Frigidaire Ice Maker EFIC108: An Honest Household Review

I remember the exact moment I realized my refrigerator's built-in ice maker was a joke. It was the Fourth of July, we had ten people over, and the fridge dispensed exactly four sad, half-melted cubes before groaning to a halt. That is when I started testing countertop models. If you are tired of running to the gas station for heavy bags of ice, you have probably come across the frigidaire ice maker efic108 during your search. It is one of the most popular budget-friendly options on the market, but does it actually hold up to daily family use? I spent a month running this machine constantly in my own kitchen to find out.

Quick Takeaways

• Produces its first batch of ice in about 8 minutes, depending on ambient room temperature.
• Compact footprint fits easily under most standard kitchen cabinets without hogging counter space.
• Makes hollow, bullet-shaped ice, not soft, chewable nugget ice.
• Requires manual cleaning and draining every few weeks to prevent mildew buildup in the reservoir.

Unboxing the Frigidaire Ice Maker EFIC108

When the box arrived, the first thing I noticed was the weight. At just over 16 pounds, the efic108 is light enough to easily lift onto the counter or pack into an RV for a weekend trip. The packaging is straightforward, using basic styrofoam inserts and a layer of protective film over the exterior to prevent scratches during transit.

Setup takes almost no effort. You pull off the tape holding the ice basket and scoop in place, wash the removable parts with warm soapy water, and wipe down the interior. One crucial step that many people skip: you need to let the machine sit upright and unplugged for at least 24 hours before turning it on. This allows the refrigerant to settle after shipping. If you plug it in immediately, you risk permanently damaging the compressor.

Once the waiting period was over, I filled the 2.3-quart water reservoir up to the max fill line, plugged it into a standard 120V outlet, and hit the power button. There are no confusing menus or smart apps to sync. It is a simple, plug-and-play appliance designed for immediate gratification.

Design, Footprint, and Build Quality

I specifically tested the frigidaire efic108-silver, which features a sleek, metallic-looking plastic exterior. While it is not true stainless steel, the silver finish does a surprisingly good job of resisting fingerprints and blending in with higher-end kitchen appliances.

Space is always at a premium in my kitchen, so I appreciate the compact dimensions. Measuring roughly 15 inches deep, 11 inches wide, and 14 inches tall, it easily slid under my upper cabinets with enough clearance to open the top lid. You do need to leave about six inches of space on the sides and back for proper ventilation, as the exhaust fan pulls air through the side vents to keep the motor cool.

The build quality is exactly what I expect for an entry-level price point. The outer shell feels slightly hollow, and the transparent viewing window on the lid is made of thin acrylic that can scratch if you wipe it with an abrasive sponge. However, the internal mechanisms feel solid. The plastic ice basket is sturdy enough to handle being dumped into a cooler, and the control panel consists of basic, tactile buttons covered by a waterproof membrane. It lacks the premium heft of a high-end commercial machine, but for daily household use, the durability is perfectly adequate.

Performance and Ice Production Speed

The real test of any portable ice maker is how fast it can cool down a drink. Frigidaire claims this model produces 26 pounds of ice per day. While that number is technically accurate if you run it for 24 hours straight and constantly empty the basket, a more practical metric is batch speed.

During my testing in a 72-degree kitchen, the efic108-silver dropped its first batch of nine ice cubes in exactly eight minutes. The first few batches are usually a bit thin and watery as the machine reaches its optimal freezing temperature. By the third cycle, the ice was thick, solid, and fully formed.

You can choose between two ice sizes: small and large. I found the large setting to be the most useful. The small cubes melt far too quickly in room-temperature sodas or cocktails. Even on the large setting, the machine churns out a new batch every 9 to 10 minutes.

It is important to note that this machine is not a freezer. The ice basket sits directly above the water reservoir. As the ice inevitably melts over time, the cold water simply drips back down to be recycled into fresh ice. If you are hosting a party, you will need to periodically empty the basket into a dedicated freezer bin to stockpile enough ice for a crowd. For a family of four grabbing drinks throughout the afternoon, it keeps up perfectly without any stockpiling required.

