7 Tips for Buying a Portable Ice Maker

For a new source of refreshing ice whenever and wherever you need it, consider a portable ice maker. If you’re not sure if portable is the way to go, or which ice machine is right for you, we’ve gathered answers to some of the most common questions about buying an at-home ice maker, including seven features to look for when selecting the best one for you.

What Is a Portable Ice Maker?

A portable ice maker is a small appliance with the ability to produce a large and steady amount of ice throughout the day, all without requiring a permanent water line or installation. The ice-making process is the same as with the built-in ice maker in most refrigerator freezers or the larger undercounter ice machines. Simply add water, and the freezing trays get to work quickly to create a ready supply of ice.

You can use a portable ice maker in a kitchen or den, tiny homes or small apartments, or RVs or camping trailers, and you can even have it follow your family outside to a BBQ if the outdoor space has the appropriate electrical hookups. The portable models can be turned off, unplugged, and, like other small kitchen appliances, stored out of the way whenever you don’t need it.

Portable ice makers also don’t require draining as do their larger counterparts. With a little measuring ahead of time, you can select the best portable ice maker that can be located anywhere in the kitchen with free countertop space. Make sure to choose a model that has a footprint width and length that will fit on the countertop, as well the appropriate height to fit under upper cabinets.

Advantages of a Portable Ice Maker

If your refrigerator doesn’t have an ice maker built into it, then you may be faced with the hassle of buying bags of ice or filling up bothersome ice trays. Neither of these are great options for the long term. A portable ice machine offers a convenient alternative. You can even get a nugget ice maker to crunch on your favorite ice shapes right at home.

Having a dependable source of ice is also a common problem for RV and boat owners. When you’re out on the water or in the middle of a cross-country road trip, ice may be difficult to come by. Or perhaps you’d like to have some extra ice around the house for entertaining but don’t have a need for a permanent ice machine. A wet bar ice maker can keep any backyard party well supplied for the family’s drinks.

From camping to tailgating to boating, with only a power source and water, the scenarios in which a portable ice machine can come in handy are nearly endless. These are just a few of the ways a portable ice maker can be a great solution.

How Does a Portable Ice Maker Work?

Portable ice machines operate at the push of a button. To begin the process with a portable ice maker, you simply plug in the appliance, fill the reservoir with clean, cool, filtered water, and turn it on to let the machine work quietly in the background of your kitchen or office.

The machines have cooled trays or metal prongs that work to freeze the water into different sizes and shapes of ice. The ice then fills a storage bin that can be emptied into the ice reservoir in a freezer until it’s time to use it.

The amount of time it takes for a portable ice maker to make ice and fill up the storage tank can vary based on the type you choose, the water quality, and the condition of the machine. A single batch of ice may take between 7 and 15 minutes to freeze the cubes and drop into the portable ice maker’s storage tank. On average, portable ice makers can produce up to 35 pounds of ice every day, as well as store as much as 2 pounds of ice.

If you’re wondering if you can leave a portable ice maker on, the easy answer is that yes, you can. But keep in mind that the insulation and freezing process on a portable ice maker is not the same as that of a freezer. Once the ice has been moved to the storage bin, it is no longer being kept completely frozen and will start to soften and melt. Most ice machines will recycle that melted water into the next batch of ice, so the water will not be wasted.

7 Factors to Consider When Buying a Portable Ice Maker

So, you’ve decided that a small ice maker is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Now, it’s time to buy the best ice maker for your household or even business. To help determine whether a portable version is a good fit for you, there are a few factors to consider.

1) Ice Production

Although most portable ice makers have similar production rates, there will always be some variation between brands and models. The overall production capacity of the ice maker can range from 20 to 35 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period. If you know you’ll be using ice frequently, then a machine with a high ice production capacity will be worth considering.

Keep in mind that the storage capacity of a portable ice maker is going to be different than what it is capable of producing. The smallest portable ice maker may fit perfectly on your countertop, but the smaller size will impact how much ice can be stored, while it might have no impact on the amount of ice that can be produced over the course of the day. A countertop ice maker will require monitoring and frequent emptying every few hours in order to keep the ice from melting and reforming. Check the storage bin size of any portable ice maker you consider.

