Best Clear Ice Maker

Welcome to my article about the best clear ice makers.

If you run a bar or restaurant, or you use a lot of ice at home, investing in an ice maker is a good idea to ensure you always have ice on hand.

Clear ice makers are just that bit more sophisticated than regular ice makers, in that the ice they produce is crystal clear.

Below I’ll go through the top 6 clear ice makers on the market so you can pinpoint the right model for you, along with a comparison table so you can compare them side by side.

But first, let’s discuss why clear ice is advantageous over cloudy ice to begin with.

Advantages of Clear Ice

If you ask top bartenders and restaurateurs, they’ll always tell you that clear ice is better than regular (or cloudy) ice.

But why is this? As it turns out, there are many reasons why clear ice is preferred.

Here are some of the main reasons:

Clear Ice Is More Solid

Regular ice has that cloudy look because of the bubbles and air pockets in them.

Water freezes from the outside in and in the process, bubbles get trapped making the ice look cloudy.

Clear ice is simply all water.

Clear Ice Melts More Slowly

Since clear ice is free from air pockets and impurities, it melts more slowly than regular ice.

This means that drinks won’t be watered down as quickly, or the ice you’re using for your fresh food display won’t melt away as fast.

Clear Ice Tastes Better

Without the added air or impurities, clear ice tastes better and more pure than cloudy ice.

In addition, when you make ice at home, the other items in your freezer can affect the taste of your ice.

But when you use clear ice makers, you’re guaranteed ice without any contaminants, making it taste better.

The Best Clear Ice Makers Are:

• Luma Comfort Clear Ice Cube Maker
• Newair Countertop Clear Ice Maker
• Scotsman Undercounter Clear Ice Maker
• Vremi Commercial Clear Ice Maker (Best Commercial Grade)
• Frigidaire Extra Large Clear Ice Maker (Tie for Best Countertop Model)
• Sentern Portable Countertop Ice Maker (Tie for Best Countertop Model)

The right model for you will depend predominately on how much ice you require your ice maker to produce.

While all of these models are the best on the market today, and you can’t really go wrong with any of them, here are my personal top picks from the list:

For commercial grade use, I recommend the Vremi. It produces the most ice per day out of all the models in this article, for a considerable amount less than the Scotsman.

In addition, it’s reliable and durable, which are qualities you need in an ice maker if you’re using it for your business. It’s also fantastic value for money.

For home use, I think the Frigidaire and the Sentern tie for equal first place. They both produce a substantial amount of clear ice within 24 hours, whilst also being small enough to place on your countertop.

These two models are also affordable and great value for money. The only difference that makes the Frigidaire slightly better in my opinion is that it’s considerably lighter than the Sentern, making it easier to move around.

Let’s now compare all these clear ice makers side by side!

Clear Ice Makers: Comparison Table

Here is a side by side comparison of each clear ice maker. This will let you quickly pinpoint the model that is most suitable for your needs.

If you’re on mobile, scroll across the table with your finger!

Clear Ice Makers: Top 6 Reviewed

Now let’s get into the detailed reviews and pros and cons of each of the top 6 clear ice makers!

Luma Comfort IM200SS Portable Clear Ice Maker

The Luma IM200SS clear ice maker is an excellent choice for homes, restaurants, and bars.

Its compact design lets you have clear ice right from your countertop.

It lets you enjoy clear ice in as little as 15 minutes.

It is equipped with a powerful motor that produces up to 28 pounds of ice each day.

It comes with a stylish design and operates on advanced ice-making technology. 

It also has a particularly large storage capacity, making it a great option for parties or when you are likely to go through a lot of ice in a short amount of time.

Newair Silver Counter Top Ice Maker Machine

This portable clear ice maker lets you enjoy perfect drinks anywhere.

The Newair countertop ice maker machine will give you up to 40 pounds of restaurant-quality ice every day.

This clear ice maker is easy to install, no need for a plumber to do it for you.

You can have your clear ice in under 15 minutes, and thanks to its portability, you can use it in your kitchen, office, or camping trips.

Scotsman CU50PA-1A Undercounter Ice Maker

If you require high volumes of ice, the Scotsman CU50PA-1A undercounter ice maker is what you need.

It is designed to churn out ice for commercial and outdoor uses.

This clear ice maker can make up to 60 pounds of clear ice per day and has an internal storage bin that holds up to 26 pounds of ice at any one time.

It produces “gourmet” ice that comes in a shape you don’t normally see in restaurants and bars, which typically melts slower than other types of ice, allowing your customers or guests to enjoy their drink for longer.

This model also fits snugly under most counters, making it easily accessible but not in-the-way behind a bar or at home.

Vremi Commercial Grade Ice Maker

Best Option for Commercial Use!

If you have 99 pounds of water, the Vremi ice maker will turn it into ice that professional bartenders will approve of.

In one 24 hour period, you’ll get up to 100 pounds of clear ice cubes ready for your cocktails, drinks, and many other beverages – more than most other commercial clear ice makers.

Its control panel allows you to adjust the ice-making time as well as the thickness of your ice cubes.

This model is also incredibly affordable at a fraction of the cost of most commercial ice makers, however it is still reliable and easy to use.

This makes it my top pick for commercial grade clear ice makers!

Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Extra Large Clear Maker

Tie for Best Countertop Clear Ice Maker!

A trusted name in the refrigeration industry, the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS clear ice maker is a solid choice, and probably my top recommendation for portable clear ice makers.

It can produce up to 40 pounds of clear ice per day, ideal for restaurant and bar use, but also suitable for homes and offices.

In less than 15 minutes, you can enjoy 24 square ice cubes.

This model is also exceptionally light weight, making it easy to transport from one place to another.

Sentern Portable Countertop Clear Ice Maker

Tie for Best Countertop Clear Ice Maker!

With a stainless-steel body and sleek design, the Sentern portable clear ice maker is an affordable and reliable ice maker with excellent value for money.

It is lightweight and portable (thought not as lightweight as the Frigidaire above) so you can move it anywhere you need clear ice.

You can enjoy beautiful, crystal-clear ice in 15 minutes.

It can also store up to 2.4 pounds of ice at a time, although keep in mind that this will melt if not transferred to a freezer soon after it’s made.

Best Clear Ice Maker: Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed my review of the best clear ice makers available today!

Now you should know which clear ice maker is the right one for your next party or new business.

Here are some related articles you may also enjoy reading:

Best Clear Ice Molds
Best Commercial Ice Maker