How We Research
Every guide on Hit The Icebox starts with one question: will this ice maker work for the person who is shopping for it? That means the kind of ice you like, how much you use and how much upkeep you'll accept.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your ice
A nugget ice maker, a bullet ice maker and a clear ice maker each make a different kind of ice. The right one depends on how you use it, whether that's iced coffee, a party or a home bar.
We check the ice type first. When your use limits the choice, we say what to look for.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the pounds of ice a day the maker lists, the size of the basket and the water tank, and how long the first batch takes. We also check the cleaning mode, the footprint and what comes in the box.
Euhomy, Silonn, Frigidaire, Igloo and other brands describe their machines in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim. Noise levels and output figures are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
3. We look at buyer feedback
We read through what buyers report after using a machine. We look for patterns, like loud running, leaks, ice that melts fast, a basket that doesn't hold much and cleaning that takes too long.
One angry review doesn't sink a product. A pattern does.
4. We score each product
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A product that's great for one reader may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages up to date
Products change, and some disappear from stores. Makers sell near-identical models under close names, so we check each model's size, output and what comes in the box, and we only link new units.
We skip unknown brands with no track record and any ice maker with a known recall. When we update a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every ice maker we cover.
For cleaning, descaling and draining, we point you to your maker's manual and cleaner, because each model has its own steps. We label maker claims as the maker's claims.