Side by Side Comparison of: Igloo vs Pinnacle vs Winco vs Don't Forget the Ice! vs New Star Foodservice

OK, So let's talk about this little Igloo counter top Ice maker. It showed up on my doorstep last Tuesday. It also just happened to be one of the hottest days of 2017 so far in my area. Needless to say. I was super excited. It had sat on my doorstep in the sun most of the day. So needless to say, it and the packaging was a bit toasty. Regardless I brought it in, unpacked it poured water in it, and waited for a cool breeze of ice. FAIL. SO VERY VERY disappointed. Now with all of that being said. Let me tell you an ol saying my grandfather lived by. "Experience is something you get 5 minutes after you needed it." So be the case here as well.The unit as a whole isn't refrigerated. So pouring hot or room temperature water in it the unit is NOT, I repeat NOT going to end well for you. You will get VERY small cubes, and they will melt almost as fast as they are made. Chill your water overnight before you want to start making ice, then what I do, * and you don't have to do this.* but to keep it cooler in the storage area. The first 2 cycles of ice that are made, I dump down into the reservoir.This helps keep everything chilled and you will get better results.Also. another trick I've learned. Don't leave the ice in the catch bin. Once it is about halfway full. Dump it in a one gal zip lock bag. Why a zip lock bag you ask? The ice comes out of the catch bin VERY wet.If you put it in a reg ice bucket then put it in the freezer. You're going to end up with nothing more than a block of ice, and it is difficult to break apart. If you put it in a zip lock freezer bag, it breaks up much easier.All in all, I am VERY pleased with this. I was a bit concerned about some of the naysayers, and the bad reviews they posted. But with a little thinking on my part, I addressed all of their problems with more than pleasing results. Some people are just a bit too lazy to think, and to fast to complain.Oh, one more tip. When you are done making ice, dry it out as best you can, then get an old clean sock, and put some white rice in it. Then set it in the holding tank. It will draw out any leftover moisture and prevent any moldUpdate. 4 months later, and it still works like a champ.

I'll be brief and do this as a list so it's easy to read:1) ice cubes are only clear/transparent for the first 1-2 batches, basically while the water in the basin is still at room temp, however I was not looking for clear ice cubes2) they are chewable, especially the small ones3) makes lots of ice once the machine has been on for about an hour, needs time to chill contents4) the ice that is made stays "scoop-able" (loose and individual) while inside the machine, however, it all does freeze together once transferred to your freezer. REMEDY: Not everyone has room to do this but this is what my family does. I fill plastic cups with the ice and place the cups into the freezer. Then when you need ice, just grab a pre-filled cup. If you just need the ice for a cup you are already using, get a pre-filled cup and run water over the outside of the cup to loosen the ice from its hold on the cup. The ice will slide out in one chunk that can easily go into the cup you are already using. The now empty cup can then just be filled again and go back into the freezer since it didn't get dirty. Just a suggestion that works in my house.5) the sensors for needing more water and ice bin full do work but are not 100% reliable so just keep an eye on them. Whether they function or not doesn't effect the quality of the ice.6) yes, I run it all day long 3-4 days a week in the summer, sometimes more, no problems in the 2 years we've had it7) the machine is not a freezer so the ice produced does slowly melt. I have not noticed a weird taste to ice that is made from melted ice. I use water from my reverse osmosis system.8) if I'm not using the machine for a period of time (we use a lot less ice in the winter), I drain it (which is easily done but just opening the valve on the side and placing a cookie sheet with a lip to catch the water, don't need it all over the counter), and then wipe it out with a rag and a very very dilute bleach solution. I then just fold up a paper towel and use it to prop the lid open just a crack so it can dry out completely but it won't be open to collect dust. Then its ready to go the next spring.Again, I love this thing. Yes, it would be nice to have water plumbed to it, but filling it really isn't that big of a deal. If you want ice, this is a perfect way to have lots.

I bought this for my in laws. They had another one for years, but it finally bit the dust so we bought this as a replacement. The difference is this one holds a lot more ice at a time which is great! My mother in law makes a lot of shakes, so she uses a lot of ice. The cubes can be 3 different sizes, personally I like the large. It also makes the ice very fast, which is great for get togethers.I always depends on reviews when I'm shopping on Amazon, so I hope you found this helpful. If you did, please click the 'helpful' button below! Thank you!

