We were pleased with this model’s large ice bin capacity and consistently shaped nugget ice. Its recirculation system also functioned well, ensuring that we had fresh ice at all hours, and it did a good job at keeping ice cold. It was slightly slower than the other nugget makers but still made more than 1 pound of ice per hour, and we liked its straightforward controls. Its auto-clean function also worked well. But it was among the heavier machines in our lineup, and it was especially cumbersome to unpack and set up due to its unbalanced shape. This product has been recalled.

This attractive model had the ice-making chops to earn its large footprint. It was fairly fast, cranking out nearly 1.5 pounds of ice per hour once it got up and running, and we were impressed by its perfect nugget-style ice. It was heavy and solid, so unboxing and lifting it was difficult, but setup and cleaning were otherwise straightforward. We liked its drain hoses, which funneled water into the sink without us having to move the machine too much, making occasional cleanings easier. It uses a single touch-screen button and indicator light on its front for most functions, which we found difficult to interpret at times. We also spilled ice out of its front-tilt ice bin every so often when scooping.

Using this spendy model was a luxurious experience. It was among the most efficient models we tested, producing just over 1.5 pounds of crisp, clean-tasting nugget ice per hour. Its thoughtfully designed side tank was easy to install, and its straightforward self-cleaning mode functioned well. We also liked this model’s controls, which employed a few touch-sensitive buttons and LED light bars to clearly communicate the machine’s status and switch between cleaning and production (and operate the ice bin’s light). It was heavy, bulky, and expensive, but it would be a beautiful addition to any nugget-ice aficionado’s home bar. It also connects to Wi-Fi to allow scheduling cycles from a mobile app or a virtual assistant, though we didn’t think this added much value.

This model was the fastest we tested, making nearly 2 pounds of ice per hour once up and running. Though it was big and heavy, it had convenient handles for transport that made it surprisingly portable and easy to set up. We liked using the simple controls to toggle between ice sizes or turn on this model’s effective self-cleaning function. Its recirculation system worked optimally to collect and refreeze runoff. We just wished its drain plug had a better design; it was awkwardly perched on the side of the machine and we had trouble unscrewing the bolt.

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Most models were capable of making ice in multiple sizes. For bullet-style ice, cubes of different sizes had the same width but varied in length, up to about ½ inch. Square cubes retained the same external dimensions, but the cubes from smaller size settings were hollow, and larger settings were solid. Larger cubes took longer to make but didn’t melt as quickly. We thought the size settings were a nice plus but not an essential feature.

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We were pleased with this model’s large ice bin capacity and consistently shaped nugget ice. Its recirculation system also functioned well, ensuring that we had fresh ice at all hours, and it did a good job at keeping ice cold. It was slightly slower than the other nugget makers but still made more than 1 pound of ice per hour, and we liked its straightforward controls. Its auto-clean function also worked well. But it was among the heavier machines in our lineup, and it was especially cumbersome to unpack and set up due to its unbalanced shape. This product has been recalled.

This simple model was lightweight and portable, and we liked that it had a straightforward control panel and was fairly easy to set up. We also liked that it began making ice fairly quickly, but its total output over time was small, even for a compact machine. Its ice cubes were also consistently smaller and melted quicker than those from the other compact, bullet-style makers we tested. Its self-cleaning cycle was effective, but it took a whopping 30 minutes. The machine also didn't indicate when the cleaning process was complete.

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While nugget ice can be useful for serving many mixed drinks, you might want to check out our review of dedicated ice molds for cocktails.

This model produced large batches of ice very slowly, and we wished it would produce smaller batches faster. We had a hard time pouring water into its small reservoir opening and found its poorly placed rear drain plug difficult to use. Its complicated display screen showed a mystifying jumble of numbers and symbols, and we were put off by its lack of an automatic cleaning function. As with the other square ice maker we tested, we had to manually break up the ice after every cycle, meaning we couldn’t just leave the machine alone or it would become increasingly difficult to separate the mass of ice into usable cubes.

