Ice Machines - I want one but don’t know if I should get it

It's very tiresome filling up ice trays all the time.

Just store your vodka in the freezer, the way grandma did.

Most modern refrigerators come with an ice maker built in to the freezer compartment. Were you planning to buy a full-sized ice machine, like they have outside Motel 6? What on Earth for?

R1 hence why I want a machine. No more ice trays

?

Like a separate appliance that makes ice?

Separate from a refrigerator that can come with an ice maker?

2022 - the year it becomes so much work to fill ice trays. I mean, 2 ice trays worth of ice a day isn't enough? Are you drinking gallons of iced tea, or maybe Long Island Iced Tea?

R4 I’m happy your freezer has an ice maker. No, they don’t all have them. More don’t than do. Mine doesn’t.

Who on earth is still using ice trays? Fridges come with ice makers now, and have for many years.

Just buy a fridge with an icemaker. The cost to run a water line is negligible.

That fact that you type "lol" as an adult indicates you should not purchase anything,. Save your money for counseling.

R5 said by the person who never fills up the trays and still uses all the ice.

R8 We have a problem with very hard water where I'm at. Besides, a refrigerator with built-in ice maker is...nice.

I don't think we are answering OP's question. If you had to buy a stand alone ice-making machine for home ice-makers?

[quote]We have a problem with very hard water where I'm at.

That’s not the only problem you have.

OP watches too much QVC.

I have one in my butler pantry kitchen and I love it. I even add a scoop to the dogs bowl. I like the fancy cubes too.

[quote] Who on earth is still using ice trays? Fridges come with ice makers now, and have for many years.

And they’ve been found to be full of bacteria.

R16 slime in the ice machine!!!

R16 = Debbie Downer

It can join the bread maker, panini press and juicer in my appliance graveyard.

R16 You don't think ice from a scummy fridge machine isn't worse? One of the reasons I make ice in trays is because I know it's clean and it doesn't have that funny taste.

Ice machines built into fridges tend to have a lot of bacteria.

R19 Do you have an air fryer?

R22 my regular oven has an air fryer option. I am proud of myself for not getting one when they were all the rage but when I needed to replace the range I got one with an air fryer. I hardly use it.

R21 No

R24 Yes.

Ice machines are the finest breeding ground for Norovirus, E. coli, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, and Legionnaire's Disease.

R26 if you neglect cleaning them, which many high end ones have self cleaner now.

The refrigerator ones you were shilling for upthread are way more dangerous

R21, is there an echo in here?

I swear I just heard that.

R28 And still inaccurate!

Bless your heart, R26 you didn't read your own link!

I provided the perfect recipe for ice cubes two weeks ago, OP. Weren't you taking notes?

I have the GE profile countertop unit, and I love it.......although to keep it clean, I only use Distilled Water........about 1 gallon every three days (but I am the only one who uses ice here)........love it, love it, love it..........

I ended up buying one

Didn't Chris Burrous have one in the hotel room when he died?

That does look like a nice ice maker, R33.

My refrigerator (landlord's, actually) makes ice & filtered water, but the hose that connects it to the water source periodically springs a leak.

Ice makers are the number one appliance service call. A friend just bought a $20k True and an ice maker isn’t even an option.

I want one that makes Sonic ice. People who have them seem to enjoy them. A little luxury.

Go for it, OP. If you have the space, why not.

I’m sorry, Sonic ice?

R36 - I imagine if you are purchasing a $20k refrigerator, that your lifestyle would probably require a self standing ice maker. Maybe more than one for different types of cubes. True is commercial or for homes that are more robust than the usual residential unit.

R33 here. I bought that grey Frigidaire but now I saw the pink Igloo and want this one.

I just filled my two ice trays, and now I need a nap.

I have an icemaker in my freezer which conked out after just a few years. I didn't want to repair it - it cost as much as a new refrigerator. So I went back to ice cube trays - couldn't be happier.

I had one installed 20+ years ago and it's still putting out ice like a champ. It's the size of a dishwasher so I put it in the utility room where I keep a big chest freezer. I hate refrigerator ice makers. The ice is always gassy and cloudy. The machine I bought produces smallish square and perfectly clear cubes

Jesus! The size of a dishwasher?

Just how cold do you need your drinks?

It gets excruciatingly hot from June - August where I live. We need lots of ice. It produces a sizable container of ice, but it stops dropping cubes once it detects the container has reached a certain weight.

R32, what was installation like and does it take up an obscene amount of counter space? The GE Profile has been calling my name for almost two years but I’m not sure of how to justify spending so much on an ice maker. For now, I’m making do with silicon ice trays like a heathen but I LOVE nugget ice.

R38, Sonic is a fast-food chain that sells ice so soft, it leads to some customers buying Rte 44 cups full of ice before graduating to the 3 lb bag from the drive-thru.

Sonic ice and Marvin Zindler in one thread…beautiful.

R45 I’ve been making bags of ice and putting them in the freezer

I have one friend who buys the huge bags of clear ice and fills up a big plastic covered tote and keeps that at one end of his chest freezer. That tote will hold 2 huge bags of ice and that lasts him for many weeks.

My mother always bought the huge bags of ice r48. Now she has an ice machine and loves it. She’s always been a big ice person.

I HATE going to the homes of people who own fridges which produce cold water or ice. Whatever comes out tastes funky and just like the fridge smells, which owners can't detect as they are so used to it. Yuck! Water from the tap, no ice, thank you.

When I remodeled my kitchen a few years back I had some extra space and at the last minutes added an under counter ice maker. By far my favorite thing in the kitchen.

I love that you all live in such hot places that ice is so important to you. I just can't imagine it.

Good lord. How much ice does one need?

I have a regular fridge with no ice maker. I'm fine using trays most of the year but it's hard to keep ice in the summer when you're entertaining. I bought one of those counter top ice makers and it's great. I make several bags of ice and keep them in the freezer. I'll have plenty of ice for frozen drinks, tumblers for the pool, keeping food cold, etc. I store it on a shelf in my closet when not in use. Store bought bagged ice is good for coolers but I hate it in my drinks. I find it kills the bubbles in carbonated cocktails.

R50 I agree about the fridge ice/water. It always tastes weird. And they have a lot of bacteria.

R50 - same with me. Cold tap water, please - no ice.

As far as people's usage of ice, I know a lot of friends who have gone on the home-made smoothies and frappe kick the past few years, and they go through ice faster than the ice cubes can be made. It's a lot of ice! Then they have to up grade their 'blenders' to blades which can chop bigger ice cubes than the smaller ones. It's quite an ordeal.

OP, are you a great big drunk person?

Ok I returned the gray one I bought at r33 and bought the pink one I liked lol

I don't have the counter space. I don't even have the ice maker in my fridge/freezer hooked up and working. I just buy bags of ice. I'm sort of amazed free-standing ice makers are a thing, but I get it.

R59 I actually took it off the counter and put it on the top of this cart I have by the counter

R60, I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if it's already been asked - are you happy with the ice?