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Is your family using more ice than what the ice tray in your freezer is generating? If this is the case, then you need to invest in the best countertop ice makers to ensure that everyone in your family can get some ice cubes whenever they need them. Some freezers and fridges do not have a built-in ice maker therefore, they use ice trays to make ice.
The ice trays give you between 6 and 18 ice cubes at a go in most cases. However, a countertop ice maker can generate between 10 and 30 pounds of ice daily. Therefore, buying a countertop ice maker is a great investment, especially if you do a lot of hosting or have a family with a lot of members. In this article, you will learn different things about countertop ice makers to help you get the best from the market.
What is a countertop ice maker?
Before going into details of how a countertop ice maker works, it is important to know what it is in the first place. This appliance is almost similar in size to a bread maker or toaster. Its compact size ensures that you can carry it from one place to another effortlessly. The appliance also saves you some floor space as you can use it on your kitchen counter. Mainly it features a finished look to accentuate the look of your kitchen. Within a day, a countertop ice maker can give you 10 to 30 pounds of ice.
How Does a Countertop Ice Maker Work?
Since a countertop ice maker is portable and can be moved from one place to another, it lacks a water line connection. Therefore, you need to fill it with water manually. Once you add water into its reservoir, it is pumped to an ice tray, located at the top of the unit through a water filter. Any excess water in the ice tray goes back to the water reservoir at the bottom of the unit.
The unit features a heat exchanger, which has 1/2 inch prongs on them. Therefore, when you turn on the countertop ice maker, the prongs are lowered into the ice tray. They get cold really fast and as a result, they freeze water in the ice tray to form ice. How long the spikes are in the water determines the size of the ice cubes. Therefore, if you need large and thick ice cubes, let the prongs stay longer in the water and vice versa is also true.
Once the proper ice cube size is reached, excess water is drained back into the reservoir. Simultaneously, there is a reversal with the heat exchanger and that makes the prongs heat up. As a result, the ice cubes detach from the prongs and fall into the ice bin. The storage bin has a sensor that detects when it is full. It triggers the shutdown function when this happens and waits for you to serve chill cold drinks or use the ice for any desired purpose.
How to Use a Countertop Ice Maker
- Let it stand upright for 24 hours after delivery before plugging it into a power supply
- Place it in a well-ventilated area
- Use a jug or any other container to pour water into the reservoir as it has no permanent water line
- Wait for at least 6 minutes for the first batch of ice to be ready
- You are recommended to throw away the first ice batch from the ice maker. However, if it is not a new product, go to step 6.
- Use the ice in the ice bin within 24 hours of its generation. Otherwise, it will melt and the water will be directed into the reservoir for recycling.
Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Step 1: Switch off the appliance and unplug it
This keeps you safe from electric shock while cleaning the unit. Then remove any detachable parts from the countertop ice maker including the ice bin and its scoop.
Step 2: Drain the water reservoir
Spot the drain plug and pull it to empty the reservoir.
Step 3: Make a cleaning solution
Use warm water and a cleaning agent like lemon juice, white vinegar, or nickel-free ice machine cleaner to make a solution in the ratio of 10:1. You can also check the manual to confirm which cleaning agent is recommended.
Step 4: Clean the interior
Wipe down the appliance’s interior walls and all the nook and crannies. Then use some warm water to rinse the interior, before wiping it dry using a clean cloth.
Step 5: Clean the detachable parts
Using a mild detergent, clean the detachable parts in the sink and place them aside to dry.
Step 6: Wipe the exterior
Dip a soft cloth into a water and cleaning agent solution. Wring it, then wipe the outer part of the appliance. Then use a clean towel to wipe it dry.
Step 7: Reassemble
Place back all the parts together in their respective places and remember to return the drain plug to its place.
Step 8: Plug it in and turn it on
Ideally, you can also clean the unit by making ice with the cleaning solution. This is how you do it;
- Pour the cleaning solution into the water reservoir
- Turn on the unit to start making ice
- After at least 6 minutes, check the storage bin and throw away the ice cubes
- unplug the appliance and empty the remaining cleaning from the reservoir
- Fill clean water into the reservoir and let it empty through the unit’s drain system
- Use clean water to make ice cubes to rinse the system
Done! You can get back to making ice with a clean appliance
Countertop vs. Commercial Ice Maker
Both countertop and commercial ice makers serve the same purpose of generating ice from water. However, they differ in size, budget, and output per day.
- Size: The countertop appliance is compact to occupy limited spaces on your countertop, making it suitable for small apartments. However, commercial ice makers are bulky appliances that are installed under the counter in different places.
- Portability: Countertop ice makers are easy to move around due to their size. Therefore, it gets easy to store them away when not in use or carry them from one room to another in the house, giving you some convenience. The commercial ice makers on the other hand are stationary and are installed in a single place because of their bulkiness.
- Output per day: Most countertop ice makers will give you between 10 and 30 pounds of ice daily. This is perfect for home use and that is why the countertop models are suitable for residential use. Their commercial counterparts on the other hand can produce between 400 and 500 pounds of ice daily. Such a huge output is suitable for busy places like restaurants and bars, which is where you will find these commercial models.
- Budget: Countertop ice makers are more affordable than commercial models mainly because of their output per day. With a budget of $1,300 to $20,000, you will find a high-quality commercial ice maker. Nonetheless, for a countertop ice maker, you need between $200 and $900 to get one of decent quality.
Places to use countertop ice makers (Recommended)
- Hospitality sectors like hotels and inns
- Residential premises
- Offices and workplaces
- Hospitals
- Sport events
- RVS
- Campgrounds and outdoors
Places to use commercial ice makers (Recommended)
- Restaurant and bars
- Health facilities
- Sport events
- Hotels, resorts, inns, and motels
Can I Leave My Countertop Ice Maker on All the Time?
If you need ice all the time or any time of the day or night, then you need to have the countertop ice maker plugged in throughout. Otherwise, once the unit is unplugged from the power source, the ice will melt and return to the reservoir in the form of water.
Do Ice Makers Stop Making Ice When they are Full?
Yes, the countertop ice maker stops ice-making once it is full. The storage bin has a mechanical arm or an optical sensor that detects when the ice bin is full. This triggers an auto shut down that stops the unit from making more ice as long as the storage bin is full.
Final Thoughts
Countertop ice makers are very popular today and you will find them in most households. You can use them right on your kitchen counter, then store them away when you are done, making them highly convenient.
The appliance is portable when you are heading out for a camp adventure or vacation due to its compact size. Therefore, if you love hosting family members and friends, you should buy one to ensure that everyone gets some ice whenever they need some.
The appliance is highly affordable as it requires $100 to $400 to acquire one and ensure that everyone in the office can take a cool drink in the hot weather and remain productive. Get one today and enjoy a cool summer!
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