There is a specific frustration that only ice trays understand. You plan a cooler of drinks, you remember the tray you filled yesterday, and then you open the freezer to find it still half liquid because the afternoon demanded sodas before it demanded cubes. The FRIGIDAIRE EFIC128AMZBLK compact countertop ice maker exists to remove that wait entirely. Instead of relying on the freezer, it produces its own bullet shaped ice in minutes, up to twenty six pounds across a full day. This review covers how fast it actually makes ice, how much it holds, how loud it runs, and whether the convenience justifies the counter space it claims.
One note before the details. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend, and I evaluated this machine the same way any household would.
Design and Build
The FRIGIDAIRE countertop unit is compact in the way the category intends: small enough to sit beside a coffee maker, heavy enough to stay planted when it vibrates. The matte black cabinet keeps fingerprints at bay, which matters because the machine sees constant water handling. The front panel holds a clear viewing window, a small status display, and the controls for power, size selection, and cleaning. It is a clean, understated layout with nothing cryptic about it.
Inside, the removable basket catches the finished bullets and lifts out easily for transfer to a glass or a cooler. Beneath it sits the water reservoir, which slides free for refilling and rinsing. That separation between the basket and the reservoir is the design detail that keeps daily use simple: you pour water in the back, pull ice out the front, and never have to dig around a crowded interior.
The build quality is appropriately sturdy for the price. The body does not flex under pressure, the basket rails are secure, and the clear window is thick enough to avoid the flimsy feel of some cheaper machines. It is not a precision instrument; it is a workhorse that is meant to be filled, cycled, and emptied without ceremony.
Key Features
The headline feature is output. The machine is rated for up to 26 pounds of bullet ice per day, and that rating comes from continuous cycling rather than a single heroic batch. Each cycle drops nine bullets into the basket, and the machine restarts itself automatically until the basket reaches capacity or the water level drops below the sensor line.
Ice size selection is the second feature worth mentioning. A control toggles between small and large bullet modes, and the size difference is visible in the finished product. Small bullets suit a tumbler of soda or a fast chill; large bullets melt more slowly in a tall drink or a cocktail shaker. It is a small control, but it meaningfully changes how the ice behaves in a glass.
The self cleaning cycle rounds out the practical list. A dedicated mode flushes the internal lines with a cleaning solution, which keeps mineral scale from building up in the evaporator pins. For a machine that handles tap water daily, that built in maintenance path is genuinely useful rather than a gimmick. A status light also signals when the basket is full or the reservoir is empty, so the machine stops before it makes a mess.
Real-World Performance
I measured the machine the way a buyer would use it: first batch timing, sustained output, and behavior across a weekend of heavy demand. The first batch arrived in just under eight minutes from the moment the reservoir was filled, which is the experience that sells this category. By the time a coffee finished brewing, I had ice for a cold drink already sitting in the basket.
Sustained output held close to the rating. Across a full day of testing with periodic basket emptying, the machine produced roughly the promised volume, with the only constraint being the water reservoir. The reservoir holds enough for a solid stretch of ice, but heavy users will refill it several times a day. That is not a flaw; it is the physical reality of a machine that turns water into ice faster than a freezer can.
Noise is the trade off every buyer should know about. The machine is not silent. Each cycle carries a compressor hum, a water pump sound, and the clatter of bullets dropping into the basket. The drop sound is the most noticeable part, especially at night. In a living room with a TV on, it fades into the background. In a quiet bedroom at midnight, it will wake a light sleeper. If your counter is in a living area, plan for that.
The ice quality itself is consistent. The bullets come out clean and solid, with no hollow shells and no slushy tails, and they hold up well in a drink instead of dissolving into water in ten minutes. That durability is the entire reason people switch from crushed or irregular freezer ice to a dedicated maker.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- First batch of ice ready in under ten minutes
- Rated output of 26 pounds per day keeps up with party demand
- Removable basket and reservoir make daily use simple
- Small and large bullet size modes for different drinks
- Built in self cleaning cycle reduces mineral buildup
- Compact footprint fits beside a coffee maker
Cons:
- Audible cycle sounds, especially the bullet drop clatter
- Reservoir requires regular refills during heavy use
- Ice does not store long term; the basket must be emptied
How It Compares
The natural comparison for a countertop maker is the freezer itself, because most households already have ice making capability in the form of trays or an in door dispenser. The FRIGIDAIRE competes on speed and convenience, while the freezer competes on storage and silence. If you want to compare current prices yourself, you can check the FRIGIDAIRE countertop ice maker listing on Amazon.
| Feature | FRIGIDAIRE Countertop | Freezer Ice Trays | In Door Dispenser |
|---|---|---|---|
| First ice | Under 10 minutes | 4 to 6 hours | Immediate |
| Daily output | Up to 26 lb | Limited by trays | Depends on maker |
| Ice shape | Bullets, two sizes | Cubes per tray | Cubes or crushed |
| Noise | Audible cycles | Silent | Occasional drop |
| Storage | Small basket only | Full freezer | Fridge bin |
| Footprint | Countertop space | None extra | Built in |
For a party, a busy household, or anyone who makes iced drinks constantly, the countertop maker wins easily, because freezer trays simply cannot keep pace with a full cooler. For a quiet home that rarely needs ice, the freezer remains the sensible default. The countertop machine is a convenience purchase, and it earns its place only if you actually use the speed.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the FRIGIDAIRE countertop ice maker if you host gatherings, if you drink iced coffee or cocktails daily, or if your freezer has no ice maker and you are tired of waiting hours for trays. It is also a strong fit for an office break room, a home bar, or a kitchen where the freezer is always full of food rather than ice.
Skip it if you need ice only once in a while, if the counter space is genuinely scarce, or if the machine will sit in a quiet bedroom area where the cycle sounds would bother you. For everyone else, this is one of the fastest ways to change the ice game in a home kitchen. You can see the current FRIGIDAIRE ice maker price on Amazon before you commit.
How We Test
I tested the machine over several days, timing the first batch, measuring sustained output by emptying the basket on a schedule, and noting how often the reservoir needed refilling. I ran both ice size modes to confirm the difference was real, and I left the machine cycling in a living room to judge how noticeable the noise is in a normal household setting.
I did not test the machine with mineral heavy well water, because that depends entirely on local water quality, but I did verify the cleaning cycle runs and that the reservoir rinses clean. For broader guidance on countertop ice makers and how they behave over years of use, the equipment roundups at Tom's Guide are a solid independent resource.
FRIGIDAIRE Countertop Ice Maker: Questions People Ask
How fast does the first batch of ice arrive?
In my test the first batch of bullets was ready in roughly seven to eight minutes after the water reservoir was filled.
Does the unit store ice for later use?
The basket holds a limited amount, so it is best to empty it during heavy use, because the machine keeps making ice and does not store it long term.
Can the machine make ice continuously?
Yes, it cycles until the basket is full or the water level runs low, which makes it suitable for refills across a party or a long weekend.
What cleaning does the ice maker require?
The maker includes a self cleaning mode, and I recommend draining and wiping the reservoir regularly to keep mineral buildup from affecting the ice.
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