With summer heating up, there’s one thing that can make or break your drink: the ice.
Whether you prefer cubes, crushed, bullets, or those crunchy little nuggets with a cult following, Consumer Reports reveals the best ways to get great ice at home and how to keep it fresh all season long.
That crunchy, but chewable, Sonic ice has quite a fan base, and now you can get it without hitting the drive-thru.
Countertop nugget icemakers have become so popular for home, office, or RV use that they’re now a billion-dollar industry.
The top-rated GE Opal 2.0 Stainless Steel Icemaker XPIO13SCSS costs $580 (Canada $796), is fast, quiet, portable, and a hit with ice enthusiasts.
The NewAir Countertop Icemaker, which costs $214 (Canada $294) and is a nugget maker, didn’t land as high in CR’s ratings, but it’s more budget-friendly.
If bullet ice is your thing, CR likes the VIVOHOME Electric Portable Icemaker VH289-BK that costs $103 (Canada $141).
No matter how you make it, keeping ice fresh is key because stinky ice is no fun and a great way to ruin a nice drink. It’s a common issue, and your refrigerator may be to blame.
It usually happens when ice has been sitting in your icemaker or ice bin for several weeks, and it has had time to absorb smells from the fridge.
It’s especially common in older, single evaporator models. Cold air passes between the freezer and fresh food compartments, making it easier for your ice to get smelly.
If this happens, dump the bin and start fresh because if some of it smells, it’s likely all of it smells.
Then, clean the bin. If it’s not dishwasher-safe, wash it by hand with baking soda and warm water. You can also add baking soda near the ice to help absorb odors.
If you make ice the old-school way, skip silicone trays. They can absorb fridge odors and make ice taste funny.
Instead, Consumer Reports recommends Rubbermaid’s plastic trays or OXO’s model with a lid.
It doesn’t take much to keep your ice fresh, so every drink hits the spot this summer. And if you’d rather skip making ice altogether, the good news is you can buy it by the bag or cup right from Sonic.