2) Type of Ice

Portable ice makers make a variety of ice shapes, and proper maintenance of the unit and the use of filtered water help keep the ice clear and refreshing. This ice has the same taste and consistency as the ice made by a traditional freezer ice maker.

Look for ice makers that produce any or all of these ice shapes:

• Bullet
• Crescent
• Cube
• Half cube
• Gourmet
• Nugget

3) Ice Size

Many machines will allow a variety of shapes with different sizes to choose from as well, from small to medium and large-sized pieces. Look for a unit that offers different ice size options. This isn’t a standard feature for most models, but there are quite a few that offer up to three options for sizes.

4) Look and Style

If your kitchen decor is important to you, you’ll want to be sure to choose a unit that flows with your existing style. Portable ice makers feature modern finishes—such as black, stainless steel, white, or bold statement colors like red—that match or update any space. For example, if you have all stainless steel appliances in your home, a stainless steel portable ice maker will harmonize perfectly in your kitchen.

5) Type of Ice Maker

There are different types of ice makers to meet the demand of your household or business. Portable ice makers are a great addition to kitchen countertops for having extra ice on hand, whether for everyday use or special occasions, but there are other types to keep in mind to make sure you’re choosing the best ice maker for your needs.

• Built-in/undercounter ice makers: Built-in or undercounter ice makers fit under the countertop and can blend in with any kitchen theme or design, while offering a larger ice production and storage capacity.
• Commercial ice machines: If you’re looking for restaurant-quality ice, larger storage capacity, and a wider variety of ice shapes and sizes, explore options for a commercial ice machine.
• Outdoor ice makers: Outdoor ice makers have a greater insulation capacity and can tolerate slightly higher temperatures to keep the ice cooler longer.

For even more tips on buying the perfect type of ice maker for your space, check out our ice maker buying guide.

6) Insulation and Storage Options

Although these are insulated, portable units are not kept frozen like ice is in traditional freezers. If you want the unit to run continuously while you’re away, make sure to choose a portable ice maker that will recycle ice water back to the reservoir. A countertop ice maker will keep ice at the ready to serve, but the ice will slowly melt if it is not used or transferred to a freezer.

With the right ice maker, the cold water left after melting will go back into the reservoir and be used to make more ice. Be sure to choose an ice storage bin capacity that will sustain the right amount of ice at a time to keep your drinks as cool as you like.

7) Innovative Features

An innovative feature that may sway your buying decision is an automatic timer function for your portable ice machine. Some portable ice maker models have the option to set ice production to either start or stop at a specific time. Like the water-use design, this also allows you to leave the unit unattended but still have ice ready to serve at the precise time you need it.

Look for an ice maker that offers the advantage of having multiple ice size and shape options to choose from. These will let you choose which ice type to make with each batch at the touch of a button. Some ice makers offer a self-cleaning feature, which can help ensure crystal-clear cubes with lots of crunch. Finally, be on the lookout for ENERGY STAR® certified ice makers to help minimize electricity consumption as your ice supply is restocked.

Tips on Using Your Portable Ice Maker

Once you’ve chosen the right portable ice maker, the key is to keep it running perfectly. We’ve collected a few easy tips to keep your investment working to produce the best-quality ice for the lifetime of the product.

Use Filtered Water

Filtered water produces the crystal-clear ice cubes you expect from an ice machine. Without it, the ice cubes come out soft and clouded from the mineral buildup. Portable ice makers do not come with water filters built in. When you use filtered water in an ice maker, the ice will come out cleaner and be more healthful to drink. It will also keep the ice maker cleaner, requiring less maintenance.

Keep It Clean

It’s important to use filtered water in an ice maker for clean water, but also to keep the machine clean. Wipe down the ice bin and water reservoir to keep the inner mechanisms as clean as possible when not in active use. This will prevent any buildup of grime or minerals that could cloud up or soften the ice cubes the machine produces.

