Table of Contents
Undercounter ice makers are usually bought by people needing plenty of ice and do not wish to waste any counter space. The best ones produce good amounts of ice and are also compact enough to fit snugly under counters, which are quickly accessible. This makes it easier to retrieve ice whenever needed.
This article is also a buying guide for under-counter ice makers as we will also cover several key things to be kept in mind when looking to buy. By the end of the reading, you will be able to choose the best undercounter standalone icemaker for yourself.
Best ice makers on the market
Now we list down details of five of the best undercounter ice makers available in the market.
It is designed to produce tasteless and crystal clear gourmet ice cubes, which will look good in all kinds of drinks and melt slowly for a better experience.
Having a capacity of 65 pounds, this ice maker is one of the best for home use, commercial use, and parties. The Scotsman Ice Systems, a company that has a long history of manufacturing high quality and innovative products, make the Scotsman CU50GA. It comes with an exhaust system that is front-facing, making it easier to install under the cabinet. This could also be doubled as a standalone ice machine.
Pros.
- It has an inbuilt water quality detector that monitors the in-line wate
- It has got daily produce of 65-pounds
- You get clear and neutral-tasting ice cubes
- The design of the ice maker is of stainless steel
- This ice maker is approved to be used outdoors
Cons.
- In my opinion, the power consumption of the product is quite high
- It can get a little noisy when you make large ice cubes
This undercounter ice maker by Manitowoc is a popular one, rated highly by the customers. It features a simple yet stylish design having a sliding door which is easily accessible. It can produce 132 pounds of ice in a day, proving its speed and suitability for commercial use.
The storage bin holds an impressive 90-pounds, which is enough ice for an entire night of a medium-sized bar. This air-cooled machine is reasonably priced and can set various types of ice cubes like half, full, and dice cubes.
Pros.
- It can produce up to 132 pounds of ice daily. This makes it perfect for commercial use
- It has an easy-access glide door, making it convenient
- It has got a forward-slanting door that makes it easy to perform maintenance
- It is an energy star rated product
- You can make different types of cubes with it
- It can defrost automatically
Cons.
- Installation can be difficult if you choose to do it yourself
Many people rely on freezers for ice, but it may not suffice, especially for a party with friends or family. Ice makers like SPT IM-600US can produce plenty of usable ice in minutes. It is manufactured by Sunpentown, which is an American company. It is popular for making quality ice makers, air coolers, dehumidifiers, and similar machines since the nineties.
The brand is known to be reliable, convenient, and of good quality. The machine is quite priced quite low but still makes better ice than some ice makers costing double. The style is simple, stainless steel, and can also be used as standalone.
Pros.
- It comes with multiple accessories like a free ice scoop, a water supply line, a gravity drain line, and a removable storage bin
- It can produce a decent amount of ice, that is, about 50 pounds of ice a day
- The product produces clear gourmet ice
- It has got a nice stainless steel construction
- It automatically shuts off. This will keep your energy bill down
- It is a user-friendly ice maker
- It is a breeze to operate!
Cons.
- It requires filtered water for operatio
- Installing it yourself is not recommended
The EdgeStar IB450SS is very efficient and can produce up to 45 pounds of ice per day. It has a large storage capacity of 25 pounds.This allows you to have a good stock for an intimate gathering without running short. It has a stylish, corrosion-free, hard stainless steel body and can also be used as a freestanding ice maker.
Pros.
- It can produce up to forty-five pounds of crystal clear ice cubes
- It has got a massive storage capacity; it can store up to 25 pounds
- The product is made of a commercial-grade exterior; it is tough and durabl
- The installation is super-easy. However, it is always better to call a licensed plumber for it
- The ice maker is reasonably priced
Cons.
- Some users say it starts making some a bit of a loud noise after a while
- A handful of users are not impressed by the manufacturer’s customer service
The Maxx Ice MIM50P-O is famous for being one of the best indoor as well as outdoor usage ice makers. It can produce up to 65 pounds of ice each day with a storage capacity of 25 pounds. This is perfect for parties and picnics or a bar.