The Igloo ICE103 counter top ice maker is fast and makes three sizes of clear ice. It is relatively light weight when compared to my initial counter top ice maker. This allows for easier cleaning. The Romans said "In matters of taste there is no dispute". However, if they had electricity back in their day, I'm certain they would find it attractive (and a bargain), as do my wife and I.

This little gadget will really crank out the ice, but it's probably not exactly what you think it is.Where the ice is made is freezing (obviously), but the storage area is just insulated.When the ice basket is full, the machine goes to sleep.Over time, the stored ice will melt, and the machine will wake up and replace it.Running, the unit draws 108W (as measured with a "Kill-A-Watt" meter)Over a 10 day test period, my unit consumed 6.34 kWh. That's 0.63 kWh per day (11 cents worth of power where I live).My family (4 adults) uses ice in everything. A drink of water typically starts with a glass full of ice.A lot of ice.... that's my point. The machine kept up.You have to remember to fill the reservoir, but that's easy.If you're trying to make ice for a party, dump the ice into a cooler-- not your freezer.The ice is wet. It'll freeze into a big glob if you put it into a freezer.Figure on emptying the basket every couple of hours. Refill at the same time.It rips out the cubes. I was really surprised.There's not a lot of visible difference between small, medium, and large cubes.The large ones are thicker. That's the size I'm using.When full, it's silent.When making ice, it sounds like a refrigerator.When dumping ice, you'll hear running water and the cubes tumble.

I ordered this 1 Jul 2015 and received it by 3 Jul 2015. Thanks Amazon Prime!19 Jul 2015 I have made ice non stop with this little machine. I have to admit I was extremely surprised at the amount of ice it actually produces.At first when I seen 8 ice cubes produced, I thought that hmmm maybe not such a great deal. I was wrong! This small unit holds quite a bit and when the ice basket is full it quits making ice. This is a small unit great for limited space. The unit fits on a tv table tray in the kitchen so it out of the way completely. (Very convenient! I purchased this for my travel trailer so I can utilize the freezer space. I price shopped Walmart/Kohl's/Bed Bath and Beyond/Ebay/etc. Amazon had the best price on this particular item.Only thing I would change if there was an option to keep ice frozen after being produced. Not really a big deal since as the ice melts it just returns to the water supply to be made into ice again.

perfect for my ice machine. sturdy plastic holds 10lbs well.

Use with my ice machine and it is very nice and handy.

Just the right size for use with our new ice maker. The draw string makes it easy to close and for storage in the freezer until adding more ice from the machine.

Just what we needed. Could be a little thicker but they did the job and I am pleased with the product and the price. I am going to purchase some for a concession stand that has an ice maker so they can store full bags for easy transportation as needed.

If you use a lot of ice on the go these are super handy and have saved us $$ this summer. Our marina was charging $4 a bag this summer! We use a lot of ice. S I would fill these up at home during the week and use them with icemaker we have at the lake too

Get these bags if you have an ice machine, the bags are high quality and the draw string is a great addition.

Really nice scoop. Not using it for ice, it works perfectly in my popcorn machine! I was surprised by the quality. Good purchase!

I bought this to use with an ice maker . . . but I have a confession. I have used it with: sugar, flour, rolled oats, chocolate bits, and it is sooo convenient I want more of them. It is my new go to tool!

We got this for our bottom freezer ice maker. We have for kids, and I quite honestly didn't want their hands in the ice tray! This was the perfect solution. It's the perfect size to pour into a large glass and fits in the small rack next to our ice tray. The kids enjoy using it, so it puts my mind at rest that there are no grubby hands in my ice! It's also dishwasher safe for the times when the kids drop it! I'm going to buy a second one today!

I almost didn't buy these after reading some of the other reviews, but I am very glad I did. They are very well made, and feel solid in my hand. They work great and do the job they are meant for...scooping things up...like ice in my freezer. I am not sure what other people were expecting...some said they aren't attractive enough for serving. I guess I don't understand what an "attractive " ice scoop looks like, but I don't buy tools to look at them or to impress other people...I buy them to use. These are strong and get the job done. If you want a dainty delicate acoop to impress your friends...maybe these aren't what you are looking for...but if you want a funtional well made scoop to actually scoop things, these are great. I would definitely buy these again...to use...not look at...

