did as many do — picked up an ice maker off Amazon and hope for the best. But we made the unfortunate and all-too-common mistake of choosing a non-reputable brand that not only did not fit our needs but also broke within a few months of using it. In order to prevent you too, dear ice lover, from falling into that same trap, we decided to make a round-up of some of the most well-reviewed nugget ice makers. It's important to note that these machines make nugget ice (also called Sonic ice), which is smaller and easier to chew than bullet ice. These machines are not only well-regarded by professionals and home cooks alike, but they also boast a range of functionalities, capacities, and designs, meaning that there is something for everyone. 

Chances are that you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on a high-end ice machine with all the bells and whistles. If you're just looking for a compact machine that can make enough ice to keep your home bar stocked, consider adding the Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker to your Amazon cart. This machine, which can make up to 34 pounds of ice in a day, is a great starter system for anyone looking to add an ice maker to their kitchen appliance arsenal. It takes about six to eight minutes to make ice and can hold up to 1.2 quarts of water. 

Another important functionality of this machine that's worth noting is its handle. Its lightweight design means that you can pick it up and take it wherever you go, meaning that you can pack it up into your RV for a long weekend camping trip or move it outside for a barbecue. The easy-to-operate display, which will indicate when the ice tray is full and when more water is needed, is simple to use. Reviewers also love that you can run a clean cycle on it too. While it's not as aesthetically appealing as some of the other ice makers on this list, it would still be a great machine for almost anyone — provided you don't need to make a ton of nugget ice. 

Purchase the Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker on Amazon.

Smart appliances are all the rage nowadays, so why wouldn't you want to have your nugget ice maker hooked up to your phone too? Despite its relatively low price, the GoveeLife Smart Countertop Ice Maker boasts a ton of nifty functions. It can generate 26 pounds of ice over the course of 24 hours, which is less than some of the other brands on this list, like Euhomy and Kismile, but it does have features that these two models don't, including a light-up display and three ice sizes (including small, nugget-sized cubes) to choose from. 

What's more, you can easily set up your ice maker to connect to Amazon Alexa or your Google Assistant, or use its app to schedule regular cleaning cycles for the machine and indicate when you want it to run. It will show you when your machine is running low on water, as well as when the ice bucket is full. The latter is especially important to note, as this machine does not come with a cooling function, so you can't expect your ice to last for too long. Reviewers particularly enjoy the ice maker's smart features and overall reliability.

Purchase the GoveeLife Smart Countertop Ice Maker on Amazon.

The Silonn Nugget Ice Maker is another reputable choice for folks looking to keep a little extra ice on hand. This model comes in two styles: the regular and the pro. Aside from some small display differences, these two models are very similar. The machine can make upwards of 33 pounds of ice per day, nearly on par with the much more expensive GE model — for about a third of the price. It starts spitting out nugget-sized cubes in just about six minutes, and Amazon reviewers who have purchased it note that it's no louder than other kitchen appliances. 

The Silonn ice maker would appeal to someone who goes through a fair amount of ice but doesn't want to spend an arm and a leg on a machine. This compact ice maker would be a great addition to any home kitchen, and several Amazon reviewers have found that the machine practically pays for itself — especially if you go through a ton of ice. Buyers emphasize the convenient size, easy setup, and speedy function. 

Purchase the Silonn Countertop Nugget Ice Maker on Amazon.

The Ecozy countertop ice maker may look a little intimidating, but once you figure out the ins and outs of operating it, you will surely realize what a great purchase you made. While this is far from the cheapest nugget ice maker you can buy on Amazon, its functionality and capacity definitely make it worth buying. The top of the machine has a full color display with a clock, along with readings for the air and water temperatures. It can also be operated via the EcozyHome app, as well as your Google Home or Alexa. 

The majority of reviewers had good things to say about this ice maker based on overall quality, ease of use, and sleek deisgn. What's more, not only can this machine crank out 44 pounds of ice in a day, but it also has a top-of-the-line thermal lining, which can help slow the melting process down and ensure that your ice stays fresh and crunchy for as long as possible. Ecozy's smaller ice maker, which boasts a 33 pound capacity, is another option, though if you want the machine with better ice retention and a more sophisticated display that you can feel good about keeping in your kitchen, this is the model you're going to want to go for. 

Purchase the Ecozy Countertop Nugget Ice Maker on Amazon.

If brand name is a big point of consideration when you're deciding what kitchen appliances to buy, then you may want to take a peek at this Frigidaire V2 ice maker. It has a mid-range price point, compared to other countertop ice makers on this list, but it does boast a better brand association than the others that make up the lion's share of this list.

The capacity of this machine is impressive; it can make up to 44 pounds of ice in a day and hold 3 pounds of ice at a time. It's also looks good enough to be an attractive addition to any kitchen. It's simple to operate, and reviewers had positive things to say about both the V2 model. However, one thing to note is that the ice bin itself is not well insulated, which means that your ice may melt faster than you can use it. The good news? All that water goes back into the reservoir and turned into fresh ice. In terms of buyer satisfaction, some users did report issues with water leakage, but most reviewers appreciate the great value and affordability. Note that extended warranty is recommended.

Purchase the Frigidaire Countertop Crunchy Chewable Nugget Ice Maker V2 on Amazon.

The look of this Whynter ice maker may be deceiving. Its finish is beautiful, and it comes in black and gold or silver and white. Despite the overwhelming appreciation for the stylish design, however, it's not just a pretty face; it's also a beast of an ice maker. It can make 40 pounds of ice in a day and has a self-cleaning function. 

One of the most valuable functions of this ice maker is its shape. It's just over 10 inches tall, which means it's easy for you to open and scoop down into. If you're short, like us, you won't have to stand on a step-ladder to precariously pour water into its reservoir. However, some have found its ice drawer to be a little small, which may not be ideal if you're making batches upon batches of cocktails. But since the refill time is so quick, and it makes a ton of ice over the course of a day, we don't think this small drawback will bother most users. Apart from that, the majority of reviewers praise the reliable performance, user-friendly function, and efficiency.

Purchase the Whynter Portable Nugget Ice Maker on Amazon.

To curate this list, we scoured professional and verified customer reviewers of many different nugget ice makers — all with varying shapes, sizes, and capacities. Our intention was to include ice makers that are suited to a range of uses, whether you're looking for one that you can pack up and take on a trip with you for the weekend, a countertop statement piece, or a machine that can make enough ice for all of your party cocktail needs.

We tried to focus on as many objective points as possible, such as each machine's functionality, capacity, features, and unique values. Qualities like noise, which is one of the big things people consider when buying a countertop ice machine, were not a major factor in deciding if an ice maker would make this list or not — seeing as how "too noisy" is largely subjective. Overall, these machines have high-quality construction and can fit the needs of most home cooks and budding mixologists.