Anybody use one of those little portable ice makers?

[Darrell KSR]

For a family of six, I find the refrigerator ice maker sometimes can't keep up with demand. I like to do things like throw water bottles in a small ice chest in the back of my car and dump ice on it so I always have cold water if and when needed.

We all drink a lot of water and have daily needs in the summer to fill up small ice chests, large water containers (soccer practice and soccer camps alone), etc. And forget about taking an ice chest on the deck while grilling, or working in the yard, etc.

So I have been looking at these small portable ice makers. I see they make about 27 pounds of ice a day. (My brand new large refrigerator freezer specs say it makes 9.0 pounds a day).

Problems - the small ones that are portable and don't require a water line require you to fill it with 1/2-1 gallon of water at a time. When they make ice, it dumps into a bin that is not refrigerated, so the ice is kinda "melty." it fills up fast, so it will require dumping into the freezer, or ice chest or something pretty regularly - maybe filling up in 90 minutes or so?

I think it is worth it to me, given my needs, but wondered if any of you had any experience with these. And I'm talking the $100-150 kind, not the more expensive one that is more like a commercial ice maker.

[KeithKSR]

Capacity may be limited to far less than the 27 pounds, some only hold 1.5 lbs of ice. Unless you are constantly emptying the machine it may not fill your needs.

[PedroDaGr8]

In case you didn't know, McDonalds sells 8-lb bag ice for around $0.99 (some are higher at $1.49) much cheaper than most grocery stores (at least around me).

As for the counter-top style ice makers, one went on sale recently and has some dicussion at slickdeals:
http://slickdeals.net/f/8786475-igloo-compact-countertop-ice-maker-84-free-shipping?src=SiteSearchV2Algo1

[Darrell KSR]

Pedro, that Slickdeals is actually the reason I was checking here to see if anyone had any experience with them. I'm trying to picture how this would go on a daily basis.

I'm thinking that I turn it on to make ice when I get up in the morning. I dump ice in my small cooler as I am leaving for the day. It continues to make ice, and it makes ice for kids' activities later that morning. I often work at home in the morning and leave at lunch time, so I can even flip the order at some point. Occasionally, I can let it run all day making ice and dump it into bags or containers and put it in the deep freezer for future needs. All of that may provide some relief for the normal use of the refrigerator ice maker.

Keith, I think it would have to be emptied as it filled up every 90 minutes or so, or use the ice. Thinking that would work with our activities and how we would use it, but I was wondering if anyone has actually experienced it. It won't make a 27 pound bag of ice, but instead make a batch of ice that is close to the same batch made in the refrigerator ice maker at one time. The difference is it makes it much quicker than the refrigerator, so it can continue making ice more quickly. Is the "convenience" worth the trouble?

That's the question.

My solutions so far are to get a bag of ice at Walmart or the gas station periodically (great tip on McDonald's, Pedro), and to bring home ice from my office's built-in ice maker in the kitchen. Or run out of ice. I've done each pretty equally.

[KeithKSR]

If you have a chest or upright freezer you can store ice made with one of the smaller machines to compensate for the output on high demand days.

[CitizenBBN]

Won't help you but that reminds me I have to order our new icemaker. our old under counter Scotsman made outstanding ice, but it finally wore out. They're a little finicky as machines go but they do make outstanding, clean ice.

I haven't tried the portable ones. THe scotsman ones spray water up and it freezes, I assume the small ones fill trays and drop. not as clean but WAY more reliable. I wouldn't recommend a spray style for a small operation.

[dan_bgblue]

May not be something you would consider, but I spotted a used one of these http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-[KUIC18PNZS]-404928/KUIC18PNZS/ On craigslist in Montevallo, AL for $400.00. Can be free standing or mounted under counter. Specs say it will produce 50 lbs of ice in 24 hours.

[KSRdallen]

May not be something you would consider, but I spotted a used one of these http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-[KUIC18PNZS]-404928/KUIC18PNZS/ On craigslist in Montevallo, AL for $400.00. Can be free standing or mounted under counter. Specs say it will produce 50 lbs of ice in 24 hours.

Dan, we have almost that exact model in our house. The previous owner had it installed. It's a workhorse and does a great job. We've only tested the limits of it once when we had a two-hour reception for about 30 people. We had ice the entire time and didn't come close to running out. The only issue we've had with it is that once the drain line was clogged. The appliance folks who've done work for us before came out to check it out and took care of the problem.

D, I highly recommend this as an option.

[Darrell KSR]

Appreciate the alternatives, but no room. Has to be the smaller portable or not at all.

Sitting here with no ice and have one child in Atlanta, and did not fill a small ice chest with ice for my water today, nor did I fill one for grilling. Just normal use ran it out (my son did fill up a small Bubba cooler thing he uses when he does soccer, but nothing else).

We are water drinkers and ice consumers. We don't need an additional 27 pounds of ice a day, but an additional 9 during the summer? Yup.

My fault. Ran to the office earlier today for a short trip, and should have brought ice home, but forgot.

[CitizenBBN]

room addition in order? :)

If it doesn't work for you it doesn't, but like Dallen I'm a big fan of the under counter dedicated machines. I have to get a new Scotsman but that one I bought second hand and it lasted nearly 10 years. for $400 that's a steal. I've found new ones for $1,500, will probably have to do that this time,I had months to bargain shop the last time.

