Product Review: Igloo ICE103 Counter Top Ice Maker with Over-Sized Ice Bucket

Company: Amazon

Price Range: $150 – $200

Feedback: Read Consumer Reviews on the Igloo ICE103 Counter Top Ice Maker

Who Would Buy This: Those shopping for an easy-to-use, portable ice maker that is capable of producing ice cubes quickly.

Features

• Over-sized ice bucket (2.2 lbs capacity)
• Three ice cube sizes (small, medium or large)
• Can produce a batch of ice in just 6 minutes
• Produces up to 26 lbs of ice per day

Design

Our initial impression of the Igloo ICE103 is good. It has a tasteful, modern exterior that is pleasing enough to the eye and will match most tastes. Its compact body sports a sleek stainless steel finish with a smart white trim and black lid. Due to its stainless finish, it’s easy enough to keep the machine clean with a quick wipe.

Although this is a portable ice maker, it’s somewhat larger than many people expected, so we recommend you check the dimensions before purchase. The unit measures 12 inches wide, 15 inches tall with a depth of 14 inches. So rest assured, it will comfortably fit on the counter-top under a standard kitchen cabinet. The unit weighs in at 25.9 lbs, which is a slightly above average weight for a portable ice maker.

As this is a compressor based machine, you need to allow for at least 5 inches clearance around the unit so there is sufficient air-flow for the fan.

Controls

The front-sided electronic control panel complete with LED indicators gives you convenient control over the ice makers functions. Here there are just two buttons; “On/Off” to power the unit and “Select” to switch between the three ice cube sizes.

Like with most portable ice machines, set-up is a quick and easy process. Simply, fill the reservoir up with water then press the power button and select your desired cube size. Operating this machine couldn’t be any simpler.

One slight drawback is there is no memory IQ function, so in the event of power failure, the unit will not resume operation automatically and has to be turned back on manually.

Functionality

The ICE103 benefits from an over-sized removable ice bucket which can hold up to 2.2 lbs of ice. Once the ice bucket is full, a red indicator lights up and the machine automatically stops the ice production. Once you’ve emptied the ice bin, it automatically resumes the ice production. The machine can produce up to 26 lbs of ice every 24 hours, which is more than sufficient enough for most home uses.

There are three ice cube sizes to choose from, ranging from small, medium to large. There is little difference between the three cube sizes, so don’t expect much variance in size apart from the large size being slightly thicker. The type of ice cubes it produces are small cylindrical shaped pieces of ice with a hollow centre, unlike a typical square ice cube.

When it comes to ice making, speed is often beneficial especially if you’ve got a room full of guests who are waiting for ice. One of the strongest appeals of the Igloo ICE103 is it’s capability to produce ice quickly. On the small ice cube size setting, it can deliver one batch of ice (8 cubes) in just 6 minutes, making it one of the fastest ice machines in it’s class.

Manual: n/a

Guarantee: 1-year warranty.

Summary

The Igloo ICE103 is a golden egg amongst portable ice makers. It’s stylish design, rapid ice production capability and large storage bucket make it mightily impressive in most areas. It’s ability to produce up to 80 ice cubes per hour means it’s suitable even for the largest of family gatherings.

If you’ll be taking your ice maker on the go a lot and carrying it around, alternatively you might want to consider the Avalon Bay AB-ICE26S, which is slightly smaller and about 6 lbs lighter than this model.

Simplicity and speed are key with the Igloo ICE103 Ice Maker. If these are factors you hold dear, this is a great buy.