Ice can alone be the sole savior during the summer months, helping us with a steady supply of high-quality ice for drinks and water. Gone are the days, when people had to run to the convenience stores to buy bags of ice and store them in their freezer when they had special guests and parties at home.
And similarly, the days when we fill the freezer with loads of water to make ice for the next day before special parties have also become a thing of the past. The trend now is to make ice at home with the help of dedicated ice maker appliances, that are capable of making batches of ice within minutes, after we fill them with potable drinking water.
When we think of ice makers, there are generally two types of them, namely the potable or the countertop ice makers and the under-counter ice makers. The broad difference between these two types of ice makers is that the countertop or the compact ice makers are good enough to fit most of the counters and make ice instantly. But they are not capable of holding freezing temperatures and thus the ice that is formed in them will eventually melt if they are not moved to the freezer.
The under-counter ice makers have layers of insulation and can hold ice at freezing temperature for hours. They are designed to fit the bar and kitchen counter and are generally fixed and are not portable. There are also commercial ice makers and ice vending machines that serve as standalone units to render a steady supply of ice. Of all these ice maker options that are available at our disposal, the portable ice makers are truly worth it and we will discuss why in this write-up.
Why We Say that the Portable Ice Maker is Truly Worth the Cost
A portable ice maker is an exceptional appliance that allows the users to enjoy pure quality ice, without having to sacrifice too much of the kitchen space, to dedicate to a full-size freezer or refrigerator. If you are someone who loves to host parties frequently, then this kitchen appliance ensures that you always have enough ice on demand. It also helps in saving space and time and you don’t have to run to the convenience store or shops to buy ice at the odd hours of the day.
Countertop ice makers are the best choice, for light ice use. They are portable and are easy to use and great for those living in recreational vehicles. Though they are smaller than their counterparts and hold less ice they are still great for many households.
These appliances are portable and are capable of freezing the water directly without having to get connected to a drain or a water line. But the water tank of these portable ice makers has to get filled manually to keep the ice production process running. Also, as these appliances do not have insulation and cannot hold freezing temperatures, they will recycle the melted ice automatically to form a new batch of ice.
Check out: List of Best Ice Maker Machines
Advantages of Using Portable Ice Makers
The concept of making ice with the help of a dedicated ice maker unit is fairly new but has changed the way that families make ice. There are tremendous advantages of using a portable ice maker and those are as follows.
1. You Can Carry Them as You Move
The portable ice maker is capable of being transported and it can fairly work anywhere there is an outlet to plug in it. Being a compact appliance, it can easily be placed on a countertop and will not occupy much space. These appliances are great for parties, road trips, camping trips, and family gatherings and by making use of a simple DC adapter, you can plug into the car and start making ice in minutes. As these appliances are small they can be fitting in easily in the limited spaces available in the vehicle and RVs.
2. They are Capable of Making Ice Pretty Fast
The portable ice makers are capable of making ice pretty fast. While you have to wait for 7-8 hours or overnight to make ice in the refrigerator freezer, these portable appliances are capable of making ice in as little as ten minutes. You don’t have to wait for a long time to allow the water to freeze and you don’t have to think about washing and storing your ice trays before the day of the party.
3. They are Capable of Producing Ice in Large Volumes
Though these portable ice makers are small, they are still capable of making and storing large volumes of ice than you think. On average, the ice maker is capable of producing about 26 and 35 lbs. of ice over 24 hours. But though they cannot be holding this entire quantity of ice in them, they are still capable of holding about 2 to 3 pounds of ice at a time. But, as their ice basket gets filled with ice, you can transfer them into bags and store them in the freezer.
4. They are Very Easy to Use and Make Ice
Countertop ice makers are very easy to use and can be used by elders and are child friendly as well. You only have to pour ice into the reservoir of the ice maker, turn the appliance on and come to remove the ice cubes from it after about ten minutes. Even if you forget to remove the ice cubes from the appliance, it is okay, as it will melt and the water from the melted ice will get recycled to form a fresh batch of ice.
5. The Ice Maker Do Not Require a Water Line or Drain Line
The majority of the under-counter or the built-in ice makers require a floor drain to get rid of the excess water from the melted ice cubes. Thus, if you want such ice makers in your home, you would require to add a floor drain or buy a drain pump, to channel the excess water leaving. But with the portable ice maker, you don’t have to worry about all these things.
The water from the melted ice cubes will be recycled to form a fresh ice batch and thus there is no need for a drain pipe. Still, there is a drain outlet in these appliances, to drain the wastewater after cleaning the ice maker. Also, as we have to fill their reservoir with water, there is no need for a permanent water line. There is no need to hire a plumber or go through the hassles of the installation of the appliance. You only have to plug in, add water and start using the appliance.
6. You Don’t Have to Deal with the Boring Dice Ice Again
There is a general presumption that we get only a particular type of ice from the portable ice maker. But this is not true. Though most ice makers make bullet-shaped ice cubes in three different sizes, there is the appliance that forms clear and restaurant-quality ice cubes.
There are portable ice makers that form gourmet ice, crescent-shaped ice, dice ice cubes, and even ice nuggets. Thus, you don’t have to deal with the same type of ice cubes over and over again, and these ice makers are also capable of making ice cubes in three different sizes, by manipulating the controls in the appliance.
Final Words
Thus when you are designing or modeling the kitchen, include the portable ice maker as well, and be sure that it is worth investing in these tiny ice giants. It is a must to have a portable ice maker in your home if you love to entertain, you want instant access to ice, and if you have a small kitchen. These appliances can also be great for college dorm rooms, RVs, and camping essentials.