It’s important to use filtered water in an ice maker not only for clean water, but also to keep the machine clean. Wipe down the ice bin and water reservoir to keep the inner mechanisms as clean as possible when not in active use. This will prevent any buildup of grime or minerals that could cloud up or soften the ice cubes the machine produces.

Keep It Cool

While portable ice makers have an insulated ice storage bin, they are still sensitive to the temperature of the room they’re kept in. The ambient temperature should be between 50 degrees and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for best results. This allows the machine to use less electricity and keeps the ice solid longer.

Portable Ice Maker FAQs

Portable ice makers are a fantastic option for compact living spaces or special events, but you may still have specific questions about the machines. We’ve compiled answers to the most frequent questions about portable ice makers that we’ve seen over the years.

1. Do I need a water line to use my portable ice maker?

No. Portable ice makers do not require a water line. Instead, you only need to pour water into the unit’s reservoir and turn it on in order to start the ice production process.

2. How do portable ice makers work?

Portable ice makers work like the ice maker in traditional freezers. Water is pumped into the rotating ice tray. The compressor and fan then freeze the water into ice. Finally, a warm refrigerant causes the ice to be released into the bin.

3. How quickly do portable ice makers produce ice?

Most portable ice makers drop their first cubes into the bin in a matter of minutes, whereas traditional ice trays take hours and hours to produce ice. There’s no more waiting around with a portable ice maker.

4. How small are portable ice makers?

Portable ice makers are compact enough to fit comfortably on a countertop yet large enough to hold a substantial amount of ice. Most models stand under 15 inches and have a width slimmer than 12 inches.

5. What makes portable ice makers portable?

Because portable ice makers don’t require a water line or a drain line, only a power supply, they can be taken virtually anywhere a 110-120V outlet is available.

6. How do I clean and maintain my portable ice maker?

Portable ice makers are very easy to maintain. Cleaning your portable ice maker periodically is really all you need to do to ensure it runs smoothly. To clean, add an ice machine cleaner to water and pour the mixture into the water reservoir. Run the ice maker until all of the water/cleaner mixture has been made into cubes. Discard the cubes. Run the ice maker using just water and then discard the batch again. You will also want to clean your included ice scoop regularly, like you would any utensil.

7. What is the difference between ice production capacity and ice storage capacity?

The ice production capacity is how much ice the unit can make in a 24-hour period, while the ice storage capacity is the maximum amount of ice the unit can hold at any given time. The production capacity is typically much larger than the storage capacity because the machine anticipates ice usage throughout the day.

No need to worry about the unit overfilling though; once storage capacity is reached, the ice maker will suspend ice making until some of the ice is either removed or melted. If the ice is melted, the unit will then use that water to make more ice automatically.

8. Do I need a drain line for my portable ice maker?

No, portable ice makers do not require a drain or dedicated drain line. They reuse melted ice to then make more ice. If you wish to drain the unit of water completely, there is a plug located near the bottom of the reservoir, much like a travel cooler, intended to make emptying easy and hassle-free.

9. What type of ice do portable ice makers produce?

Most portable ice makers produce what is called bullet ice, but models can produce many different shapes and sizes of ice. There are also units that produce impurity-free clear cubed ice, much like the kind typically found in restaurants.

10. Do I need a special plug or power supply to run my portable ice maker?

Portable ice makers use a standard three-prong plug that must be connected to a 110-120V outlet. A DC adaptor can be used to connect the unit to the power source in your vehicle.

11. Can I use my portable ice maker outdoors?

Yes, you can use your portable ice maker anywhere that a power source is available. Keep in mind, though, that the more extreme the ambient temperatures, the harder it’ll be for the unit to produce and keep ice.

Ice is one of those commodities that you rarely notice until it’s not there. When finding a reliable source of ice is a hassle, portable ice makers offer a fast and reliable solution. With guides like these, we hope we can help put ice out of your mind and into your glass. Cheers!