Clarifying the Nugget Ice Confusion

There is a major misconception floating around online about this specific model. I frequently see people searching for the frigidaire efic108 silver nugget ice maker machine, expecting it to produce that soft, chewable ice you get at fast-food drive-thrus. Let me clear this up right now: this unit does not make nugget ice.

This machine utilizes metal prongs that dip into a water bath to freeze water into hollow, bullet-shaped cylinders. Because they are hollow, they cool drinks down rapidly, but they are hard and solid, not porous and crunchy.

If you are buying this expecting sonic-style ice, you will be disappointed. Buyers who are strictly looking for that specific texture need to understand the reality of countertop nugget ice. True nugget machines use an entirely different mechanical process involving an auger that scrapes and compacts ice flakes, which is why those models typically cost three to four times as much as this bullet ice model.

Noise Levels During Operation

Countertop ice makers are essentially miniature refrigerators, and they come with the expected mechanical sounds. When the machine is running, it emits a steady hum from the compressor and a noticeable whir from the exhaust fan.

I measured the noise level at about 55 decibels from three feet away. It is comparable to a loud dishwasher or a microwave running in the background. In a busy household with kids or a television on, it fades into the ambient noise. However, if you live in a tiny, quiet studio apartment or plan to put this in a home office, the constant hum might get on your nerves.

The loudest part of the cycle is when the ice actually drops from the freezing prongs into the plastic basket. It sounds like a handful of marbles hitting a plastic tray. If you are highly sensitive to appliance noise, you might want to look into the changes in newer v2 models, which often feature better acoustic dampening. For the price point, though, the noise profile here is completely standard for the category.

Cleaning and Maintenance Realities

Nobody likes cleaning appliances, but if you skip maintenance on a portable ice maker, you will end up with pink slime and funky-tasting ice. The machine requires a bit of hands-on care to keep it running smoothly.

There is a small drain plug located on the bottom front of the unit. Unplugging it over a sink to empty the reservoir is easy enough, but the plug itself is tiny and incredibly easy to lose. I highly recommend keeping a small dish nearby to hold the plug while draining the water.

Every two weeks, I run a cleaning cycle using a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. You just fill the reservoir, hold down the power button to activate the self-cleaning function, and let it run. This flushes the internal pipes and removes hard water scale buildup. Afterward, you have to run two or three cycles of fresh water to clear out the vinegar taste entirely.

Wiping down the interior can be frustrating because the freezing prongs and water tray are not easily accessible for larger hands. I use a long cotton swab to clean the hard-to-reach corners. It takes about 15 minutes of active work to clean properly, which is a fair trade-off for fresh, clean-tasting ice, but it is a chore you must commit to doing regularly.

Final Verdict: Is the EFIC108 Worth Your Money?

After a month of heavy use, my verdict is overwhelmingly practical: it is a reliable workhorse for the price. It is not a luxury appliance, and it does not pretend to be.

If you are looking for a budget-friendly way to supplement your refrigerator's broken ice maker, keep drinks cold in an RV, or supply ice for a small home bar, this machine delivers exactly what it promises. The bullet ice forms quickly, the footprint is manageable, and the controls are idiot-proof.

However, if you are a die-hard fan of chewable nugget ice, or if you need to produce massive quantities of ice for large weekly parties, you will outgrow this model quickly. For the average family trying to survive a hot summer without buying bagged ice every other day, it is a smart, economical investment that pays for itself in sheer convenience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave the Frigidaire EFIC108 on all the time?

Yes, you can leave it plugged in and running continuously. Once the ice basket is full, an internal sensor automatically halts production. As the ice melts, the machine will kick back on to replace it, ensuring you always have a full basket ready.

Does the machine keep the ice frozen?

No, portable ice makers are not freezers. The ice basket is insulated to slow down melting, but the ice will eventually melt back into the water reservoir. If you want to save the ice for later, you must transfer it to your main kitchen freezer.

What kind of water should I use?

For the best tasting ice and the longevity of the machine, use filtered or bottled water. Hard tap water will cause rapid mineral buildup on the freezing prongs, which slows down ice production and requires much more frequent descaling.