Frigidaire EFIC189 Review: Is This Compact Maker Worth It?

I remember moving into my first apartment where the fridge was barely bigger than a dorm cooler. The freezer had exactly enough room for a single frozen pizza, leaving zero space for standard ice trays. That is the exact scenario where the frigidaire efic189 shines. I have tested dozens of portable ice makers over the years, from massive tailgating units to tiny countertop models, to see which ones actually deliver on their promises.

Quick Takeaways

• Produces its first batch of ice in roughly 7 to 9 minutes depending on ambient room temperature.
• Creates hollow, bullet-shaped ice rather than chewable sonic-style ice.
• Measures just 11.5 inches tall, allowing it to slide easily under almost any kitchen cabinet.
• Requires you to manually transfer the ice to a freezer if you want to store it long-term.

Meeting the Frigidaire Ice Maker EFIC189

The portable appliance market is flooded with identical-looking machines stamped with different brand names. However, the frigidaire ice maker efic189 has carved out a massive following, consistently showing up on dorm room essentials lists and RV packing guides. When I unboxed my test unit, I immediately understood why it is so popular. It feels purpose-built for people who are tired of buying heavy bags of ice from the gas station but simply do not have the plumbing or the space for an under-counter built-in machine.

Setting expectations is crucial here. This is a supplemental kitchen gadget. It is not designed to fill a 50-quart Yeti cooler in a single afternoon. Instead, it is meant to sit quietly on your counter, churning out enough ice for your evening cocktails, iced coffees, or a small dinner party. If you treat it as a daily convenience rather than a commercial workhorse, you will be much happier with its performance.

Design and Footprint: The Frigidaire EFIC189-Silver Compact Ice Maker

One of my biggest gripes with countertop appliances is how much real estate they steal. The frigidaire efic189-silver compact ice maker addresses this beautifully. Measuring roughly 15 inches deep, 9.5 inches wide, and 11.5 inches tall, it is surprisingly unobtrusive. Most standard upper kitchen cabinets sit about 18 inches above the counter, meaning this unit slides underneath with plenty of room to spare. You can even open the top lid to scoop ice without having to pull the machine forward.

Aesthetically, the frigidaire silver compact ice maker blends nicely into modern kitchens. While the exterior housing is largely plastic rather than true stainless steel, the metallic silver finish resists fingerprints much better than glossy black or white models I have tested. The large transparent viewing window on the top lid is a highly practical design choice. It lets you check the ice basket level at a glance without opening the lid and letting the cold air escape.

Build quality is standard for this price point. The hinges feel a bit light, but the internal components, including the metal freezing pegs, are solid. It weighs just over 16 pounds empty, making it incredibly easy to carry out to the patio for a summer barbecue or pack into the trunk for a weekend camping trip.

Bullet vs. Nugget Ice: Clearing Up the Confusion

If there is one thing I want to make abundantly clear in this review, it is the type of ice this machine produces. Every week, I see people searching for a frigidaire efic189 compact countertop nugget ice maker, only to end up disappointed when they open the box. Let me save you the return shipping hassle: this machine does not make nugget ice.

Instead, it produces bullet ice. Bullet ice is cylindrical with a hollow center. The machine makes this by submerging metal pegs into a tray of water. As the pegs freeze, ice forms around them. The tray then drops away, the pegs heat up slightly, and the hollow bullets slide off into the basket. This hollow design is actually great for rapidly chilling drinks because it offers more surface area for the liquid to touch. However, it melts faster than solid cubes and is much harder than nugget ice.

If your ultimate goal is to chew on soft, porous ice all day long, you are looking at the wrong appliance category. For that specific texture, you need an auger-style machine. I highly recommend looking into actual countertop nugget ice machines if chewable ice is a dealbreaker for you. But if you just want fast, reliable ice for your daily iced tea, the bullet style works perfectly.

Performance and Speed: Testing the EFIC189

To put the efic189 through its paces, I filled the reservoir to the max fill line with cold, filtered water and hit the power button. The manufacturer claims it can produce 26 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period. While technically true under absolute perfect laboratory conditions, real-world usage looks a bit different.

During my tests in a 72-degree kitchen, the first batch of nine ice bullets dropped into the basket in exactly 8 minutes and 15 seconds. It is worth noting that the first two or three batches always come out a bit thin and watery as the compressor is still getting down to optimal temperature. By the fourth cycle, the ice bullets were thick, opaque, and fully formed.

You can choose between small and large ice sizes on the control panel. I almost exclusively use the large setting. The small setting produces ice that is so thin it melts almost instantly when poured into room-temperature soda. The large setting adds about a minute to the freezing cycle but yields a much more usable piece of ice. Over the course of an hour, the machine consistently produced about 1.5 pounds of ice.

Reservoir Size and Ice Basket Capacity

The water reservoir holds roughly 2.3 quarts of water. The plastic ice basket suspended above it holds about 1.5 pounds of ice. This is where the 26-pound daily yield claim hits a bottleneck. The machine has an infrared sensor that automatically stops ice production when the basket is full.

Because the basket is small, it fills up every 60 to 90 minutes. If you are not there to empty it into a freezer bag, the machine stops working. This is a common reality when living with a 26 lb model. Furthermore, the ice compartment is insulated but not actively refrigerated. If you leave the ice in the basket, it will slowly melt back into the reservoir below, where the machine will simply recycle the water and freeze it again.

Noise Levels and Daily Maintenance

Portable ice makers are never entirely silent, and the frigidaire efic189 b silver is no exception. When the compressor kicks on, it emits a steady hum that measures around 50 decibels. It sounds very much like a dorm mini-fridge or a microwave running in the next room. The loudest part of the entire process is actually the sound of the ice bullets dropping from the freezing pegs into the empty plastic basket. It is a sudden clatter that might startle you the first few times you hear it.

Maintenance is straightforward but absolutely mandatory. Because these machines hold standing water in a warm kitchen environment, they are prone to developing pink slime or mold if neglected. I recommend draining the unit completely once a week using the small silicone drain plug located at the bottom front of the machine. It is a bit awkward to uncap over a shallow sink, so I usually slide the machine to the edge of the counter and drain it into a bowl. Once a month, run a cleaning cycle using a mixture of half distilled white vinegar and half water to descale the internal pipes and freezing pegs.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Frigidaire EFIC189 Silver Compact Ice Maker?

After weeks of testing, I can confidently say the frigidaire efic189 silver compact ice maker is a highly capable machine for its specific target audience. It is affordable, incredibly easy to operate, and churns out ice fast enough to save you during a party when you realize the freezer trays are empty.

I recommend this unit for apartment dwellers, RV owners, and anyone who needs a quick, supplemental ice source. I do not recommend it if you are looking for chewable nugget ice, or if you need to stockpile massive quantities of ice without manually intervening every hour. As long as you understand its limitations and stay on top of the weekly cleaning, this compact maker is a fantastic addition to a small kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this machine keep the ice frozen?

No, portable ice makers like this one are not freezers. The ice basket is insulated, but the ice will eventually melt back into the water reservoir if you do not transfer it to your refrigerator's freezer.

What kind of water should I use?

While you can use standard tap water, I highly recommend using filtered or distilled water. This prevents hard water mineral buildup on the freezing pegs, which can eventually break the machine and make your ice taste funny.

Why is the "Ice Full" light on when the basket is empty?

This usually happens if the infrared sensor gets blocked by a rogue piece of ice, or if direct sunlight is hitting the sensor through the viewing window. Simply wipe the sensor down and move the machine out of direct sunlight.