This is a nice ice scoop that can be found here at a very reasonable price. I had this in my cart for a long time trying to decide whether or not to buy it, and when I finally did, I was glad that I did, as it is useful in completing ice scooping duties for parties and tailgates. I would recommend this.

I got this scoop to discourage people putting their hands into the ice bin in my freezer. I placed the order based on price and later read some reviews that said it was way too small, so I was regretting my decision. However, when the scoop arrived it was a great size. Four ounces (half a cup) is not big if you are thinking of a measuring cup, but as a flattened scoop the size is just right. I keep it in my icemaker's reservoir, it doesn't get in the way, and it grabs 3-4 cubes per scoop (the long, semi-circular type cubes). I might need two scoops for a 12-oz size glass, more if I'm drinking from a really big tall glass.As to the handle, I don't find it uncomfortable to grab. Obviously a rounded handle or one that is not metal would be slightly more comfortable. However, neither the shape of the handle nor the cold from it really make a difference in my ice-obtaining experience: they are not something that would make me return or rate down this product.

These bags are very handy for use with the portable ice maker I purchased for work..no more asking people going out for lunch to bring back cups of ice, yay!

as expected. sturdy string for handles

nice bags, works great.

Love these, didn't know I could buy these online.

Thank you!

We use these bags for our additional compact home ice maker. They work great.

This ice machine has worked great running full time since we got it several months ago. It started making some noise so we ran a vinegar solution through it for a few days and it's fine now. The only downside is that it only makes 2 pounds at a time. You have to dump the ice out and store it in the freezer in a bag of your choice to stock up on it. It has paid for itself already for we don't have to buy ice daily to keep the beer cooler stocked. It's a handy size and sits on a TV tray in the kitchen where we can monitor it.

Good product, but the ice isn't as hard frozen as I'd prefer. It always feels slightly "thawing." But, works fast and in a camper it's sure easier/cheaper than having to search out bagged ice all the time.

Very good ice maker. The ice melts very fast if the beverage isn't ice cold which is why I took off one star. In addition, the ice stops producing before the bin is full if the ice doesn't fall far enough from the top. Overall, I'm glad I finally have ice in the house without having to purchase it from the store. I put the ice in freezer bags to save for later.

We have had 2 others before, 1st one lasted 18 months, 2nd one almost 12 months before it quit as wellWe make about a gallon's worth of ice every day , with distilled water.Both them were purchased at a local Big Box store.This is completely different from what I had gotten before.We have only been using it for about 2 weeks so far.Set up and use, seems to be well thought out and constructedIt's quicker, quieter and makes bigger ice on the small setting than the last one's.......... even when they were new.Hopefully it last longer than the last two.

This worked well, but it made ice way too slow for what I was expecting. If you're not in a hurry or need a lot of ice at a time this is a gem. However, I think I needed more industrial strength.

We really enjoy this icemaker. It akes ice rapidly. We can keep our cooler iced down and have ice for drinks while we are camping. Just pour bottled water in, it makes a decent size tray of ice in about 6 mins. As ice melts it trickles back into the reservoir and recycles the water. Only reason not 5 stars is that it is a little pricey.

Bags advertised as 10lb, box they came in also marked 10lb, but bags themselves are marked 8lb. Not a big issue for me, but just wanted to let buyers know if it is important to them.

Work great

Great!

They work great. It would be nice if you could tie the bag closed. If you lay a full bag on it's side some ice will spill out. That's OK minor problem. Keep using the same bags over and over. Testimont as to how strong they are.

I like these bags perfect for ice. The only thing I would change is make the bag thicker so you can reuse the bags.

Ice bags work really well, I would get them again

It is OK

cool for bird seed

Nice looking and sturdy ice scoop.

it works but the metal is thinner than it look in photo.

works great but sticks to ice a little

this was a great scooper, well made and would be ideal for a bigger ice maker, but not for the ice maker I got from amazon, it is a great item, just would not work for what I had,

These plastic ice bags work pretty well for our sonic ice. We love the drawstring to keep the ice from spilling but still easily accessible in our freezer. They are great for at home use. Be careful if you beat out ice clumps. The bags are fairly sturdy but will puncture from edges of large ice chunks as you try to loosen ice. I have double bagged on occasion.

