What is a Portable Ice Maker?

Imagine a beautiful spring season with the warm air blowing. Next imagine yourself under a tree in a beautiful park having a picnic with your loved ones. Next imagine yourself serving ice-cold lemonade…wait a minute. Did I say ice-cold lemonade in the middle of the park on a warm day? Yes, I did. The advancement in technology has now made it possible. Portable Ice Makers are here with a bang and they are here to stay.

What is a Portable Ice Maker?

Portable ice makers are self contained cooling units. They are automatic, usually counter top styled appliances which are very handy around the house. The uses of portable ice maker can be summed up in one line. It is used to make ice. It requires electrical supply and water, and the machine can churn out ice very frequently depending on the size and the make of the machine. It is ideal for home, office, small restaurants and cafes. As no installation is required, you can carry the unit around with you everywhere with no hassles.

How a Portable Ice Maker Works?

An ice maker sure appears to a complicated appliance, kind of a mini-refrigerator, but surprisingly, the concept behind a portable ice maker is very simple. These machines turn the water stored in molds and placed inside it into ice. Either a valve for constant supply of water is present else water can be poured into the unit as and when required. The valve can be connected to a tap using a small hose pipe. The cooling unit present freezes the water into ice. Thermostats may be present to allow the user to set and adjust the temperature if required. A drain pipe is available that allows drainage of any excessive water.

Standard Portable Ice Maker

Usually, all portable ice makers do not require any additional wiring. A standard sized unit makes about 12 cubes of ice every six to eight minutes. In effect a standard sized unit is capable of producing 30 pounds of ice in 24 hours. Generally, portable ice makers provide the option of selecting the size of the ice cubes. Ice makers with stainless steel exterior serve as insulators and hence can also be used store the ice cubes. Some units also provide an additional feature of a water filter. It is always advisable to purchase an ice maker that has this feature.

Most portable ice makers are available with various exterior finishes, the most popular ones being white, bisque, black, titanium or stainless steel. Some even offer bright colors, but it is always advisable to choose a neutral color so that your unit never goes out of style. Portable ice makers with stainless steel finish are very popular and durable. However, they require additional maintenance to ensure that they look clean, shiny and are scratch free.

Taking Care Of Portable Ice Maker

To ensure that your portable ice maker has a long life, you have to take good care of your unit. Some units come with the feature of self-cleaning cycle. Even if your unit has a self-cleaning cycle, it is always advisable to clean your unit with a cap of vinegar or a teaspoon of lemon juice the first time that you are using it. However, if your unit does not provide the feature of self cleaning, then run a few cycles of ice making with water and vinegar or lemon juice. Also, clean the water reservoir with water thoroughly a couple of times so that any taste of plastic is removed.

The entire cycle described above should be repeated at regular intervals to keep your unit of portable ice maker free from germs and impurities and prevent calcium build up due to hard water.
The most basic unit of a portable ice maker costs about $150 while the higher end units can cost up to $1500. Always purchase from a reputed manufacturer who offers good warranty and after sales services. These days portable ice makers manufactured in China have flooded the market. They are cheaper. However, work out the warranty details with the store from where you purchase the unit.

The only drawback of a portable ice maker is that it can be noisy. But I am sure that a little noise can be overlooked when compared to the convenience that it provides. Now, running to the store in the middle of a party to pick up over priced ice cubes is not required. Just plug in your portable ice maker, fill it with water and you will have ice in a few minutes.