This model was the fastest we tested, making nearly 2 pounds of ice per hour once up and running. Though it was big and heavy, it had convenient handles for transport that made it surprisingly portable and easy to set up. We liked using the simple controls to toggle between ice sizes or turn on this model’s effective self-cleaning function. Its recirculation system worked optimally to collect and refreeze runoff. We just wished its drain plug had a better design; it was awkwardly perched on the side of the machine and we had trouble unscrewing the bolt.

This model was efficient for its small size, capable of making just under 1 pound of ice every hour and depositing its first ice batch within 8 minutes of being turned on. Its convenient handle—similar to that of a cooler—combined with its lightweight build made it more portable than any other machine we tested. It did an acceptable job of keeping ice cold, and it recirculated water well to make sure there was always ice on hand. We also liked the distinct difference in ice size options it offered. We were impressed by its simple, clear controls and indicator lights, which allowed us to check its status at a glance. Best of all, it was the only compact model to have an efficient self-cleaning cycle, making routine descalings extremely easy.

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We especially liked this model’s relatively large ice and speedy production cycles, which made about 1 pound of ice per hour. We also liked its small footprint and simple, straightforward controls. We were frustrated by its lack of an automatic cleaning option, since manually cleaning the hard-to-reach components was tedious and didn’t feel thorough enough. We also found its drain plug especially difficult to remove, a small but important quibble.

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This model produced large batches of ice very slowly, and we wished it would produce smaller batches faster. We had a hard time pouring water into its small reservoir opening and found its poorly placed rear drain plug difficult to use. Its complicated display screen showed a mystifying jumble of numbers and symbols, and we were put off by its lack of an automatic cleaning function. As with the other square ice maker we tested, we had to manually break up the ice after every cycle, meaning we couldn’t just leave the machine alone or it would become increasingly difficult to separate the mass of ice into usable cubes.

We especially liked this model’s relatively large ice and speedy production cycles, which made about 1 pound of ice per hour. We also liked its small footprint and simple, straightforward controls. We were frustrated by its lack of an automatic cleaning option, since manually cleaning the hard-to-reach components was tedious and didn’t feel thorough enough. We also found its drain plug especially difficult to remove, a small but important quibble.

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This midsize ice maker produced an acceptable amount of ice per hour, but it was slow to get going and difficult to use for a few reasons. We found its controls to be too simple and thus hard to interpret; there was no confirmation that we had successfully toggled between ice sizes. It deposited ice in its collection bin in solid sheets instead of separate cubes, forcing us to hover over it and break up the ice with a scoop as it worked, lest the bin fill up too quickly with an unbreakable stack of ice sheets. We also spilled every time we poured water into the small opening at the top of the reservoir, and the drain plug was in an inconvenient spot at the back of the machine. It didn’t have a self-clean feature, and proper descaling would require complicated disassembly.

This midsize ice maker produced an acceptable amount of ice per hour, but it was slow to get going and difficult to use for a few reasons. We found its controls to be too simple and thus hard to interpret; there was no confirmation that we had successfully toggled between ice sizes. It deposited ice in its collection bin in solid sheets instead of separate cubes, forcing us to hover over it and break up the ice with a scoop as it worked, lest the bin fill up too quickly with an unbreakable stack of ice sheets. We also spilled every time we poured water into the small opening at the top of the reservoir, and the drain plug was in an inconvenient spot at the back of the machine. It didn’t have a self-clean feature, and proper descaling would require complicated disassembly.

Every model we tested made some amount of noise as it circulated water and produced ice, but some were quieter than others. The ambient noise of most models was no more than that of a standard dishwasher, but you will hear ice falling into the bins. Smaller pieces of nugget ice made a lot less sound when they were deposited, as opposed to the loud clanks of bullet or square ice cubes.