These bags are great and work as intended. I purchased a portable ice maker and chose these bags over others due to the draw strings.I would have given these bags 5 stars, but didn't due to how easily the bags can rip from the top seams (where the drawstring opening is) if you're not careful while opening the bag. Knowing it can happen though, it's easy to avoid by opening the bag carefully to avoid this.

My dad liked these. They are think enough to withstand bouncing around in the cooler.

We have a ice machine at our cottage that gets used all summer. We have been filling and refilling the bags to save on the environment. Nice to have the draws makes bagging easy. Good product!

Great buy. The plastic may be a little thin if you intend to reuse but for single use, they work great. The seller shipped quickly and the product arrived in good packaging. I recommend.

Holds ice what more can you ask

It made ice beautifully but didn't last long. After ten months it cracked where the water is that the paddles dip into to make ice so the cube were tiny little thin ones. I wouldn't buy it again.

Bought this February 2016 and it worked great until a couple of weeks ago. It started making a lot of noise intermittently when it turned on a couple of months ago, but kept cranking out ice. It completely stopped working about a week ago. The power light turns on, but no ice is produced. The fan won't even spin. I'm really disappointed it quit working after such a short amount of time. I expect an appliance like this to last a couple of years at least.

I had NO PROBLEMS with the seller of this product. The issue was that it only lasted two months and the water pump went out. The sellers were VERY COURTEOUS and refunded my purchase price. I went to the next larger size as this one seemed to have some bad reviews and the larger one works less because it makes more ice at each fill up so I am hoping it will last longer. I bought an extended warranty on the larger one TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. I use mine daily as my fridge doesn't have an ice maker PLUS I TRIPLE FILTER MY WATER before putting it in the machine.(Reverse Osmosis, Brita Filter Pitcher then thru the ZERO Filter Pitcher. I am a bit OCD when it comes to using water not knowing what may have been used to CLEAN IT before it got to me. Plus the extra filtration helps keep the little filter in the icemaker clean, too. I clean my icemaker every 2-3 weeks and it does save on the life of one that is used more than just on occasion.

This is a good looking machine and appears to be well built. When i unboxed. I cleaned the inside and ice tray, added water and within about 10 minutes it was making ice and cubes were dropping every couple minutes after that. Now, the reason i rated as only 3 stars is because the machine is very loud. Not deafening, but very noticible where i can here it from the next room over. I do like the cylinder cubes it makes, but i think this will be one of those things ill probably only used every once in a while when my ice demand is high for parties and things like that.

Time will tell. This is my second machine. The first one lasted 13 months then died. We hope thi one lasts a while longer.Barrybrelandsr@ gmail.com

Chugs along and makes ice, but it's very noisy. When it's low on water, it sounds like it's straining. I like the Danby at work better. Ice is about the same, but it's not nearly as noisy and when it's low on water, it just beeps. I went with this one for the stainless steel finish, but next time I'll get a Danby.

Really thin bags

A little thin and tears easy

nice but sure would be nice if thicker, they tear open to easy

I wish that they were bigger, and they could be a bit sturdier, but they are OK.

prompt delivery and packaging, the bags are a bit on the light side and pricy for the quality

Good size and it will work, but it's not what I was expecting. The handle is uncomfortable to hold because it's just a shaped piece of sheet metal with sharp-ish edges - that's the best I can describe it. I doubt we'll use it but I'm not returning this one, since it wasn't that expensive, but I wouldn't buy another one.

They're just stamped sheet metal. The handle has sharp edges. If they dipped the handles in plastic or beveled the sharp edges, it would improve this product.

This is a very lightweight scooper. The one I ordered failed the first day by the handled bending. I'm being told by Amzn item not eligible for return?????????? Is AMZN beginning to weaken their quality on the return policy.

It was meant to go in my freezer tray, but had to buy another to replace this. The quality was fair, not the stainless steel like you have in your imagination, very thin.

It's a scoop. It scoops just fine. But it's much lower quality—the material is thinner—than its pictures make it out to be. The handle is just pressed sheet metal, which is less comfortable to use than similarly-priced scoops you'd find at the grocery store.

