I Tested the Frigidaire EFIC189: Are Budget Ice Makers Worth It?

Last July, I hosted a small BBQ and ran out of ice before the first burger even hit the grill. My apartment freezer makes exactly twelve cubes every four hours, and I was tired of making emergency runs to the gas station for seven-pound bags of frozen water. I finally broke down and bought the frigidaire efic189 to see if a budget machine could actually handle my daily iced coffee habit.

• Real-world output: About 20-22 lbs per day (don't believe the 26 lb label).
• Cycle speed: 7 to 11 minutes depending on ambient temperature.
• Ice shape: Hollow bullets in two sizes.
• Best for: Renters, RV owners, and small households.

Why I Finally Ditched My Plastic Freezer Trays

Freezer trays are for people with more patience than I have. I spent years wrestling with cracked plastic and spilled water before realizing I needed a dedicated portable machine that didn't require permanent plumbing. The efic189 is Frigidaire's entry-level workhorse, designed to sit on your counter and churn out ice while you go about your day.

It is significantly faster than a standard freezer. While your fridge takes hours to freeze a tray, this unit starts dropping ice before you've finished unloading the dishwasher. It’s a low-stakes investment that completely changes how you host people in a small space. No more 'ice anxiety' when a third person asks for a drink.

Unboxing and Finding Counter Space for the EFIC189

The frigidaire efic189 silver compact ice maker is surprisingly small, about the footprint of a large toaster. It fits easily under my standard-height cabinets with enough clearance to actually open the top lid. The 'silver' finish is actually a sleek plastic wrap that mimics brushed metal; it looks decent, though it is a fingerprint magnet.

If your kitchen is decked out in darker kitchen appliances, the silver might stand out a bit too much. However, the design is clean and unobtrusive. The setup is dead simple: plug it in, wipe down the interior, and add water. There is no water line to hook up, which is exactly what I wanted for my rental kitchen.

Bullet vs. Nugget: Clearing Up a Major Search Confusion

Let's address the elephant in the room. A lot of people search for the frigidaire efic189 compact countertop nugget ice maker, but I have to set the record straight: this is not a nugget ice machine. Nugget ice is that soft, chewable 'Sonic' ice that requires a specialized compressor. This machine produces hollow bullet ice.

If you are dead-set on true countertop nugget ice, you are going to spend three to four times more than what this unit costs. Bullet ice has its perks, though. Because it's hollow, it has more surface area, which means it cools your drink down almost instantly. Just don't expect that soft, flaky crunch—these bullets are solid and hard.

Testing the '9 Minutes Per Batch' Claim

Frigidaire claims a 9-minute cycle for the frigidaire ice maker efic189. In my testing, the first batch actually dropped in 7 minutes, but the 'cubes' were tiny, watery rings. This is normal. The machine needs about three cycles for the evaporator rods to get cold enough to produce thick ice. By the 25-minute mark, I had a respectable pile of solid bullets.

One thing the manual won't tell you: the temperature of the water you pour in matters. If you use lukewarm tap water, your cycle times will crawl. Use chilled water from a Brita pitcher, and the machine turns into a beast. I managed to fill the small basket in about an hour and a half, which is more than enough for a round of cocktails.

The Noise Factor: Is It Too Loud for an Open Kitchen?

The frigidaire efic189 b silver isn't silent, but it's not a jet engine either. It sounds like a small refrigerator running in high gear. You'll hear the fan whirring constantly while it's active. The most jarring sound is the 'thunk'—the unmistakable noise of the ice tray tilting and dropping the batch into the plastic basket.

It’s fine for a kitchen or a home bar, but I wouldn't put it in a studio apartment right next to your bed. The compressor hum is consistent, which makes it easy to tune out after a few minutes. Compared to the old-school fridge ice makers that sound like a construction site at 3 AM, this is a massive upgrade in terms of acoustics.

Final Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This?

The frigidaire efic189-silver compact ice maker is a budget-friendly win for specific people. If you’re a heavy iced coffee drinker or live in an RV, it’s a no-brainer. It solves the 'no ice' problem without requiring a $2,000 refrigerator upgrade. It’s reliable, fast enough for daily use, and small enough to hide in a pantry when you aren't using it.

It isn't for large parties of twenty people—the 1.2-pound basket capacity just can't keep up with that. But for a household of two or three people who just want cold drinks on a Tuesday night, the frigidaire silver compact ice maker is one of the few kitchen gadgets I actually use every single day.

FAQ

Does the ice stay frozen in the basket?

No. This is not a freezer; it's an insulated bin. If you don't use the ice, it will eventually melt, drip back into the reservoir, and be recycled into new ice. It's a closed-loop system.

How often do I need to clean it?

I recommend a deep clean once a month. Run a cycle with a 1:1 ratio of water and white vinegar, then run two cycles with plain water to rinse it out. If you have hard water, you'll see scale buildup on the rods otherwise.

Can I leave it running 24/7?

You can, but I wouldn't. The fan and compressor will wear out faster. I turn mine on in the morning, fill a gallon freezer bag with ice, and then shut the machine off for the day.