Side by Side Comparison of: Magic Chef vs Winco vs Update International vs OXO

I had a GE Monogram ice maker for about 5 yrs that just stop making ice consistently. A repairman visit would cost at least $150 and more to fix. A new one would cost over $1000. While I loved the ice that it makes, clean, clear, cube ice, (if you ever poured soda over frozen ice you know why this is important), these thing just do not last and are way too expensive.So I basically decide to go portable. I do not have the counter space, so it needs fit into the space left by my undercounted ice maker. The search began.After reading all the reviews this was the one to get. I was not disappointed. I followed the instructions of another post to leave it upright for a day (actually a couple of days). Cleaned it, and dump the first days batch. Actually I kept it to use for coolers.This makes ice really fast! 10 minute and I had my first batch of ice. My old one took at least 1/2 hr when it was working good.Ice quality is good, but not clear ice. Still way better than freezer ice maker ice. But I already knew this. There are no portable ice makers that make clear ice. Cubes come in 3 sizes. I generally use medium. The cube are like a large gumdrop with a hole on the bottom.Unit runs all the time, unless we go away. Then I dump the water and put away the ice and unplug or turn it off. Do not leave water when not running. The water will smell like a fish tank within a day a two. This is not the fault of the machine, just nature of water given certain conditions.I also noticed some black specs once but a cleaning too care of that.Capacity is ok, there is a small tray that holds the ice, it then melts back into the reservoir to be used to make more ice.It would be great to be able to connect this to a water line. But then it would not be portable.One final note, I made a pull out shelf where my old 15" ice maker was, and it fits perfectly, with extra storage under it to boot.Highly recommended if you want an alternative ice maker.PS if they ever make one that makes clear ice I would pay Double the price.

The icemaker performs exactly as advertised. My only annoyance with it is that the manufacturer does not recommend leaving it to run continuously. The recommendation is to empty and clean it frequently. Hence I leave it empty until I have need for it.One concern is that the water drain has a plug insert that can be easily lost. The cap to the drain does not have a gasket, so re-inserting the plug before putting back on the cap is necessary to keep the drain from leaking.

I like it. Àt first it seems slow but after it gets going its pretty good. The water is located beneath the Ice bàsket. The Ice begans melting as soon as it goes into the basket. A full basket of ice will be wet and dripping. I put the wet ice in my freezer. When it's hard is ready to be used. Never add cold water to the water tank. Room temp. works best. Dump the Ice into a dry cooler or a freezer.

We've had our ice maker for 11 months, so far, and use it exclusively. After replacing our ice maker 3 times in 1 1/2 years, we went to buying our ice. We believe this unit will have paid for itself in one year, but for convenience sake...It has paid for itself LONG before now!! I LOVE THIS ICE MAKER!!

We received this very quickly and it works very good. We let it set for a hour, filled the water cavity, plugged it in, pushed the on button and large size cube. We had our first set of cubes in 9 minutes. It makes little noise, but you do hear ice cubes drop into holding tray. When the holding tray got filled it shut off and I put the ice in a plastic zip lock bag and put in freezer. This machine is for our RV and will be very good for cold drinks and keeping ice in our ice chest when we go out in the boat. It does have a side drain, which has a very small plastic plug, I'll have to be very careful when I pull it out I don't loose it. Having a group in you would want to start ahead of time freezing ice cubes. I would recommend this item as we don't like going to the store getting ice when we have company.

This is my second one. The only reason I had to get rid of the first one was I moved into a much smaller place. I had to sell it at a tag sale. Was soo delighted to get it back in silver. I start it up in the morning when I need to replenish my supply of ice and empty it every 30 - 45 min. Medium sized cubes are the perfect size and are made fairly quickly! It does make some noise, but nothing like a dishwasher. I love that I never have to make runs to the store for ice anymore. This unit will more than pay for itself in 6 mos. I totally recommend this unit to ice junkies!

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.

Sturdy and well made.

We use one of these in our little ice maker...our daughter is sure to love hers as well.

Just what we needed. perfect size and durable. For a review you need to write a certain amount of words. This is a scoop!

A must have.

good buy

It scoops ice. Rather shallow scoop so you won't get a huge scoop at a time. Metal is thin, so be careful not bend it. We use it to scoop our Sonic ice into cups. Perfect for us.

Good for about a year. Every year we have to buy a new ice maker. This one made it about a month past the year mark. It works well, just plan on replacing it. We ordered a different brand and slightly more expensive one this time around. If you are offered a warranty, it is a good idea to get one.

Worked just fine until we had a summer storm with lightening that popped off the electricity. The resulting power surge killed this little guy but good. May reorder for next summer. Loved having the extra ice on hand. So convenient. And perfect size cubes for beverages.