I wish I would have read the reviews before purchasing. It's ok, but not the best quality. I didn't look at the picture that closely (I was buy multiple items) and didn't realize the handle is not round. It's light weight and if you use it to break up your ice, you have the potential to actually cut yourself on the handle. I would recommend looking for a different one.

Rip easy

Easily rips my n the seams

The top of the bags is fair quality so most of them teared when closing the draw string even with weight of the bag supported. I wouldn't buy again. I'd give 2 stars but I did 3 because the ice didn't rip through the sides, so it is okay.

Drawstrings sound nice, bag wont stay closed unless their tied shut.

WORK AS I THOUGHT

I really like that these bags are a bit smaller than regular ice bags and the drawstring is super nice. However, as nice as the size and drawstring are, I can't fully recommend them. They are way too thin and tear easily. I've babied these bags trying to get as much use out of them as I can, however, even with that sort of treatment they are tearing and falling apart. The first bag I used started ripping at the seam as soon as I started filling it. There is also a seam below the drawstring where all of them seem to want to fall apart as well. If the bags were thicker and more durable they would be a homerun, but unfortunately they fall short of perfect with the current thickness and construction.In short: If you are looking for smaller single-use bags these are sufficient and the drawstring is a really nice feature. If you want to reuse the bags you will want to look for a thicker bag, as these do not hold up well.

Bought this 5 months ago. Worked great until yesterday when I noticed the bin that holds the water is stuck in the back position and won’t come forward on its own so all the water just runs down into the water tank. Can no longer use after only having it for 5 months.

worked great for 3 months then started to make very, very loud noises. Customer service through the company was a joke. would cost $70 to send back for them to repair. Dosent sound like a warranty to me. bought the 2 year extended through amazon, but that only kicks in after the one year of factory warranty. Don't buy this product unless you want to be upset talking with customer NON-service.And yes, We waited 24 hours before we started our machine....we tried to do everything right but these machines just don't last.

While this ice maker does make ice very quickly, it also has a terrible sensor that constantly stays lit up even after you empty out the ice bin. It's so bad that it even stays lit up when you unplug and re plug the unit power plug back in. Basically power cycling does not always fix the issue. I have had this issue pretty much immediately since day 2ish of buying this ice maker. I did not return this immediately because I clear out the ice bucket every few hours anyways and didn't mind unplugging the unit for a minute or so to provide a power cycle and this was working fine for me. Now the indicator is starting to stay lit up even though the ice bucket is empty. I will now have to rma the product to the manufacturer per the warranty since I am outside the return window for Amazon. If I didn't basically absolutely need an ice maker I would not even bother but I really do need it for health reasons.

The unit worked great for a one month and I would have given it a five star rating. Then the pump started howling when it started making a fresh batch of ice even when full of water. It's still making ice but you know it's just a matter of time and this thing will break or I'll shut it off because I can't stand the noise.

Worked fine the first time but it makes very tiny batches, like less than one drink's worth. You need to run it for several hours to get a good amount. Also, the third time using it, it makes one tiny batch and the "add water" red light goes on after every batch so it has to be turned off and on again every 10 minutes even though the water reservoir is full. Huge waste of money.

It worked nicely for 3 days then quit. Returning for refund.

Some came with no draw strings.

Fits more like 8lbs than 10. They tear easily too. I will not be buying this brand again.

Not the sturdiest or highest quality of scoops. It would be good for dry items like cat food or bird seed, but not for ice like I'd intended to use it.

Might be stainless steel, but behaves like lite aluminum. Got it to dispense ice, but doubt that it could handle ice cream. Threw it out.

Very thin cheap material don't recommend.

way too big, not a small ice machine scooper

This is not a "nice" piece for use on a bar. It is a very utilitarian, cheaply made item. Mine arrived with several scratches, and if this is stainless steel all the way through, fine, but I have my doubts, considering how the scratches looked.If you just want something to move ice with, this is will do, but how long it will last is up to question.

Im only giving two stars because i purchased the 4oz stainless steel ice scoop with the Luma comfort IM200SS portable ice maker and the stainless steel ice scoop dont fit inside of the maker. I only gave 2$ for it as an add on so sending it back would be pointless. Just buyers be aware that it will not fit inside the machine. Other than that its a sturdy scoop. its not very thick in size but will get the job done for small scoops of ice. I just wish it had fit my machine. I would have rathered the stainless scoop as apose to the plastic that comes with the ice machine.

