The Frigidaire EFIC103 is by far the best way to form quick, simple, and high-quality ice on the go. The brand brings in its years of experience in manufacturing these high-end ice makers. One key feature of this appliance is its oversized ice basket which has a capacity of about 2.2 pounds. This is perhaps one of the kind in the entire ice-making technology. The appliance is also pretty simple to use, as all that the user needs to do is to fill in the reservoir with water, push a couple of icons and keep making huge volumes of ice.
Frigidaire EFIC103 Ice Maker Review 2022
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.3 |
| Easy to clean | 9.5 |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.8 |
| Noise level | 8.7 |
| Flavor | 9.3 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
Opinion by Sara Wilson
EFIC103 is a quality ice maker for homes and small offices. Performance is pretty good, it’s easy to use and super easy to clean, although do check for manufacturing defects, if it’s working fine, then you have a great countertop machine to fulfill your ice-making needs.
Specifications
- Dimensions of the appliance: 14 x 12 x 15 inches
- Compact and can be placed on the countertop
- Item weight: 24.7 pounds
- The capacity of the appliance: 26 cubic feet
- Installation type: Countertop
- Color of the ice maker: silver
- Required voltage: 120 volts
- Accessories: Comes with ice basket and shovel
The Exterior Design of the Ice Maker
This ice maker is similar to many other countertop ice makers and comprises a large stainless steel box with a blacktop. The lid of the appliance is transparent, allowing us to view the level of the ice that is been formed and stored in its basket. The appliance features a stainless steel surface and blends perfectly with the rest of the kitchen appliances. It weighs about 25 pounds and is still portable. If the appliance is been moved to a new location, then it is recommended to allow the appliance to settle before plugging in the socket.
Check out: Best Portable Ice Maker Under $200
The Performance of the Frigidaire Countertop Ice Maker
This ice maker appliance comes as a perfect solution when we run out of ice in the refrigerator. This is also an excellent machine for ice lovers, as it is capable of producing large volumes of ice cubes in a day, similar to the commercial appliance, but is still compact and can be stored on the kitchen countertop.
Also, its amazing ice-making capacity thrills its users as it is capable of chucking out a fresh batch of ice in less than eight minutes. If the appliance is made to run for an entire day, then it can produce about 26 pounds of healthy bullet-shaped soft and chewable ice, good enough to chill your water can and drinks. Buying this appliance from Frigidaire is an additional advantage, as it has a long history of producing high-quality coolants and condensers with tremendous customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
The appliance doesn’t come with a draining function. But it is still recommended to replace the water in the reservoir for at least 24 hours, to drain and dry it completely. This can help a great deal in preventing the formation of mold and mildew.
Must Check: Best Ice Makers For Home
Quality of the Ice Produced in this Appliance
The Frigidaire EFIC103 countertop ice maker features a freestanding design and forms ice in just 8 minutes. Though it takes less time, the ice that is been formed in this machine is thick and solid.
The first batch of ice that is formed is a little smaller, and it improves in size with subsequent batches. The ice that is been formed in this machine is thinking and long. And these robust ice cubes linger in the drinks for a long time, without getting melted away. Thus, it chills the drinks efficiently, without altering the taste of the drinks.
Also, the ice cubes are chunky, and thus two batches of ice were good enough to fill a big glass. The appliance forms only 9 ice bullets in each cycle, but still owing to the volume of the ice formed, they can quickly fill a pint glass.
Ease of Use of the Appliance
Though it is a portable countertop ice maker, it does require a decent quantum of space on the countertop. But it is still simple to use, as it requires only 115 volts of power and makes use of 15 cups of water to form a fresh batch of ice every day. The appliance starts automatically and takes about eight minutes to form hollow and bullet-shaped ice. The appliance works quietly but makes its characteristic noise while pushing the formed ice into the basket. Its fan sound is a bit noisy but is capable of blending easily with any background noise.
Check out: List of Best Ice Makers
Control Panel
Its control panel is basic and features a push-button control panel at the front. Still, it is good enough to accomplish the job as there is an on and off button and a select button to choose the size of the ice cubes. There are indicators to denote if the ice is ready and if the appliance requires more water. There is a timer option at the control panel that allows the users to delay the start of the ice maker and can be used to set the ice maker off as well. There is also a self-cleaning function, which helps the appliance to clean itself when run with vinegar mixed with water.
Ice Basket and Insulation
The appliance comes with a convenient ice basket to store the formed ice cubes, and the bucket that holds the ice sits well above the reservoir, allowing the water from the melted ice to drip back into the reservoir, to form a fresh batch of ice.
