The 4 Best Nugget Ice Makers to Get Soft, Chewable Ice at Home

This little unit packs a surprising amount of ice production power, churning out as much or more than any of the larger models on our list (40 pounds per day). Additionally, its compact size makes it perfect when you have less countertop real estate to spare, or if you want portable ice production for a backyard barbecue or camping in an RV.

Our testing found that it churns out ice fast, with the first batch in under ten minutes. Its operation is as straightforward as they come, and its cleaning is easier than most other machines, with an automatic cleaning mode that requires little effort on your part besides draining out the water that runs through the system.

All told, it’s a great ice maker for anyone who wants a no-fuss model that will look nice in the kitchen without taking up too much space. It also offers similar performance to larger, more expensive models, minus the roomy storage capacity.

Full Euhomy Smart Countertop Nugget Ice Maker Review

Key Specs

The Gevi 2.0 is the kind of ice maker you won’t mind taking up prime countertop real estate, given its polished design. The bin holds almost five pounds of ice (the largest capacity on our list), and the machine has thick insulation on all sides to keep cubes frozen for longer.

One of our favorite features is the door on the ice maker that opens to a 90-degree angle. To achieve this, the Gevi ditches the viewing window that’s present on other models, but this design choice allows you to pull the ice basket forward. This made it very simple to scoop our pellet ice once the container was full.

The instruction manual says that it takes about 15 to 30 minutes for the first cubes to form, but I noticed a couple of pellets had dropped around the 9-minute and 20-second mark. They were fairly wet to start but began forming more compactly over time and were the perfect, crunchy texture. However, it takes a few hours to get a full basket, which is tricky if you need ice immediately.

The water reservoir is kind of awkward to access with the door style, but the Gevi also comes with a hose that hooks up to your tap if you want it to fill automatically.

Key Specs

Ice makers require regular cleaning to ensure both quality ice and a long lifespan for the unit, and we found that the Silonn Nugget Ice Maker makes it easier than the rest. Most notable is its self-cleaning function, which is as effortless as it gets: Push a button to start the clean cycle, and let it do its thing. This is unlike other models that require removing a lot of parts or going through a complex series of steps. We also like that you can just toss its removable water reservoir and ice bin in the dishwasher, with no hoses or bottles to clean.

In terms of operation, it delivers most everything you want from a solid ice maker. It produces a hefty 44 pounds of ice a day, and its 2.6-pound bin holds plenty of ice for several rounds of drinks. It’s straightforward and intuitive to use—all you need to do is fill it with water—and is somewhere in the middle in terms of countertop footprint.

It does produce more noise than other popular models. Most nugget ice makers crank the volume up when actually producing ice, but this one has a noticeable hum even when on standby. For reliable ice with no-hassle cleaning, however, it’s hard to beat.

Key Specs