10 Best Portable Ice Makers 2023

A portable ice maker, while a fairly new concept, can be extremely beneficial, especially during the hot summer months. Having one in your home allows you to quickly create ice-cold drinks without the hassle of ice trays or taking space in your freezer or counter.

Moreover, it’s portable design allows you to bring it anywhere you wish, making it an ideal appliance for getaways and trips.

Plus, these makers don’t take up much space in your kitchen as well. However, which are makers best for you? Keep reading this post to find out.

Reviews of Top 10 Best Portable Ice Makers

1. Vremi Stainless Steel Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”817P5EdjjXL” alt=”Vremi Portable Stainless Steel Ice Maker” code=”B07H7SGQ52″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Capable of creating ice in mere 8 to 10 minutes, this portable ice maker from Vremi ensures you don’t have to wait a long time to make your ice-cold drink. It features a compact design, allowing you to place it on your countertop without taking too much space.

Its total ice production capacity is 26 lbs per day which, combined with its quick production speed, gives you more than enough ice during cold drinks during the hot summer months.

Pros

• Compact design
• Automatically shuts off when the basket is full
• Energy-efficient and quiet operation
• Quick ice production time
• Removable ice basket

Cons

• Can be difficult to clean

2. IKICH Countertop Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”611rXc-Ab%2BL” alt=”IKICH Portable Ice Maker Machine” code=”B07Q33HD6X” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

The IKICH Portable Ice Maker is capable of creating 26 lbs worth of ice per 24 hours with a speed of as fast as 9 bullet-shaped ice per 6 minutes. Despite its quick production time, this portable ice maker is quiet and energy-efficient, ensuring that you can enjoy cool beverages without skyrocketing energy bills.

It gives you the option to choose between 2 sizes of ice cubes – large and small, ensuring that your ice fits your chosen containers perfectly.

Pros

• Simple operational controls
• Energy-efficient and quiet operation
• Option to choose between 2 sizes of ice
• Fast production speed
• Removable ice basket for convenience

Cons

• Large cubes aren’t as large

3. COSTWAY Countertop Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”61BkbuUh2RL” alt=”COSTWAY Ice Maker for Countertop” code=”B07JH7Z88V” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This compact portable ice maker from COSTWAY features a high-power compressor that’s capable of creating ice cubes in a period of 6 to 13 minutes and up to 26.5lbs worth of ice per day. It also gives you the option to choose between two sizes of bullet-shaped ice cubes, large and small.

This portable ice maker is perfect for gatherings, parties, and even for just those hot days when you want to enjoy a cold beverage.

Pros

• Energy-efficient
• Quick ice production time
• Selectable ice size
• Powerful performance
• Comes in different colors

Cons

• The compressor can be loud

4. Frigidaire Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”71IXWvUmsGL” alt=”Frigidaire Portable Ice Maker” code=”B075QP7SCP” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

The Frigidaire Portable Ice Maker features powerful performance, allowing for a quick ice production time of only 6 minutes. It’s capable of making up to 26 lbs worth of ice in a single day and the large see-through window helps you easily monitor the ice level.

It features an ice basket capable of handling 1.2kgs worth of ice and you can also choose between 2 sizes of ice.

Pros

• Easy to use – no installation required
• Quick ice production time
• Energy-efficient
• Uses a compressor cooling system
• Large transparent window for easy monitoring

Cons

• Lacks additional features that can be helpful

5. Euhomy Countertop Portable Ice Making Machine

[img_products img_code=”61QVzeCjCML” alt=”Euhomy Ice Maker Machine Countertop” code=”B07R56HW4G” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This sleek portable ice maker features a modern design as well as helpful features like a light indicator that helps alert you when it needs more water for ice and an alert for when the basket is full to allow for the next batch of ice.

It takes an average of 8 minutes for a single cycle of ice-making and can generate up to 26 lbs of ice per day. It comes with a removable ice basket and ice scoop, giving you everything you need for your party or gathering.

