REVIEW – We’ve all swallowed a swig of tepid tea, calescent Coke, or sultry soda. Eeew, right? A scoop of ice can make the difference between refreshment and tossing that tropical beverage into the shrubs. You can prevent the beverage blues with Costway’s Portable Nugget Ice Maker!
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Price: $189.99
Where to buy: Costway, Amazon
What is it?
Costway’s Portable Nugget Ice Maker is an electrical appliance that produces small ice cubes.
What’s included?
- Main unit with detachable cover and carry handle
- Removable ice bin
- Ice scoop
- User manual
Tech specs
- Model: ES10294US
- Protection type: I
- Power: 115V, 60Hz, 142.9W
- Ice making current: 2.7A
- Refrigerant: R600a/16g and
- Insulation uses cyclopentane
- Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.7 x 12.7 in.
- 0.3 gal water tank
- Material: ABS, PP, 430 Stainless steel
- Six-foot power cord
- Net weight: 20 lbs.
- Ice making capacity: 34 lbs./24 Hours
- Ice storage capacity: 1.8 lbs.
- Ice making time: 6 minutes
- Sound level: <35dB
Design and features
My mother has hosted summer family reunions for over 50 years at her house. Some years, she’s hosted more than 50 people on sunny, humid days in early July. Lounging in the pool or gathering around a picnic table, cold drinks residing in almost everyone’s hand. Red solo cup condensation would frequently pass over a sweaty forehead in the sweltering heat, granting a refreshing respite.
My mother recently replaced her aging refrigerator but opted out of the ice maker in trade for the added space in her freezer. She still needs ice, so I was enthusiastic about looking at Costway’s Portable Nugget Ice Maker. With excitement, I happily opened the box.
Good packaging keeps the ice maker safe.
Costway recommends keeping the ice maker upright for an hour before plugging it in.
There’s minimal assembly required. The only part to attach is the carry handle.
There are cooling fan openings on both sides.
Power comes from a six-foot grounded cable.
The top is detachable for cleaning.
The ice bin comes out, too.
Pour fresh water into the bin under the ice tray. A level marker shows the maximum level. If the bin is overfilled, the bottom of the ice tray will sit in the water.
A tap of the button on the front starts the ice-making process.
Holding the button for five seconds starts the cleaning mode, which runs water through the assembly for about 15 minutes. Costway recommends cleaning before the first ice run and after sitting or using it for a while. For deep scouring, run bleach or vinegar solutions through the machine. Specific instructions are in the manual.
There’s a drain plug in the bottom.
Initially skeptical of the ice maker’s claim that it could produce ice in six minutes, I was pleasantly surprised when the first nugget dropped out of the chute in six minutes and 28 seconds. Impressive!
A full basket of ice (about 1 ¾ pounds) took one hour and 25 minutes. That’s pretty cool.
If ice fills the bin and prevents new nuggets from exiting the chute, the “Ice Full” indicator illuminates. Likewise, the “Add Water” light turns on when the tank is empty. I would have liked to hear an audio tone to let me know the ice maker needs attention.
Emptying ice into a bucket (or nearby beverage) and refilling the water tank keeps the ice maker running continuously. Since the machine is already cold, subsequent batches are faster and take about one hour and six minutes.
The ice nuggets are about 3/8 inch and have a very satisfying texture. Costway’s ice is somewhat soft and shouldn’t break your teeth. I’m not an ice chewer, but I tried it and can understand why people enjoy it.
A handy scoop is stored in the back.
Final thoughts
Costway’s Portable Nugget Ice Maker is simple to operate and works quickly. I was surprised and impressed with the appealing, chewable nuggets produced in less than seven minutes. It’s easy to use and clean, and it will be chillin’ next to the pool with my family this summer! Great job, and thank you, Costway!
What I like about the Costway Ice Maker
- Fresh ice, yay!
- Quiet operation
- Produces ice nuggets with a great texture
What needs to be improved?
- It would be helpful to add an audio tone to indicate when the ice bin is full, or the ice maker needs water.
Price: $189.99
Where to buy: Costway, Amazon
Source: Costway provided a free sample for this review but did not provide input, guidance, or editing before it was published.
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