Stand-alone ice makers

[FireInTheWire]

So... we been rocking a countertop ice maker for the past year and a half. We have put it through the ringer. We wanna upgrade to a maker that puts out more volume. Something that will keep up enough to handle not too much stress throughout the week but, can fill a pelican cooler a couple times over the weekend.

https://www.amazon.com/Frigidaire-E...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584345025145488&psc=1

This is the one we been wearing out^^^ Would like to get maybe 4-6 times the output.

We live 40mins away from town and hauling ice is a pain in the ice. Heh

Does anyone on this site have stand-alone ice makers and good reviews?

Thanks!

Gun Zone Deals

 

[Vaquero]

Nope. We're on our second one of what you linked. They're ok enough .
In other words,
Subbed.

 

[vmax]

Sounds like you need a small commercial unit.

 

[baboon]

I spent lots of years around ice makers in the grocery stores. Produce and seafood burn through ice. Not all ice is created equally. Crushed, cubes, cylindrical they all produce a special mold in high humidity.

Before I stopped working Safeway/Albertsons bought ice bagging machines to self service ice to customers. What a phucing joke those machines were.

Last store had a twin crushed maker that never produced enough ice. We had six ice bins that we had to fill first. Then the ice maker would have another 3 worth in reserve. That never worked out right either.


At the renfest we bought ice and a lot of it. A few venders had ice makers. It was cheaper then buying. See if you can get an ice company to rent to you the storage freezers that they service first. Mr Ice took care of maintenance on his storage freezer. From what I hear they are real different animals then A/C to work on. All of the storage freezer we had on sight looked rough but ran well.

 

[Vaquero]

Sigh

 

[skfullgun]

I'm using a $98 Frigidaire. I fill it with water from my Berkey and it's enough for me, and nobody else, if I run it 3-4 hrs a day. The fridge ice-maker crapped out two-years back and the countertop unit was meant to be temporary. Well, it's still going and I ain't spending $$ I don't need to spend - except to replace all them darn guns I lost when the boat capsized in the bay.

 

[GasGuzzler]

My new refrigerator has two ice makers.

 

[toddnjoyce]

… Something that will keep up enough to handle not too much stress throughout the week but, can fill a pelican cooler a couple times over the weekend.
Thanks!

Most every squadron I was in bought commercial ice makers once we started filling 2x 5gal pumpkin coolers/day. The key is keeping them clean because the trays do tend to grow green stuff.

The best in between if you can’t find a working used ice maker from a restaurant supply store is the GE Profile Opal. It only makes nuggets (best for drinks) though they claim 24 lbs/nuggets day so you could bag your excess during week and throw it in the deep freeze to keep it ready for the weekend cooler fills.

GE Profile™ Opal™ 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank|^|XPIO13SCSS

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

 

[toddnjoyce]

Also, here’s a recent best of class review on countertop ice makers from liquor.com

The 8 Best Ice Makers in 2023

Ice makers are essential for mixing up the perfect cocktail. We researched the best options, including countertop, under-counter and commercial ones.

www.liquor.com

 

[Tnhawk]

Most every squadron I was in bought commercial ice makers once we started filling 2x 5gal pumpkin coolers/day. The key is keeping them clean because the trays do tend to grow green stuff.

The best in between if you can’t find a working used ice maker from a restaurant supply store is the GE Profile Opal. It only makes nuggets (best for drinks) though they claim 24 lbs/nuggets day so you could bag your excess during week and throw it in the deep freeze to keep it ready for the weekend cooler fills.

GE Profile™ Opal™ 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank|^|XPIO13SCSS

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

The GE Profile Opal unit does an excellent job.

 

[Texas42]

Most every squadron I was in bought commercial ice makers once we started filling 2x 5gal pumpkin coolers/day. The key is keeping them clean because the trays do tend to grow green stuff.

The best in between if you can’t find a working used ice maker from a restaurant supply store is the GE Profile Opal. It only makes nuggets (best for drinks) though they claim 24 lbs/nuggets day so you could bag your excess during week and throw it in the deep freeze to keep it ready for the weekend cooler fills.

GE Profile™ Opal™ 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank|^|XPIO13SCSS

GE Appliances is your home for the best kitchen appliances, home products, parts and accessories, and support.

www.geappliances.com

We have one and love it, but its more of a luxury of having pearl/sonic/pellet ice. I’m not sure i get 24 lbs/day. Unfortunately had to get a a new fridge, and we got a Samsung with two ice machines. “Large” and “bite sized”. It really makes a LOT of ice. I may be a little biased as our previous fridge‘s ice machine didn’t seem to make much ice.

If you are going for quantity of ice, you might look elsewhere.