Pros

• Large water tank capacity of 2.2 liters
• Fast average production time
• Option to choose ice size
• Removable ice basket and ice scoop
• Energy-efficient
• Sleek and modern design

Cons

• Slow startup time

6. VIVOHOME Electric Compact Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”61a7fulV5WL” alt=”VIVOHOME Electric Portable Compact Countertop Ice Maker Machine” code=”B07L3CZCMZ” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This portable ice maker from VIVOHOME features a compact and lightweight design, allowing you to bring it everywhere you want, whether it’s a party at home or for an out of town road trip. It can produce a batch of ice in just 6 minutes, with a full production capacity of 26 lbs per day.

It features a light indicator which conveniently alerts you when its water reservoir is low and needs refilling. It also has another indicator for alerting you when the ice basket is full.

Pros

• Low-noise operation
• Easy, user-friendly design
• Compact and lightweight
• Fast production time
• Light indicators for alerts

Cons

• Ice comes out softer than expected

7. GE Profile Opal Countertop Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”61NmZOf6f4L” alt=”GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker” code=”B07YF9SGBW” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

Although a bit larger than the others, the GE Opal Ice Maker features powerful performance and large capacity that makes up for its less compact size. It takes 20 minutes to produce 3 lbs worth of restaurant-like ice cubes and can create 24 lbs worth of ice in a day.

This ice maker has Bluetooth connectivity – a feature that allows you to set its ice-making schedule with the use of your smartphone. This also serves as a way to alert you when the basket is full of ice, allowing you to empty it for another cycle.

Pros

• Powerful performance
• Large ice basket capacity
• Bluetooth connectivity for convenience
• Produces restaurant-quality and size ice cubes

Cons

• Larger than other models
• More expensive than other models

8. TavataAntartic Star Countertop Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”51WpjTj0BpL” alt=”Antartic Star Countertop Portable Ice Maker Machine” code=”B07VG1475W” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This portable ice maker from Tavata is capable of creating 9 bullet-shaped ice cubes in 6 to 8 minutes and up to 1.1 lbs worth of cubes per hour. It features a sleek and modern design that is functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.

It’s fairly simple to operate and features a self-cleaning function for your convenience. It’s perfect for parties, outdoor gatherings, and even just for everyday use.

Pros

• Fast ice production time
• Sleek and modern design
• Simple and easy operation
• Self-cleaning function
• Compact size

Cons

• Cannot store ice cubes

9. Igloo Automatic Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”815TIEJHLVL” alt=”Igloo Automatic Portable Countertop Ice Maker Machine” code=”B07FNW41P7″ reviews=”View on Amazon”]

This automatic portable ice maker from Igloo is capable of creating 9 bullet-shaped ice cubes in as little as 7 minutes, a total of 26 lbs worth of ice per 24 hours, and it gives you the option to choose their size. It has a simple to understand backlit control panel that also alerts you to when the tank needs refilling.

The ice basket can store up to 2 lbs worth of ice at a time, giving you more than enough ice to keep your beverages cold. This makes it perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a simple dinner or a large party.

Pros

• Quick freezing time
• Easy to understand backlit control panel
• Alerts you when the water tank needs refilling
• Large ice basket storage capacity

Cons

• The operation can be noisy

10. Aicok Stainless Steel Portable Ice Maker

[img_products img_code=”71HD9TQ6YtL” alt=”Aicok Portable Ice Maker Machine” code=”B07RGS5NSD” reviews=”View on Amazon”]

The Aicok Portable Ice Maker is capable of creating up to 26 lbs worth of ice cubes in 24 hours, producing 9 cubes per 6 to 10 minutes. It has a large water tank capacity of 2.2 liters and a large ice basket than can hold up to 1.8 lbs worth of ice cubes at a time.

It also features a self-cleaning function that allows it to create pure ice cubes and allows you to choose among 3 sizes of ice cubes. With its large LCD, you can easily operate it and it even alerts you when it needs water refilling.

