How Do Stand Alone Ice Machines Really Compare To The Refrigerator Ones?

The United States has a bit of an obsession with ice. For many Americans, nothing makes the summer better than crisp and cold water, lemonade, or even a soda. The beverage enhancer is so popular that you can easily get it directly from many residential refrigerators. However, while most people have a way to make ice, it may not be the best solution. There are several flaws with these built-in ice makers, including their large cubes and slow dispensing, which is why some people look for another solution. 

For those not happy with their built-in ice makers, or who own a fridge without one at all, there are other solutions. One is the stand alone ice maker. These are generally portable machines that just need a little water and some power to produce ice cubes. However, if you are already limited on kitchen space and are struggling to justify a new purchase, you may be wondering if these ice machines are really worth the extra cost and if they offer more than a regular fridge ice machine would. If you are just looking for a few cubes to cool down a drink on occasion, you won't reap the benefits of a stand alone ice machine much. But, if you are constantly out of ice, enjoy specific sizes and shapes best, or want to have ice with you wherever you go, a stand alone ice machine may be just what you need. 

There are some obvious benefits to stand alone ice machines. For one, they can go anywhere. You can produce ice at your bar or outside where you are having a party. You don't have to keep returning to the kitchen to get more ice. 

Another major perk that is regularly brought up is the kind of ice made. Ice makers in your fridge or freezer tend to produce the standard crescent-shaped cubes. However, stand alone ones can make all sorts of different shapes and sizes. Since this is the only thing they are dedicating their energy to, and they are made to do so efficiently, stand alone ice machines can produce a lot more ice (sometimes up to 50 pounds a day), which is great for those families that are always waiting to make their beverages colder.

You can also pick your water type and quality. Fridge filters and options are plentiful, but if you want to have more say in the exact kind of water coming into your ice machine, then a portable ice maker gives you a lot more freedom. And as a minor bonus, if you're hesitating only because you don't want to throw out all the ice cube trays you have now, rest assured that there are plenty of brilliant ways to repurpose ice cube trays in the house and garden.

Of course, there are negatives to the stand alone ice machine as well. Because they don't make any effort to keep the ice cold, your cubes can start melting the second the machine makes them, leaving you wondering why your countertop ice maker's ice isn't staying frozen. This means you will need a separate container, like a cooler or your freezer, to keep them as ice. Even if you don't want ice at that moment, though, there are other ways you can repurpose them, such as using an ice cube to measure your home's humidity level.

Additionally, though these machines are generally portable and compact, they do still take up extra space. You will likely always need a fridge and freezer, so having them create ice helps you to get more purposes out of one machine. However, your ice maker will have to take up valuable counter or cabinet space that could be used for something else. 

These machines also require a fair amount of attention. Because they don't hook up to water lines, they need to be refilled regularly, and you will have to remember to dump the ice tray as it fills up, whether into a waiting cup or a freezer container. Though the water recycles and will continue making ice, you won't be able to store up on cubes while you are gone like you would with one connected to your fridge.