Every time our refrigerator runs out of ice, when we require them the most, we run to the convenience store to buy a pack of ice cubes. But convenience stores should choose their appliance appropriately to meet the ice needs of the customers by keeping the cost low.
Investing in an ice-making appliance will pay in the long run. But convenience stores should evaluate the quantum of space available in their stores and pick up the best appliance that will add to the looks and elegance of their store. Here are the best ice makers that we have picked carefully to enhance the business of convenience stores in making and selling ice.
How Can Convenience Stores Ensure to Supply Safe Ice for their Consumers
A large number of foodborne diseases are caused by unsafe and unclean ice that is been supplied at convenience stores. To prevent their occurrence, most of the stores install countertop ice makers to supply safe and fresh ice cubes for their customers. With this appliance in hand, they will be able to choose the right size of ice and supply them according to the needs of the customers. But they should make sure that the ice that is formed is safe for their customers. This can be done in the following ways.
The ice-making machines can deposit a layer of slime on the surface of ice cubes if they are not cleaned and maintained properly. They can also harbor mold and the ice scoop can have microbial growth to hinder the cleanliness of the appliance. Thus cleaning and sanitizing the appliances becomes mandatory.
- Cleaning should be done every week or more often if the store is located in a humid or dusty environment.
- The ice bin should be emptied first while cleaning the appliance and then the fan filter.
- All the contact surfaces that come in contact with the ice cubes, including the ice spray cups, water lines, and the ice bin requires constant cleaning and sanitizing.
- Convenient store owners should follow the frequency of water replacement if the appliance is hooked up with a potable water supply.
- Even while handling the ice, the convenience store workers should be very careful as the ice scoop alone can be a primary cause of contamination in the ice.
- They should call the manufacturer for service appointments as instructed in the manual.
In case you are interested in commercial ice machines: Best Commercial Ice Makers 2022
What Are The Best Ice Makers for Convenience Stores?
Check out: Best Ice Makers in the Market
Best Ice Makers for Convenience Stores
Convenient stores have been buying ice cubes from large factories and supplying them to their customers. They need to have the facility to stock the ice cubes, check the inventory, and supply them in the frozen state to the customers. This can be a daunting task and when there is a delay in the arrival of stocks, it will disappoint their customers as well.
How about the idea of manufacturing ice cubes in the facility and supplying the customers with freshly prepared ice? Here is where the ice makers come to play. The following are some of the best ice makers for convenience stores.
#1. Euhomy IM-F Ice Maker – Best Overall
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.4 |
| Easy to clean | 9.2 |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.8 |
| Noise level | 9.1 |
| Flavor | 9.2 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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This elegant and stainless steel finish countertop ice maker machine from Euhomy is capable of making around 40 pounds of ice over 24 hours. The appliance also has very short ice making the cycle of 12 to 18 minutes. The thickness of the ice cubes can be adjusted easily according to one’s needs. The electronic controls on the appliance are easy to use and its push-button digital design enhances the comfort of use. It is possible to set the appliance for an 8-hour delay to help with on-time ice production.
This is an excellent ice maker machine that is compact to fit in kitchen countertops. Its elegant and compact design makes it a highly attractive addition to any kitchen. By pressing the timer button for more than five seconds, the appliance will enter into an automatic cleaning function. The water tank of this appliance has a capacity of 2.2 liters and when it is full, it can run for five ice cycles, making about 120 ice cubes.
Its recycling system will melt the leftover ice cubes in the bin and use the water to form a fresh batch of ice. The appliance is equipped with highly advanced refrigeration technology and will make sure to produce high-quality ice cubes. its quick cooling system helps in saving energy and makes sure that the appliance operates pretty silent.
Read the complete review here: Euhomy IM-F
What do we like about Euhomy IM-F?
- The ice scoop helps to remove the ice easily from the bin.
- Elegant and attractive design with stainless steel housing
- Appropriate for restaurants, coffee shops, homes, offices, and parties.
- Very easy and versatile to use, clean, control, and also to transport.
What do we don’t like about Euhomy IM-F?
- The appliance should be cleaned and kept upright for the first 24 hours before making ice.
- The temperature of the water and the outside temperature affects the quality of ice that is been formed.
Check out: Best Ice Makers For Home
#2. GE Profile Opal Ice Maker – Best for Nugget Ice
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.4 |
| Easy to clean | 9.2 |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.8 |
| Noise level | 8.1 |
| Flavor | 9.4 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.5 |
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This is an excellent ice maker for convenience stores, as the nugget-shaped ice cubes are chewable and are easy to dissolve in the drinks instantly.
It is also a very compact ice maker that will be perfect to be placed in any corner of the convenience store. It is also capable of making some quick ice which is soft and crunchy that will be bought by several customers in the shops.
Being a portable ice maker, it does not require any water hook up. It requires a 120 V standard electric outlet and you will have to fill the reservoir with water to start making ice. If at you don’t remove the ice, it will melt and gets back to the reservoir to make fresh ice.
The GE Opal is capable of producing up to 24 lbs. of ice a day and its removable ice basket is capable of holding up to 3 lbs. of ice at a given time. One best feature of this ice maker is that it is compatible with Bluetooth. You can also operate the device with the help of the Profile Opal app from your smart device. It alerts the user when the bin gets full of ice.
Read the complete review here: GE Profile Opal
What do we like about GE Profile Opal?
- The ice maker is made from stainless steel and plastic and has an elegant design for convenience stores.
- Make soft, crunchy, and chewable ice cubes.
- Excellent and affordable ice makers for convenience stores.
What do we don’t like about GE Profile Opal?