The ice maker is quite compact to fit under counters despite its huge capacity making it fit for indoor usage. The storage bin is refrigerated and then covered with thick insulation so that ice cubes remain perfectly solid even outside in the summer. It comes with an inbuilt drain pump for disposal of water anywhere desired.
Pros.
- Massive ice production capacity:You can get up to 45 pounds of ice per day from this machine
- Decent storage capacity:This Maxx Ice machine can store as much as 25 pounds of ice, enough ice to serve chilled drinks to 20 or more people for hours
- Refrigerated and insulated:This ice maker is refrigerated and insulated, making it perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. You will get no slushy ice cubes with it; everything will be solid and perfec
- Internal led lighting:The LED lighting inside this ice maker makes it easy to see what you are doing when scooping ice under the counter
- Uses energy efficiently:This Maxx ICE fridge is made with an intelligent design that uses energy efficiently, preventing power bills from going up too much
- Comes with a free stainless steel scoop
- Automatically shuts down to prevent overflow
Cons.
- Can only be defrosted manually, which is cumbersome
- Doesn’t have an internal water filter which people expect for its price
OK ...
Factors to consider before buying an icemaker
Here are the key considerations to keep in mind:
Cooling system
Ice makers use compressors like refrigerators to make ice. The cooling effect is created by the compressor system by using either air or water.
Most of the modern ice makers use air for cooling. The air inside in an air compressor ice maker is circulated within it from the outside by the use of fans and vents. The purpose of this air circulation is to bring in cooler air and remove the warm air. This process chills the compressor automatically.
Though air-cooled compressors work in an excellent manner, they consume more energy. Also, the hot air released may require more usage of your air conditioner. This could result in higher power bills.
Compressors that are water-cooled circulate the inflowing water and cool the system. After the purpose is served, the water is removed. Water-cooled compressors work efficiently, too, but need a lot of water to function. This makes them a bit impractical in usage. That is why most people prefer ice makers with air-cooled compressors.
Maintenance
The ease of maintenance of an undercounter ice maker is an important aspect to consider before buying. It is recommended to clean an icemaker every six months. The machine you buy should be cleanable by you at home.
Some of them even have maintenance or cleaning buttons which, when pressed, clean themselves automatically. If the ice maker is difficult to clean, you might have to call the maintenance guys and spend more money paying them. Therefore, pick an ice maker, which is easy to maintain.
Drainage system
Ice Makers have three types of drainage systems: Gravity drainage, pump drainage, and no drainage.
Gravity draining ice makers need a direct pipe connection to the dumping area from the unit for any waste or melted water to be dumped.
The pump-drainage ice maker has an inbuilt pump that allows water to be pumped up to a sink or a drain at a higher level or further away than the undercounter. As the name suggests, no drainage would be the easiest to use as you just need to install them and not worry about the drainage. This is the one to prefer.
Storage bin
The storage bin size obviously depends on the quantity of ice needed. For instance, a bigger storage bin will be required for a bar or a minibar, whereas a smaller one for a corner office.
A few sellers avoid indicating their bin capacity, in which case the production capacity number can be used to estimate the storage capacity. The estimation can be done on the basis of the comparison that the production capacity is usually twice the storage capacity.
Another feature of the storage bin to look out for is whether it is insulated or refrigerated. A refrigerated bin ensures that the cubes that are created remain solid for longer, whereas the insulated ones do not.
Ice quality
For some customers, the quality of ice produced matters as they want to for different purposes. Some specifically want clear ice while some want chewable ice. Some customers, on the other hand, do not really pay attention to the kind of ice as they just want ice for drinks.
So, if the quality of ice matters to you, You must look out for the details about the type of ice produced in the ice maker.
A Final Word
You must be aware of all the things to keep in mind while looking to buy an icemaker by now. We have also listed the features of the best undercounter ice makers available in the market. This will make your selection process easier and help you compare the best ones all in one place.
You must remember that the most decent undercounter ice makers do demand more than a thousand bucks. Therefore, it is essential to know the features of the ice maker you will spend your money on to make sure it fulfills all your ice needs.
