Break the ice, not the bank
dedicated ice maker is a wondrous gadget to own, especially if you love nothing more than entertaining friends and family at home.
Whether you’re making cocktails and need a fresh supply of cubes, chips or crushed ice, you’re fixing a smoothie or you want ice cold water on tap, a great quality ice maker will become your favourite countertop side kick. They don’t need professional installation either, so you could simply unplug the machine and take it away on trips with you if you have a motorhome or you’re planning a staycation.
Whether you’re envisaging it for your kitchen or to add a little something special to your home bar, there are a few things to consider before you make your purchase.
First, size. Most ice makers are compact and can happily sit on a countertop without taking up too much space, but if you’ve got a small kitchen it’s worth measuring it first. Second, power - the higher the wattage, the more powerful (and therefore capable of producing ice) it will be.
Finally, function. While most ice makers can make two sizes of ice (the bigger ones are perfect for spirits like whisky), a few also allow you to pour ice cold water too - a refreshing benefit on a sweltering summer’s day, but also helpful if you need cold water for a recipe while cooking.
No more panicked running around a supermarket for supplies on a hot day; adios to waiting hours for your ice trays to freeze - ice makers are here to up your cool points and create fresh ice when you want it all day long.
Shop our selection of the best ice making machines below
Ice makers really don’t get flashier than one named Ice Volcano - we feel refreshed already. From kitchen expert Klarstein, the small but mighty maker can produce an endless supply of ice, from bullet-shaped fragments to larger cubes for neat measures of whisky or vodka.
Fill the 2L tank and hit start to see the first cubes tumbling into the easy-access storage container in around 10 minutes. If you need it, it can form 12kg of ice over a 24 hour period. Alerts on the LED control panel make the quiet-running machine easy to top up water or know when the bucket is full. There’s also a timer, so there’s no need to keep a watchful eye over it. Simply sit back and enjoy the party.
Also available in black or red.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or just want a few rocks for your evening G&T, never run out of ice again thanks to this clever little gizmo from Cookworks. It can make small and large-sized ice cubes in eight minutes and comes with a little scoop and ice basket so you can reach them easily. Running on 105W, the ice cube maker has a large 12kg storage capacity, allowing it to house around 100 ice cubes. Comes with a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Never endure a warm drink again - this ice maker will make sure your serves are at the perfect temperature for a refreshing experience each and every time. The large 3L water tank will make nine bullet-shaped cubes (small or large) every ten minutes, and if you’re hosting a big event, it can make up to 12kg over the course of a day. The machine also provides cold drinking water, perfect for sipping on a hot day or using while cooking.
If you love hosting parties, investing in an ice maker can save you money, not to mention freezer space, in the long run. This 100W compact portable machine can make ice cubes in less than 10 minutes, making it a great little helper when you’ve got guests over.
It’s also a lovely extra to take on summer camping and caravan trips, provided you’ve got a mains power source to plug it into. As well as a large 2.2L water tank (which can make up to 12kg of ice), it has a helpful self-cleaning function making it easy to maintain. Available in this fetching racing red, although black and white options are also offered. Comes with a two-year manufacturer’s guarantee.
Throwing a party? Save your freezer space for canapes and get this countertop electric ice maker to keep drinks cool instead. Offering crushed ice and two sizes of ice cubes, it dispenses refreshingly cold water too. It’s also got sensors to let you know when the tank is full, and features auto switch off when the ice bucket is full. Available in black and white as well as stainless steel, it’s simple to use with touch buttons on the LED display.
The mania for all things rose gold shows no sign of flagging. Bring the chic hue to your kitchen or home bar with this electric ice cube maker, compact enough to sit on a counter or tabletop. Fitted with a transparent window on the top, turn it on and watch ice cubes appear in a 10 minute cycle, ready to add to spirits, cocktails or smoothies. The 1.8L water reservoir can churn out 12kg of ice daily, operating quietly in the background so as not to disrupt the party atmosphere. Comes with an ice cube scoop.
If you need to crush a large amount of ice in a hurry, Klarstein’s beautiful silver and black machine is up to the job. With four suction cup feet to keep it steady on your kitchen work surface or home bar, it slices through cubes and large chunks of ice like they’re butter, collecting smaller chips in the 3.5L ice collection tank. Perfect for helping you make slushies and summertime serves like a frozen margarita.
Be the envy of everyone you know this summer with the coolest gadget on the block. This sleek ice maker can make as much ice as you need, whenever you want it - and cleans up after itself too with a genius self-cleaning mode.
The 2.2L water tank is capable of making up to 12kg of ice in 24 hours, and nine bullet-shaped blocks in around 10 minutes, making it a great helper for parties big and small. Alerts will let you know when the ice is ready or when you need to top up the tank with more water, and there’s a small plastic ice scoop included in the purchase.
Why buy costly bags of ice when this kitchen gadget can whip up cubes for free? An invaluable tool not just for family events and parties but useful for your morning smoothie or keeping meat and fish fresh, this machine can create big and small ice cubes in as little as six minutes.
It has an auto shut-off when the ice bucket is full which is removable, making it easier to transport the cubes if you don’t want to use the included scoop. Just add water, walk away and come back to see fresh ice ready and waiting under the transparent window - it couldn’t be easier.
Say goodbye to last minute running round supermarket ice aisles or forgetting to fill the ice tray only to wait hours for the water to freeze; this machine starts producing ice in less than 10 minutes. Running on 120W, this ice cube maker can make two sizes of ice cubes to keep your drinks chilled this summer. It sits unobtrusively on the countertop with anti-slip feet to keep it stable. Simply plug in and go. A great summertime essential or cool gift for the host that has everything else.