Freezer Ice Makers vs. Portable Ice Makers - Which to Choose?

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that icemakers have only been in existence since the last century or so. In the past, ice was hard to acquire, and in hotter climates, delivery services provided huge blocks of imported ice from either industrial refrigeration plants or colder climates. In some of the hottest parts of the world, ice was considered a luxury, and even for people in the United States, ice was extremely expensive. In other words, if you needed to keep your food cold and fresh, there was really no other choice.

However, the advent of the compact refrigerator in the 20th century brought food preservation and ice production into modern day homes, and in the 60s, automatic freezer icemakers made life even easier. Typically speaking, the process in which primitive freezer icemakers produce ice is fairly simple: water is poured into a mold, left in the freezer until it turns solid, and ice cubes are then extracted. Modern home icemakers found in most new refrigerators, on the other hand, are even more advanced and act almost like ice cube “assembly lines.” These types of icemakers use electric motors, electrical heating units, and electrically operated water valves, and need to be powered by hooking the icemaker to the electrical circuit powering the refrigerator. In addition, the icemaker is then hooked up to the home water line in order to provide fresh water for the ice cubes.

While very convenient, many consumers often complain that their freezer icemakers are slow at making ice. Most freezer icemakers have the ability to turn a new batch of ice when the water in the icemaker has frozen, and this may take anywhere from 75 to 120 minutes. The length of time it takes to produce a batch of ice also depends on few other factors, such as the freezer temperature, the temperature of the room in which the freezer is located, and the humidity level. Also, another complaint about freezer icemakers is the quality of the ice being produced. For those living in areas with hard water chock full of minerals, this greatly affects the taste of ice cubes. Lastly, because the ice in freezer icemakers is stored in the refrigerator, these cubes can pick up odors from inside the freezer and refrigerator (especially from open food containers), and it is for these reasons that a portable ice maker may be more practical.

Portable icemakers have the main benefit of producing ice cubes quickly, and once the unit is plugged in, water is poured in, the size of the ice being made is set, and the ice making cycle begins, therefore eliminating the need for set up time or an adjustment period for the compressor to reach a specific temperature. In fact, many portable icemakers can produce ice in as little as 6 minutes, making them a welcome addition to parties and gatherings. Also, with portable icemakers, you can control the size of your ice cubes and even your ice quality, as you can add either bottled or tap water into the unit, and some models offer you the flexibility of either using bottled water or connecting the unit to your home water line. As an added bonus, most portable ice makers do not require any draining or direct plumbing, and they are compact enough to be transported with ease.

Portable Icemaker Buying Tips:

When looking for an icemaker, consider how much ice you need to make in a given day, and use this as a key factor in your product selection. Most of the smaller portable icemakers are able to produce up to 35 pounds of ice per day, while commercial icemakers can make up to 400 pounds of ice per day.
Decide whether you want to use bottled or tap water, or even if you want to connect the icemaker directly into your water line.
Keep in mind that most portable icemakers are not freezers, and they will not be able to store ice for extended periods of time.

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