Pros

• Large water tank capacity
• Fast production time
• Large ice basket capacity
• Self-cleaning function
• A choice among 3 sizes of ice cubes

Cons

• Beeping alerts can’t be turned off

Buying Guide

Benefits of Portable Ice Makers

Here are some of the benefits of having a portable ice maker:

• Compact and Portable

Portable ice makers can be used anywhere you can plug it in. You can even bring them on road trips and other getaways as you can connect them to your car with a simple DC adapter.

Moreover, because they’re designed for mobility and portability, they also have a compact design so they don’t take up too much space wherever you place them.

• No Draining or Water Line Required

Unlike stand-alone ice makers, portable versions make use of all the excess water and turn them into ice cubes. They do this by recycling the melted water to make more ice, eliminating the need for a drain. Just plug it in and enjoy it.

• Quick Ice-Making Capacity

With a portable ice maker, you can make ice cubes in as little as 10 minutes. Just simply pour in water and let it do all the work. There’s no more need for inconvenient ice trays and issues with fitting them in your freezer.

How to Choose the Best Portable Ice Maker

When choosing the best portable ice maker, there are a few things you need to consider to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.

Here are some of the factors you need to take into account when purchasing one:

• Storage Capacity and Size

For this, you will need to determine how much ice you will need and where it will be located most of the time. Most portable ice makers tend to be on the smaller side size-wise since they are primarily meant to be easy to transport.

However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have options when it comes to size and capacity. If you need something more mobile and easy to carry, then a smaller sized ice maker will be enough but this might mean you compromise on the amount of ice it can make and store.

If size and weight aren’t issues, then its capacity is what you should look at. Find one that can hold as much ice as you need.

• Speed and Ice Production Capacity

Another concern would be the speed of the ice-making process. This is usually provided in how many pounds of ice it can make in a single day. If you need a lot of ice regularly, then you will need something that can produce ice in a short amount of time.

However, when considering the speed, you also need to take into account the time it takes to refill the ice maker as it requires someone to manually refill it with water.

• Costs

Portable ice makers aren’t expensive pieces of kitchen equipment but they still will cost you a bit, especially higher-end models. When buying a portable ice maker, consider how often you will be using it and whether or not it’s feasible to invest in some of the higher-end models.

Some of the factors that can affect the cost of a portable ice maker are its durability, production capacity, and other additional features.

• Extra Features

Some models have additional features that can make this piece of kitchen equipment more convenient and worthwhile. While these are simply extra, it’s still worth considering if you’re going to be investing in a dedicated portable ice maker.

Some of the extra features often found are self-cleaning function, timers, size of ice selection, etc.

FAQs Of Portable Ice Makers

1. How do portable ice makers work?

They work like traditional freezers. You fill it with water and the compressor and the fan freeze it into ice.

2. How compact are portable ice makers?

Most of them are small enough to fit on a countertop without taking too much space while still being able to hold a large amount of ice. They tend to be around 15 inches in height and width of fewer than 12 inches.

3. How fast do they make ice?

Unlike traditional ice trays, portable ice makers can make ice in a matter of minutes, allowing you to enjoy a cold beverage with less waiting time.

4. How to clean and maintain a portable ice maker?

Since they’re fairly easy to maintain, all you need to do is clean it every once in a while. Just add an ice machine cleaner to water and pour it in the reservoir.

Run it until all of the mixtures have been turned into cubes and after throwing away the cubes, run it again with only water. Discard the cubes made as well.

5. Can it be used outdoors?

Yes, it can as long as there’s an available power source. You can use a DC adapter to use your car as a power source.

Conclusion

A portable ice maker is a useful and convenient piece of kitchen equipment that gives you the ice you need without taking too much space on your kitchen counter and freeing up space in your freezer.

It is capable of making ice cubes faster than ice trays in the freezer, eliminating the waiting time which is especially convenient during parties and other gatherings. Moreover, portable ice makers are designed for easy transport, allowing you to use it even outside your home.

After all, everyone enjoys an ice-cold beverage, especially during summer.