- The appliance emits loud noises, especially at the end of the ice-making cycle.
Must Check: Best Sonic Nugget Ice Machines
#3. Igloo ICEB26HNSS Ice Maker – Editor’s Choice for Small Stores
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.5 |
| Easy to clean | 9.5 |
| Performance | 9.2 |
| Build quality | 8.7 |
| Noise level | 8.8 |
| Flavor | 9.4 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
Check Price on Online Stores:
This is an excellent countertop ice making machine that can produce about 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours. The appliance is capable of producing 9 ice cubes in seven minutes and comes with an ice scoop and an ice basket. This ice maker machine from Igloo is completely convenient and compact. It looks great on the countertop and produces a large volume of ice, whenever and wherever it is required. It has a two-quart water tank that has to be filled with water. It can thus be an excellent value-added addition to convenience stores.
This is an excellent automatic ice maker machine with portability features. Its self-cleaning feature makes it an excellent countertop ice maker machine. Its ice basket is capable of storing up to 1.25 pounds of ice at a time. The unit makes ice in two different sizes and can prepare 9 small or large cylinder-shaped ice cubes in less than 7 minutes. There is a carry handle that is attached to the ice maker, which makes it highly convenient to carry and transport when required.
The appliance features an automatic five-stage cleaning function, that makes it easy to clean and provides hygienic ice cubes every time. This appliance has a quick freezing time and makes every batch of ice in less than 7 minutes. The appliance has an illuminated and easy to read LED electronic panel to monitor the functions of the appliance.
What do we like about the Igloo ICEB26HNSS ice maker?
- Possible to choose the size of the ice easily and meet the needs of the customers at convenience stores.
- It has a transparent lid to view the ice bin easily.
- The basket is also removable to transfer the ice cubes
- Its drain plug makes it easy to drain water from the unit when not in use.
What do we don’t like about the Igloo ICEB26HNSS ice maker?
- Ice melts faster.
- Slightly Loud.
Check out: Best Portable Ice Makers
#4. Euhomy IM-01 Ice Maker – Great Countertop Option for Stores
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.7 |
| Easy to clean | 9.1 |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.7 |
| Noise level | 9.1 |
| Flavor | 9.2 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.4 |
Check Price on Online Stores:
This is a highly efficient and highly attractive countertop ice making machine with 26 pounds’ capacity. Its elegant design and stainless steel finish will add to the elegance and looks of the convenience stores. Being a compact ice maker, it is capable of making 9 cubes of ice ready in 8 minutes. It has the shortest ice making cycle and thus will help the convenience store managers to meet the ice demands of their customers instantly. This machine chunks out chewable ice cubes, which are great for chilling and cooling food, drinks, water, smoothies, and seafood.
The appliance is equipped with a quiet and quick cooling system that helps to save energy and also operates in a quiet environment. This mini ice maker doesn’t require permanent installation, making it highly portable and compact and to be placed anywhere in the store. The store managers will also be able to manipulate the size of the ice cubes, according to the requirements of the customers.
The appliance is extremely user friendly as it requires no specific installation. Its stainless steel body is beautiful, elegant, and easy to clean. Its control panel helps in choosing the size of ice cubes, removing ice cubes when they are ready, and also feeding water to make a fresh batch of ice every time.
What do we like about Euhomy IM-01?
- The product comes with a one-year warranty
- The LED indicator will replenish the water whenever the appliance runs out of water.
- A compact and portable ice maker that can be kept in different locations of the store.
- Transparent window to monitor the ice making process.
What do we don’t like about Euhomy IM-01?
- The appliance should be kept upright for the first 24 hours before using
- Requires using distilled water to produce transparent ice cubes.
Must Check: Best Clear Ice Makers 2022
#5. Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver Ice Maker – Great Alternative
| Features | Rating |
| Easy to use | 9.2 |
| Easy to clean | 9.3 |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.8 |
| Noise level | 8.7 |
| Flavor | 9.1 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
Check Price on Online Stores:
This is a compact and elegant ice maker machine that can be a value-based addition to any convenience store. The stores will not be able to supply ice to their customers at any time of the day with this appliance in hand. The store workers can also watch the appliance and its ice-making capacity through its large see-through window. This transparent window helps inefficient process monitoring and to check the level of the ice cubes as well.
Its efficient compressor is capable of freezing water at the lowest time possible, which is less than 6 minutes. Thus, before you complete billing your customer, the ice will be ready for supply from this appliance. It chunks out around 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours and operates pretty quietly with a noise level of 38 DB. The appliance makes use of a power of 200W and its ice basket has a capacity of 1.2 Kgs. Convenience stores can have a choice of making ice cubes in two different varieties to match the needs of the customers.
What do we like about Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver?
- Freestanding and portable ice makers for convenience stores.
- Makes ice cubes in about 7 – 15 minutes.
- Large see-through and transparent window to monitor the ice making process without opening the lid.
- The convenient drain plug helps to drain water and clean the appliance safely and quickly.
What do we don’t like about Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver?
- Ice melts quickly as this doesn’t have a refrigeration unit.
- Water drains from melted ice and doesn’t recycle to form new ice.
If you love this brand: Best Frigidaire Ice Makers 2022
Final Words
Ice makers come in a variety of sizes and designs and are made elegant and attractive with stainless steel finishing for convenience stores. As we cannot find a water line and drain pipe in convenience stores, all of them come as portable and countertop models, where the store workers have to feed in water to form a batch of ice. But these appliances work pretty quickly and meet the demands of the customers in less than 10 minutes. With these appliances, stores can supply high-quality ice cubes to customers instantly.
