The 5 Best Ice Makers

First decide which ice you actually want. Bullet ice is quick and practical for a cooler, nugget ice is soft and chewable, and clear cubes look better in a drink. Those are different machines to clean. A countertop maker also produces ice without necessarily storing it frozen, so plan where each batch goes once the basket fills.

I would buy the simpler Frigidaire bullet-ice model for extra ice at gatherings and pay for a nugget machine only if that softer texture is the point. The Opal Mini and its side-tank variant demand more counter space and care; the Newair serves a different drink-presentation preference. Daily-output claims do not tell you how much the basket holds.