Undercounter ice makers are the perfect appliance for your kitchen. This type of ice maker is space-conscious, so it fits small spaces. Many brands and models are available on the market, so it may be challenging to choose one. It is worth it to do some research before buying one, so you get the best value for your money. We’ve got you covered!
What Are Undercounter Ice Makers?
If you are a fan of iced drinks or chilled water, then you need an ice maker. And if you are short on space, then an under-counter ice maker is the answer.
Undercounter ice makers, unlike most other types of ice makers, can be installed anywhere in the kitchen and will not take up valuable space that would serve different purposes.
They have a reservoir for storing water and come with an insulated bin or container that keeps your ice cubes fresh.
Reasons To Choose An Undercounter Ice Maker
An under-counter ice maker produces fresh ice cubes without any mess or hassle. Here are the top five reasons you should choose an under counter ice maker to help you make your decision easier.
- It doesn’t take up any counter space.
- Ice can be produced in batches or continuously.
- You don’t have to worry about dust getting into the machine with the closed design.
- It’s easy to use and operate – push a button.
- It’s inexpensive and can produce as much as 100pounds of ice per day.
10 Things To Consider When Buying An Undercounter Ice Maker
When buying an undercounter ice maker, there are ten essential things to consider:
- Cost: if your budget is limited, it’s best to buy a basic model.
- Size: there are different sizes and they’re suited for various applications.
- Look & Style: Despite being installed under a counter, most ice makers lack style. Luckily, you can get your machine in a few different colors & designs. Undercounter ice makers come in various colors and styles, with black, white, or stainless steel options being the most prevalent. There are also some ice making units that match the aesthetics of wood grain cabinetry. You can even find an undercounter ice machine in a bright color if you so choose!
- Capacity: the capacity of the ice maker is measured in pounds of ice produced per day – measure your needs and make sure you buy an appropriate model.
- Power Supply type needed: when looking at the power supply type needed, make sure you read the technical specifications carefully and make sure that the power supply in your kitchen supports it (110/120 volt).
- Drainage: Every time you make ice cubes, you will have some leftover water. This is a sign of inefficiency in water consumption. You can’t leave that water sitting around because bacteria could grow and contaminate it. That’s why drainage is important. Check to see what options are included for proper drainage.
- Water Supply: Undercounter Ice Makers need a direct correction to the water supply. The parts needed to make the connection are usually included with the purchase of the ice maker.
- Energy Efficiency: Freezing water takes up a lot of energy. If you want to be environmentally friendly or don’t want to see your energy bills shoot up, then you should check for an under-counter ice machine that has been certified by EPA.
- Water Filter: It’s important to make sure the water you use in your ice machine has no contaminants. Luckily, most of these models come with integrated filters that will remove sediment and impurities before the water turns into solid ice cubes.
- Warranty: One of the benefits of choosing an undercounter ice maker with a warranty is that it tells you the company is confident in their product. With this, you have extra assurance that your investment will be worth it. No matter what type of appliance you are planning on buying, a warranty will help ensure longevity, unless otherwise stated by the retailer or manufacturer.
Best Undercounter Ice Makers
The top 5 best under-counter ice makers include:
- Most Affordable: Euhomy Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Machine
- Best For Commercial Use: VEVOR Commercial Under Counter Ice Maker
- Best Mid-Range: EdgeStar Undercounter Clear Ice Maker
- Perfect For Basic Use: Whynter Undercounter Ice Maker
- Best For Homes: CROWNFUL Undercounter Ice Maker
- Best Brand Name: Scotman Undercounter Ice Machine
Most Affordable – Euhomy Stainless Steel Under Counter ice Machine
The Euhomy Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Machine is an excellent option for those looking for an ice maker that is easy to install and produces plenty of ice.
It also has a water filter that will give you perfectly clean and clear cubes. We highly recommend it if you want a machine that produces a lot of ice is easy to install and looks great!
If you have a large family, you’d be happy to know that it holds up to 33 lbs of cubes, together with the high-power compressor – it can make up to 100 lbs per day – making it an excellent investment for your home.
The best aspects include:
- The automatic overflow prevention. No more worrying about ice overflowing the basket.
- Smart LCD panel – easy to navigate.
- Quiet – You won’t even notice it running in the background.
- Easy to clean – has a built-in self-cleaning function (manual cleaning still recommended).
Best For Commercial Use – VEVOR Commercial Under Counter Ice Maker
The VEVOR Commercial Under Counter Ice Maker is one of the most advanced ice machines on the market. It features a large storage bin that can hold up to 350 pounds of ice at any given time, making it perfect for commercial use. It is also ETL-approved.
Highlights:
- It makes 182 clear cubes in 8-15 minutes.
- Equipped with a premium water filter for clean and clear ice.
- Easy to use touch screen LCD panel.
- It has a one-button cleaning function that cleans all pipes and trays.
Best Mid-Range – EdgeStar Undercounter Clear Ice Maker
The EdgeStar Undercounter Clear Ice Maker is designed for use in a kitchen setting. This particular model is available in two different finishes, although stainless steel is the most popular version. It can store up to 25 pounds of ice and make up 50 lbs of ice a day. This ice maker makes ice in sheets.
Things we like:
- Removable Ice Bin.
- Comes with an Ice Scoop.
- Adjustable hight.
- Easy to use controls.
- It’s a small ice maker compared to others.
Perfect For Basic Use – Whynter Undercounter Ice Maker
The Whynter Undercounter Ice Maker can store up to 12 lbs of ice, ensuring you always have enough on hand. The machine produces 23 lbs of crescent-shaped ice cubes per day!
Pros:
- Includes ice scoop
- Ice bin
- No drain installation required
- Auto shut-off when the ice bin is full
- Only makes one kind of ice
Best For Homes – CROWNFUL Undercounter Ice Maker
The Crownful Undercounter Ice Maker is an excellent machine for those looking to store ice in their homes. The ice maker is large enough to produce 100 lbs of ice per day, with an ice storage capacity of 33 lbs. It is sleek and looks great in any kitchen.
Key Features:
- Produce 100lbs of ice per day
- Stainless Steel Ice Machine with 33Lbs Ice Storage Capacity
- Quiet Operation
- Ice is Ready in 12 minutes
Best Brand Name – Scotsman Undercounter Ice Machine
Ice on-demand at the touch of a button! Scotsman is the industry leader in undercounter ice makers with years of ice-making experience.
This Scotsman Undercounter Ice Machine provides crystal-clear, slow-melting ice. It stores up to 26 pounds and makes up to 64 pounds of ice per day – all at the touch of a button!
Its user-friendly control panel tells you whether power is on if there’s no water, and when it’s time to clean your ice maker.
Best Selling Undercounter Ice Makers On Amazon
Conclusion
It’s time to ditch the last-minute ice runs and stock up, so you never run out of ice when you need it!
You can avoid running around at the last minute and potentially denying yourself an ice-cold drink on a hot day.
You can find an ice machine to suit your particular needs, be it the size you need or the budget you’re working with.
If you’re looking for an energy-efficient unit or want to find an option with plenty of storage space and without too much noise, we hope these options will fit your needs!
This article offered helpful insights into the best undercounter ice makers available.
Last update on 2023-02-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API