Igloo Self-Cleaning Ice Maker Review: Low Maintenance, Low Price

Most budget ice makers ask you to handle the cleaning yourself. The Igloo Automatic Self-Cleaning Ice Maker doesn't, and that's the main reason it stands out in its price range.

At a price comparable to other basic bullet-ice machines, it adds an automatic 5-cycle self-cleaning function and a cube size selector, two features usually reserved for pricier machines. Output is standard for the category: 26 lbs a day, with 9 cubes ready roughly every 7 minutes.

The compact footprint, one of the smallest in the countertop category, makes it a strong fit for small kitchens or tight counter spots where larger machines don't work.

Its limitations track closely with its budget bullet-ice competitors: a roughly 1-quart reservoir that needs near-daily refilling, and bullet-shaped ice that melts faster than nugget or solid cube ice.

What You Are Buying

The Igloo Automatic Self-Cleaning Ice Maker is a compact bullet-ice machine that adds a self-cleaning cycle and a large/small cube selector to the standard budget ice maker formula. It's priced in line with other basic countertop machines. The housing is plastic, and the unit is one of the smallest footprints in this category, at roughly 9 to 10 inches wide.

No plumbing or drain is required; it's a fully self-contained appliance you fill by hand from the roughly 1-quart internal reservoir.

Performance

First batch (cold start, reservoir filled): Ready in about 7 minutes, producing 9 bullet-shaped cubes per cycle.

Ongoing production: Cycles roughly every 7 minutes as long as the reservoir has water and the bin isn't full, reaching the rated 26 lbs over a full day of continuous use.

Self-cleaning cycle: The 5-cycle automatic clean flushes the internal water path when manually triggered from the control panel. Running it every few weeks with regular use, or more often in hard water areas, keeps output consistent and prevents mineral buildup from slowing production.

Cube size: The selector switches between larger and smaller bullet cubes. Smaller cubes chill faster and pack more densely; larger cubes melt more slowly, useful for drinks you're not finishing quickly.

What It Does Well

The self-cleaning cycle is the standout feature at this price. Most competitors in the sub-$100 bullet-ice category require fully manual cleaning, and the Igloo's automated flush genuinely reduces the maintenance burden.

The compact footprint is a real advantage for small kitchens, RVs, or bar carts where counter space is limited. It's one of the smallest machines in this category without sacrificing the standard 26 lb/day output.

The cube size selector is a small but genuinely useful feature, giving flexibility that fixed-size competitors don't offer.

What Falls Short

Reservoir size. At roughly 1 quart, it needs refilling about once a day with steady use, in line with most machines in this budget tier but a real consideration versus larger-reservoir options like the GE Profile Opal 2.0.

Plastic build quality. It feels less premium than stainless steel competitors, though this doesn't appear to affect long-term reliability based on wide owner review volume.

Manual cleaning trigger. The self-clean cycle isn't automatic on a schedule, it has to be started manually, which means it's still possible to forget or delay it.

Who Should Buy It

The Igloo Self-Cleaning Ice Maker is right if: you want a low-maintenance budget ice maker, value a compact footprint for a small kitchen, and want the flexibility of choosing cube size.

Consider alternatives if: you want the absolute lowest price and don't care about self-cleaning (Frigidaire), or you want chewable nugget ice texture (Euhomy or GE Profile Opal 2.0).

Check price on Amazon

See Also

• Igloo Self-Cleaning Ice Maker vs Euhomy Nugget Ice Maker, head-to-head comparison
• Frigidaire Countertop Ice Maker Review, the budget alternative
• Best Countertop Ice Makers Under $100, budget category