The Real Scoop on Ice Machines

Buying a refrigerator is a bit like buying an automobile. We all know what to expect from an excellent refrigerator. Quality design, energy efficiency, temperature and humidity controls, shelf space. The best refrigerators have these qualities, and the worst ones don’t. Consumer Reports can tell you which is which.

And so, often times, buying decisions hinge on the little things. For cars, there are amenities such as cup holders and heated seats. For refrigerators, there is the ice maker. I love ice makers for the reason that I hate ice cube trays. Overflowing water, oversized trapezoidal cubes, weird little crumbs on the bottom (where DO those come from?), and if you want ice, but don’t have ice… Well, you can’t rush chemistry.

Apparently, I am not alone. Take this ranking of the best refrigerators available online cites the Maytag Side by French Door as the best refrigerator available. The criteria? Best icemaker.

The LG Stainless Steel Side by Bottom is relegated to second… Alas, it’s not good for tall glasses, though another LG model is cited for being the first to replicate the shape of the old ice cube trays. Um, that’s a good thing?

Oh, and for those who are interested in learning how refrigerators make ice, now you know.