That all being said, I"m betting the small units you're discussing aren't all that different from the under counter units. Even the scotsman is a simple design, I could see how you could run it off nothing more than a reservoir on top and power. The thing that wore out on mine was the pump for the drain system, those won't need one b/c they probably use a tray design like a regular fridge.

[Darrell KSR]

I could probably put one in the garage, I guess. But the kitchen just doesn't have space for it. I'm contemplating moving the portable thing in and out of the kitchen by season as well. You know I always have peculiar needs. ;)

Seriously, we're sitting tight in this house until high school graduation (3 years); do little to no "entertaining" that would require anything extra, so I'm just looking for something "extra."

Right now the immediate solution is turn down my freezer to -6 degrees from 0 that it's normally set at. That should help it freeze more quickly and increase the output slightly. Not much of a solution, just a quick bandaid.

[Darrell KSR]

2nd "quick fix" -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INV51ZM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=22EKFFSH55H5N&coliid=I2D95ZW7M4TZVH

and office ice maker.

[KeithKSR]

You may have to use better coolers that keep ice longer. Get a Yeti or equivalent. They will keep ice for days. http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/boatinglab-tests-top-shelf-coolers

[Darrell KSR]

That's a thought. I don't really use any coolers (other than the small one for my daily car use) now.

Still doesn't solve the problem of inadequate amount of ice--9 pounds a day in my house isn't enough for 6-person consumption, though. I'd have to piggy back getting ice from my office (which is ok, but not ideal), then dumping it in the coolers. And if I'm going to do that, I guess I could just as well put it in the chest freezer in the garage.

So I'm really back to needing more ice production.

You guys are helping me sort it out. I may be unhappy with my solution, but I know for sure I'm not seeking a solution without a problem; it's definitely a problem for me.


You may have to use better coolers that keep ice longer. Get a Yeti or equivalent. They will keep ice for days. http://www.boatingmag.com/gear/boatinglab-tests-top-shelf-coolers

[dan_bgblue]

OK here is my very low tech solution to your problem. Make a dedicated space in the chest freezer to stack these...http://www.amazon.com/Rubbermaid-Easy-Release-Cube-Tray/dp/B000VPBKYO. Buy about 20 of them and each family member is responsible for refilling the ones they empty and replacing them into the freezer on the bottom of the stacks. All of the trays should freeze solid in about 4 hours for the first run, then the replacements much quicker than that each time.

[dan_bgblue]

by the way, if you do not really like your tap water, there is a benefit to buying pure filtered water. Pure filtered water freezes quicker than tap water. I am not sure how much quicker. Probably not a lot but maybe 5-10 mins for a tray would be a reasonable assumption.

[CitizenBBN]

I don't even have to click, I presume those are going to be ice trays. It would be such a "Darrell" solution. Simple but effective.

That could work great. He could put the reminders to refill them on his Palm Pilot. ;)

[dan_bgblue]

Hehe, I actually got a chuckle out of that

[CitizenBBN]

Or he could go REALLY old school, I sell these periodically:

https://img0.etsystatic.com/000/0/5759249/il_570xN.315908534.jpg

I think I can also lay my hands on:

http://image0-rubylane.s3.amazonaws.com/shops/mrbeasleys/KYx2e2855.1L.jpg

Then he just needs a company there locally that supplies:

https://thesilverpeopleheritage.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/ice-blocks02.jpg

[Jeeepcat]

We go one on amazon for the rv. The production is awesome, but don't expect it to store ice worth a #&!&

So, we dump it, bag it and throw it in the freezer.

[Jeeepcat]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UUCFEEU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Darrell KSR]

We go one on amazon for the rv. The production is awesome, but don't expect it to store ice worth a #&!&

So, we dump it, bag it and throw it in the freezer.
That's what I figured. Sounds like you dump regularly if you want to have any ice.

I'm sitting at soccer practice and we're out of ice again, and I have to get a solution.

Dan, the ice trays probably make sense too. But I think I'm going to try this solution. I floated the balloon past Mrs. Darrell as we ran out of ice, telling her that what I wanted for birthday or father's day. She replied as I anticipated, that we have no room.

I suggested a different location than she expected, in the dining room/office, where there is a cubbyhole entrance to the kitchen, and she did not object.

(I will probably hear later that she didn't say it was OK, but I heard enough for me to have plausible denial of a rejection.)

[HerbTarlek]

Get a mixing bowl, fill it with water, freeze it, then bust the contents apart with a hammer or ice pick. Repeat nightly or as needed. Done.

[Darrell KSR]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UUCFEEU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Jeeep, this is the one I ended up with...arriving Monday.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/IGLOO-26-lb-Freestanding-Ice-Maker-in-Silver-ICE102C-SILVER/203474233

It has decent reviews--some hit, some miss, as many/most of these are--and rather than pay $103 for it, I paid $82.39. For $80, I figured it was worth the try.

[Darrell KSR]

Man, that thing is cranking out the ice. Have dumped one full bucket out in 90 minutes. Not as much as fridge ice maker, but maybe 2/3rds as much. I can see this coming in handy.

[dan_bgblue]

Cool. It is great when a plan comes together

[Darrell KSR]

Temporary only. Don't celebrate the success yet. Wife hasn't approved location, which could severely hamper usage. Working on it.