Yet another unique feature of this appliance, which is not present even in high-end ice makers is its insulation. As the appliance is well insulated, it keeps the ice from melting too fast. But the outside temperature determines the quality of ice produced in the appliance. If the appliance is put in the hot sun and exposed to the sunlight directly, then it affects the quality of the ice. The best way to maintain the integrity of the ice is to store them in the refrigerator.
Pros & Cons of Frigidaire EFIC103
What do we like about Frigidaire EFIC103?
- This ice maker is capable of producing the first batch of ice in less than six minutes
- It is capable of producing about 26 pounds of ice in a day
- It is possible to choose between three ice sizes, namely small, medium and large.
- The appliance is easy to control with its electronic control panel and LED indicators
- Lightweight, portable, and easy to carry around.
- Easy ice-making process, that renders ice at the fingertips.
- This ice maker appliance features high quality and a durable stainless steel body
What do we don’t like about Frigidaire EFIC103?
- The ice that is formed in this appliance seems to melt pretty fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this ice maker appliance portable?
This appliance is compact and features a stylish and contemporary design, that makes it easy to transport and also stylish to display. It is extremely portable and is great for small kitchens and use in other compact spaces such as boats, recreational vehicles, dorm rooms, and a lot more.
Is it available in different colors to blend with the home décor?
The model of these ice makers is available in a range of sizes, colors, and finishes to fit in seamlessly with the existing décor of the room. The appliance also features see through the window and durable exteriors, enhancing the aesthetics of the appliance to many folds. The unique models of the Frigidaire ice makers undergo complete stainless steel treatment, and even the lid of the ice makers is made of complete stainless steel.
What is the type of ice that this appliance forms?
The EFIC103 is an excellent clear ice maker from Frigidaire, that is capable of producing clear and square-shaped beautiful ice cubes. The ice cubes are clear and are not cloudy, and thus chill the drinks completely without altering their taste and quality. It is great for making chilled juice, drinks, cocktails, and mocktails.
Is this appliance ready to work just out of the box?
The appliance is also very easy to use. Users only have to plug in the appliance to the power adapter and connect the water line to get high-quality ice cubes in just 6 minutes. However, leave the appliance to stand alone for 6 hours after unboxing to allow the refrigerant to settle down.
Is this ice maker appliance energy efficient?
This ice maker appliance is non-polluting and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or Freon. This appliance is also highly efficient on power and features a highly efficient compressor cooling system. The appliance doesn’t make use of any chemical refrigerants and thus it is environment friendly and pocket friendly as well.
What is the total volume of ice this ice maker appliance produces?
The appliance is capable of producing about 9 cubes of ice every 7 to 15 minutes so that a drink is ready to go at all times. This is an amazing stainless steel ice maker that is quite powerful and is capable of producing about 26 lbs. of ice in a day. Its oversized ice storage basket of this ice maker appliance is capable of storing about 2.2 lbs. of ice at a time.
What are the controls in this appliance for?
The appliance has intelligent controls that aid us to use it efficiently. Its fully automatic control systems with advanced microcomputer help in easy and convenient ice making. There are indicators in the control panel to indicate when the appliance runs out of water and when it is time to remove ice from the basket.
What are the accessories that come with this ice maker?
This ice maker comes with a large ice bucket to store more than two pounds of ice at a time and a strong scoop to remove ice cubes as required. There is a water draining port at the bottom of the appliance that helps to safely and quickly drain the water from the unit for easy cleaning and maintenance.
Does this appliance have an auto shut-off feature?
The appliance has automatic and built-in safety guards that shut down the system when the appliance runs out of water to prevent accidental damage to the appliance. There are also automatic auto shut-off features to prevent the ice cubes from overflowing off the bin.
How loud is this EFIC103 ice maker?
It runs extremely quiet at just 38 DB, without affecting other home functions. You can even keep it in your bedroom and have a good night’s sleep without getting disturbed by its functioning and get up in the morning to have a bin full of water.
Should I use filters on this ice maker?
This is an expert ice maker that is capable of chunking out clear ice at home, without having to use filters and distilled water. Make sure that you feed it with good and clean water.
Alternatives of Frigidaire EFIC103
Here are some of the best alternatives to Frigidaire EFIC103 that offer quality features at a reasonable price.
- FRIGIDAIRE EFIC452-SS Ice Maker
- HOmeLabs Chill Pill Ice Maker
- Euhomy IM-F Ice Maker
- Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver Ice Maker
Final Verdict
The Frigidaire EFIC103 countertop ice maker is an excellent addition to a home where there is a huge demand for ice every time. The appliance is capable of producing about 26 pounds of ice every 24 hours and is capable of freezing a batch of ice in less than 8 minutes. The ice nuggets that are formed are solid and thick and are good enough to chill drinks without altering their taste.