Wouldn't buy again. Bags split right away

Super cheap bags. Rip very easily.

Was very loud and didn't last long had it 3 years and it stopped working there was what looked like rust on the ice cube tray and it cracked didn't use it a whole lot

Worked great for about 3weeks. Now all it produces is large blocks of ice with 9x holes in the top. 😒 Switched to small setting thinking it would kick them out sooner before BLOCK was formed. Nope. Pics are from the SMALL setting. I will try to return.

I purchased this for my fiancèe's birthday and she loved it. Exactly what she wanted. It ran without problems for about 11 1/2 months. It died and called the troubleshooting/warranty line and they where quite nice and helpful doing the troubleshooting. Once they said the unit died their accents grew much thicker. I was disconnected several times towards the end of the conversation. They wanted me to ship the unit back to them with a special warranty ($150+ for USPS) and then pay then even more for an additional Warranty in case it was broken. I told them it was already broken and they kept asking me how I broke it. I said I didn't do anything, it just stopped working, why would I be sending it back for warranty replacement if it wasn't broken? Finally I was told that the warranty didn't cover broken appliances, only working ones??? Why would I want to replace a working icemaker?

Died after less than 3 months. Called the company, they wanted me to pay to ship it to them (it's heavy), then pay $25 to fix it. Not acceptable for the time period. This is the second one I have tried...both died, although the first, cheaper one, lasted longer. Rather than pay to ship it and fix it...I threw it in the trash. Won't be purchasing another one.

We bought the unit on-line through Amazon, and it worked for a month. Then it stopped making ice and in fact heated the water. I called customer support, and it put me through a reset process. That also did not work so I called customer support again. This time they described a return process that was so elaborate that it was clearly designed to discourage me from using the warranty. I had to box it and pay for shipping myself plus pass a $7 "insurance fee" to Curtis. What a disappointment! I would not recommend this unit nor this company to anyone.

Didn't even last a month. Last one gave out after 8 months. Spend your money elsewhere.

too thin

Out of the 15 bags that we have used so far 4-5 of them are missing the drawstring and a couple are missing the metal clasps. I've contacted the seller.

Bought the bags, filled with ice, put in freezer and when I took them out of freezer and tapped onfloor to loosen ice, just about every bag broke with a single tap - used 5 of them and the rest are now going to be fancy garbage bags as that is about all they are worth...

Don't buy this with the Ice Maker- It's to big to work well and get into the portable ice makers.The ice makers come with a nice small, plastic scoop that works just fine! It has sharp edges and is made poorly. The overall construction is not well made and really no good for something like a cocktail party.

These are made out of thin metal with seams, baffles and very sharp edges. The handle is an upside down V shape with sharp edges. I cut myself on the handle edge opening the plastic wrap. These cannot safely be used in my kitchen, especially by my children.

Very poor quality. Made of thin, cheap-feeling stamped metal. Not worth $4.50, that's for sure. Maybe if I had been able to try it first I would have been willing to pay a dollar for it. Not $4.50! Pass on this!

This thing is garbage. It's cheaply made, the handle is sharp and the scoop is shallow. It cannot scoop ice let alone anything else. I wouldn't even use this for scooping up the dog crap in the backyard. It's that bad. Worse, you cannot return it on Amazon so I literally threw $$ into a black hole.

This one sucked. It's think not really a scoop per-se is too flatHandle is think and SHARP. I would not want to use this with children or someone with a strong grip it. Mine was sharp and would easily cut the hand

I made the mistake of reading several of the more recent reviews first - most of which highly rate this scoop - when I decided to order it. The older reviews are in my opinion more accurate. Upon its arrival, I was both surprised and disappointed to discover firsthand how thin the steel is, and in particular, the uncomfortable, flimsy and potentially dangerous manner in which the handle is constructed. It's rather sharp bent sheet metal, and gripping it is both awkward and and uncomfortable to the point that it is almost painful when cold. A fully rounded or solid handle would be far safer and more effective. While I'll keep the scoop for light duty dry goods, this item will not be returning to my ice bin. If you need a stainless scoop for ice, look elsewhere.