Works exactly as it says it will. I wish the ice wouldn't freeze together when I put it in my main freezer, but it does not advertise that it is a freezer so if I empty it before it runs out of water or fills the bin it is better.

This unit has performed as well or even better than I had hoped. It makes the large ice cubes every 11-12 minutes. I place them in our freezer in a metal bowl and after a few minutes I can break them apart and place them in our storage bin. I had a refrigerator ice make fail and flood the house so I plan to use this ice maker until it breaks and then buy another.

I've only used the ice maker for two days and plan to keep it at our beach house. It works great, exactly as described. Very simple to use, fully automatic. We spend about $5/day for ice when we stay at the beach. So it will pay for itself in one summer. The only drawback is the small ice bin. It fills quickly - a plus, but the bin needs to be emptied before it will make more. I filled several large zip bags, put them in the freezer and used them to ice a large cooler the next day. The size of the ice maker is a great counter top fit.

We had ordered two other ice makers for our RV and neither of them worked. The first one was an Emerson, which did not work at all. (sent back and got a refund) Got another one of these which did not work either and they replaced it with the same one, and finally this one works. BE SURE; DO NOT TURN BOTTOM SIDE UP OR LAY IT ON IT'S SIDE, KEEP IN UPRIGHT POSITION AT ALL TIMES. I think it is a problem which occurs during shipping. However, the ice cubes are not clear as stated by another buyer. I read on fb that to get clear ice cubes you have to boil the water first. NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE This ice maker does a good job as long as you keep the ice emptied up, so it doesn't melt, This unit does not keep the ice from melting. We don't have a problem with this and keep it emptied and refill with water as needed. It continually makes ice all day and night. We put the ice in the gallon ziplock bags in the coolers and as it melts, we recycle the water. Recommend, but get ready to have a hard time getting one that works.

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,

Arrived on time.. not as heavy as I thought, but overall, I am happy with the purchase.

This is a very cheaply priced item and you get what you pay for but it does work well

Don't like the sharp edges, but otherwise very funcunal.

Does it's job

This is a small ice scoop just large enough for filling a glass or plastic tumbler with ice without losing ice cubes over the side. In that job it works perfectly. I was a little disappointed in the handle but after using the scoop for a day or two I realized the handle was perfect. I was expecting a solid handle such as one sees in restaurants but I keep the scoop inside with the ice. If the handle was any thicker, grabbing the handle would have been difficult on the skin. Since the handle is thin like the scoop itself, it heats easily by the warmth of one's hand and causes no problem. I'm happy with it.

Well it's a lovely scoop but I guess I was expecting it to be a bit more hefty and meaty. The scoop works fine for digging cat food out of the bin to put in the cat food bowl, but it wouldn't work really well for bashing in a burglar's head if he were to come barging in the door while I fed the cat. I guess that's not a really realistic scenario but, hey, you never know.

Makes ice quickly so it's great for parties, but not built to last. Similar to others, I've only used it a few times and already two of the cooling elements no longer work.

First, I will say that I believe this product operated the way it was supposed to. However, it took 8 hours to make about 6 lbs. of ice. And because the ice maker is not a freezer, if I did not stay on top of removing the ice from the ice maker and putting it in the freezer, it would melt. I bought this to supply our regular ice usage in the house, since our freezer does not have an ice maker and I often forgot to buy ice and bring it home. However, even making a return trip to the store to buy ice is much more convenient than waiting/watching the ice maker for 8 hours. This just is not the right way for me to have access to ice, so I will be returning it.

Like the magic chef ice maker but it does really take a long time to make ice.

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.

Its ok for the price

It's an ice scooper so you cant really go wrong EXCEPT we keep our ice scooper in the freezer and because the entire thing is metal the handle obviously freezes and can be a bit uncomfortable to use. This problem can EASILY be solved by not storing it in the freezer. Our other scoopers have rubber/plastic handles and keeping them in the freezer works just fine. So if you dont have people who misplace things so that you are "forced" to keep the ice scooper in the freezer near the ice then this is a fine purchase. If you want to keep in freezer i would find one with a rubber handle.

Much smaller and more flimsy then I expected. Maybe 9" x 3" is more imaginable for someone else, but for those like me who are less volumetrically inclined - it comfortably scoops enough ice for 80% of a small styrofoam cup. I say comfortably in the mathematical sense, actually wielding this thing is more like handling a garden trowel made of curved, cheap plastic. The handle really needs to be more like a rod, and less like a "U," and it really has no heft to it at all. Something you wouldn't think it'd need until you start digging into ice and realize just a little inertia would make a big difference.All in all, you get what you pay for, and if you're looking for a cheapie ice scoop for the office ice-maker, it'll work.