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Cleaning your ice maker is extremely important to prevent mold growth or limescale buildup, especially in areas with hard water. A dirty ice maker can also impart off flavors to ice. The best answer to this question is “as often as you can,” but we think the most realistic answer is about once a month. Machines with self-cleaning cycles make the process nearly hands-off. Simply fill the reservoir with the recommended cleaning solution and then start the self-cleaning cycle, which circulates the liquid and descales the machines’ internal components. Then drain the machine and repeat the cycle with clean water before switching it back to ice-making mode. Be sure to read your device’s manual to determine what cleaners to use: Bleach, vinegar, or dedicated descaling solution are common suggestions.

All of the ice makers we tested start the ice-making process in a somewhat similar way: They use refrigerant to chill ice molds to extremely cold temperatures. It varies after that. For bullet ice, water flows into bullet-shaped ice molds. Freezing-cold metal rods are inserted into the water-filled molds. The water freezes within minutes, and the rods are extracted, leaving behind a hollow cylindrical center in each piece of ice. In square ice makers, water flows continuously over a supercooled metal grid, and ice slowly accumulates until the grid is frozen solid. Then there’s nugget ice, which is made using a single large metal cylinder. Water flows into the base of the freezing cylinder and starts to freeze against the metal. Meanwhile, an auger turns inside the cylinder and shaves the accumulating ice into flakes. The auger pushes the ice flakes up the cylinder, which compresses the ice into a compact yet flaky mass. The auger then forces the laminated ice mass through small holes, creating rods of crunchy ice that are pushed into a flat metal disk that breaks them into nuggets.

This simple model was lightweight and portable, and we liked that it had a straightforward control panel and was fairly easy to set up. We also liked that it began making ice fairly quickly, but its total output over time was small, even for a compact machine. Its ice cubes were also consistently smaller and melted quicker than those from the other compact, bullet-style makers we tested. Its self-cleaning cycle was effective, but it took a whopping 30 minutes. The machine also didn't indicate when the cleaning process was complete.

Using this spendy model was a luxurious experience. It was among the most efficient models we tested, producing just over 1.5 pounds of crisp, clean-tasting nugget ice per hour. Its thoughtfully designed side tank was easy to install, and its straightforward self-cleaning mode functioned well. We also liked this model’s controls, which employed a few touch-sensitive buttons and LED light bars to clearly communicate the machine’s status and switch between cleaning and production (and operate the ice bin’s light). It was heavy, bulky, and expensive, but it would be a beautiful addition to any nugget-ice aficionado’s home bar. It also connects to Wi-Fi to allow scheduling cycles from a mobile app or a virtual assistant, though we didn’t think this added much value.

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You're probably better off sticking with a standard freezer-based ice tray. Read our review of the best ice trays on the market.

These griddles boast a sleek, smooth surface that makes cooking a breeze. Plus, they come in a range of sizes, from 24 to 48 inches in width.

This attractive model had the ice-making chops to earn its large footprint. It was fairly fast, cranking out nearly 1.5 pounds of ice per hour once it got up and running, and we were impressed by its perfect nugget-style ice. It was heavy and solid, so unboxing and lifting it was difficult, but setup and cleaning were otherwise straightforward. We liked its drain hoses, which funneled water into the sink without us having to move the machine too much, making occasional cleanings easier. It uses a single touch-screen button and indicator light on its front for most functions, which we found difficult to interpret at times. We also spilled ice out of its front-tilt ice bin every so often when scooping.

This model was efficient for its small size, capable of making just under 1 pound of ice every hour and depositing its first ice batch within 8 minutes of being turned on. Its convenient handle—similar to that of a cooler—combined with its lightweight build made it more portable than any other machine we tested. It did an acceptable job of keeping ice cold, and it recirculated water well to make sure there was always ice on hand. We also liked the distinct difference in ice size options it offered. We were impressed by its simple, clear controls and indicator lights, which allowed us to check its status at a glance. Best of all, it was the only compact model to have an efficient self-cleaning cycle, making routine descalings extremely easy.