 

[skfullgun]

I buy refrigerators in the $600-$700 range! That GE ice-maker costs that much!

Right now, I'm using a sxs fridge that came with the house. The ice-maker quit about two-years ago. It "pees" on the floor about once a week (a well-known issue with this model and more costly to fix than it's worth), so I have to keep a hand towel in the bottom of the freezer compartment and change it out a couple of times a week. I pull out one frozen towel and replace it with another hand towel. If I forget to do that, I'll be reminded after a week or so with the puddle of water in front of the fridge. Every once in awhile, I'm reminded about it when the dog goes over and starts to lap up the water puddle in front of the fridge.

But, it still freezes on the freezer side, and fridges on the fridge side.

I HATE the sxs design, but that is what fits in the design of the kitchen. A larger door, freezer on top, will not fit in the space without impeding use of the dining island.

Hence the countertop ice maker.

 

[gasgas]

Scotsman and manotowoc ice machine usually 35-50 pound
Really good water filters are the key to any ice machine and double the recommended cleaning procedure

 

[Tnhawk]

I buy refrigerators in the $600-$700 range! That GE ice-maker costs that much!

Right now, I'm using a sxs fridge that came with the house. The ice-maker quit about two-years ago. It "pees" on the floor about once a week (a well-known issue with this model and more costly to fix than it's worth), so I have to keep a hand towel in the bottom of the freezer compartment and change it out a couple of times a week. I pull out one frozen towel and replace it with another hand towel. If I forget to do that, I'll be reminded after a week or so with the puddle of water in front of the fridge. Every once in awhile, I'm reminded about it when the dog goes over and starts to lap up the water puddle in front of the fridge.

But, it still freezes on the freezer side, and fridges on the fridge side.

I HATE the sxs design, but that is what fits in the design of the kitchen. A larger door, freezer on top, will not fit in the space without impeding use of the dining island.

Hence the countertop ice maker.

I've got an 11 year old Whirlpool that pees on the floor. First time I saw water on floor I thought it was my dog. Since the ice maker works well I'll keep a towel in front of it.

 

[Coiled]

No matter the shape or size produced, does it have to be cubed? Block & cubed ice each have their advantages and disadvantages.

I have a chest freezer that is in part used for making block ice using stack able plastic ware. Scale up / down on freezer / plastic ware to suit your needs.

Oh, and why not invite me out to hold that precious lil Chunky monkey?

 

[FireInTheWire]

. The key is keeping them clean because the trays do tend to grow green stuff.

And this is a consideration of mine. I have young kids that are not bashful to stick their dirty hands in the ice maker. Last thing I need is another maintenance item.

That GE looks nice. That might be the one.

 

[Sam7sf]

Get a cooler and fly to Alaska.

 

[FireInTheWire]

Get a cooler and fly to Alaska.

And bring back a caribou???

 

[Texas42]

And this is a consideration of mine. I have young kids that are not bashful to stick their dirty hands in the ice maker. Last thing I need is another maintenance item.

That GE looks nice. That might be the one.

The maintenance isn’t bad. Basically make a weak bleach solution and run the cleaning cycle. Drain it add fresh water and repeat for 4 or 5 times to clean it out. I do it every couple months.

 

[leVieux]

Voice of Experience

I have been using ice makers for decades and ICE MACHINES since 1987, have owned several Manitowoc's and Scotsman models. the terminology is: MAKER makes ice and keeps it frozen; MACHINE makes ice continuously, ice is stored in a "bin" and melts while there.

If you need one inside your home, for drinks and an occasional ice chest, the Scotsman home models are quieter and make nicer cubes.

For outdoors, it is Manitowoc all the way. They are noisier and their ice is not as pretty, but they won't rust-out like a Scotsman left outdoors.

Yes, by all means use an in-line water filter.

I keep two scoops on a mat atop my machines. All house guests and kids are told that absolutely nothing except a clean ice scoop is ever to go into the bin. No hands, glasses, wine bottles, cups, beer cans, etc. NADA. Violators face immediate execution. So far this has worked.

To clean, I turn them off and let them dry out, then wipe them inside carefully with damp then dry paper towels. If you have the local rep's "clean & service", the costs are around $250 per. My cleaning method has worked well, co-far.

I ran three in my home at Brownsville and three at my beach house. Now, too old for offshore, so we only run a 40# Manitowoc at our home now.

The "pounds capacity" ratings are sort of misleading, as they will generally make that amount of ice every a to 6 hours IF unloaded. On Galveston Island, with three relatively small units running, I could have 350+ #'s ice ready to go offshore on Saturday morning, by regularly emptying them into large ice chests starting Thursday evening.

Hope this is helpful.