Cook's Illustrated

EQUIPMENT CORNER

Countertop Ice Makers

f you’re not getting enough ice from your freezer ice maker or trays, a countertop ice maker could be a good option for you. They’re also well suited for home bars, dorm rooms, and boats or RVs. It’s important to note that these machines do not keep ice cold indefinitely because they’re not circulating frigid air as a freezer does. However, as unused ice in the collection bins melts, that water is recirculated to make more ice. Our favorite models produced ice quickly after start-up and continued to efficiently churn out cubes. They also effectively sensed when ice had melted or been removed and kicked into ice-making mode without delay. We prized uncluttered displays

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