This scoop is a great value and seems strong and well made. If you need an economy scoop, this is great. I will be using it in the garden instead of the ice bucket however. I found the handle uncomfortable and not nice enough to use during a fancy party. Close examination of the photo should have suggested this to me for the hanging hole reveals the thickness of the handle, which is an open V shaped formed metal. I'll need another scoop for fancy parties, but this will be wonderful in the garden.

I bought this because it was one of the cheapest ice scoops on Amazon. It holds maybe four or five large ice cubes (made by my freezer's built-in ice maker), but as pointed out in another review, the back of the handle is not rounded, so the sides of the handle dig into your hand while you hold it. You also don't want to just leave this in your freezer, as it is metal and cool to the touch. So not only is it uncomfortable, but it is not convenient to leave it where you'd want it.I like the capacity, but the next time I buy a scoop, I'm getting plastic.

I purchased this item thinking it was a 6 oz scoop and I ordered another scoop that I thought was of similar quality that was a 4 oz scoop(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H0U8A0/ref=oh_details_o01_s02_i01). When I received both scoops I was surprised to see that they were exactly the same scoop, and I would not say either scoop was 6 or 4 oz, I think 5 oz is a better description.The build quality is fine for the price. The scoop and handle are stamped metal and tack welded together, they seem sturdy enough. I have no use experience, I sent them back since they were the wrong sizes for my needs.

Didn't last more than 6 months great ice when it was working

Did what it is supposed to do. Did not last nine months with moderate use.

Lasted 1.5 years. Last Magic Chef lasted 6 years. Replaced it with a different brand. We'll see...

Purchased in April, ran great for sixmonths, died. About $25 a month. Buyer beware.

Bought it in April, 3 days ago it stopped making ice! Checked everything in the manual for troubleshooting, found the compressor is not turning on, evrything else works, it draws the water for the well, doors all working fine, you can see the water in the bucket with the studs in the water but does not turn it to ice, the whole compartment does not get cold at all!!! Was totally satisfied when it was working!

Started off working great. The first 3 batches made ice and quickly. Unfortunately on 4th of July when we were preparing for a party the ice maker quit working. We had to send the product back.

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.

Cheap metal. Seems like it will bend easy

It's stainless steel from India - NOT the US - which is not even close to US stainless steel. Expected to have some weight to it but very light. It scoops ice but very flimsy.

The area where the handle attaches to the scoop had a small rust spot.It also appeared not attached well. I'm sure it would have come off at some point.

Cheap & thin scoop we will not be using it for ice but maybe for dry dog food.

First off, there was a sticker on the handle that took about 30 minutes to remove. I had to spend way too much time and effort rubbing the goo off with nail polish remover. That made me mad! Then, it's so poorly designed that when I use it in a huge bag of cat food, all of it falls off the scoop before I can get it out of the bag.I guess you get what you pay for and cheap is cheap.Don't waste your money.

Bought these to use for my daughter's wedding. It was much light weight than it appeared online. The handle is not solid so the edges are a bit "sharp". The size was fine and so was the scoop part. I decided to purchase different ones, mainly because of the handle.

had 2 in the last year both stopped working ,, waste of money

this is june of 2017 and it already gave up the ghost. don't waste your money

Lasted less then a year, when it work it made ice fairly fast and was noisy , I do not recommend this unit.

Didnt work had to send it back.

Worked for a few months before breaking. I contacted Magic Chef on multiple occasions requesting a repair or replacement and got no reply. While it worked it worked decently, but I will never buy or recommend buying a Magic Chef product again when the customer service is this bad.

It arrived, didn't work at all. Called the company and they said "may your water is too pure. not enough minerals to recognize there is water in the tank." Paleeeeze. Research revealed that it's relatively common for a part to break in transit and causes it not to cycle.

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.

It's very shallow and doesn't hold much ice/product in the scoop. I'll see how it holds up. It's very light and doesn't seem sturdy.

thin metal

Very flat scoop...not good for picking up ice...that's for sure.

The scoop size is good and the finish is bright but the handle quality and attachment is less than desirable. Be careful of the unfinished edges on the stamped out handle.

The handle on this scoop is very uncomfortable with an open bottom, not rounded, and edges somewhat sharp. Also, the scoop itself is shallow and only holds a few cubes. It might work for some but not for me.

Bought two of these for my farmers market business, and the first one broke after scooping granola out of a bucket! The handle is screwed on to the scoop, so it's not all one piece which I didn't realize from the picture, which probably contributes to the instability. Returned and will not buy again.