When it comes to portable ice makers, it’s hard to find that perfect one.
Each ice maker has its own unique features and benefits. The Frigidaire EFIC103 separates itself from the pack for two specific reasons:
- Its overall features and performance
- It’s at an affordable price
When choosing an ice maker, it all comes down to where you’ll be using the unit, and how much ice (on average) you’re going to need.
If you need ice to supply your restaurant or deli, then I would suggest that you purchase a commercial ice maker.
Complete Our Short Quiz To Find Your Perfect Online Job / Take Our Quiz Now
- Affordable
- Compact
- Stainless Steel
- Small Capacity
The small commercial ice makers that are available on the market today work very well and produce quite a bit of ice. If you host a lot of parties or family gatherings, and you use a considerable amount of ice, then you may even want to take a look at purchasing a small commercial unit instead of a portable ice maker.
Related: Best Commercial Ice Machines for Your Business and Home
Most of the time, you’ll be fine with a portable ice maker for your home. Portable ice makers are smaller than commercial units, portable, and make less ice, but most of the time is all a household needs.
Why the Frigidaire EFIC103 is Great For Your Home
The Frigidaire EFIC103 is a perfect portable ice maker for ordinary home use. Typical home-use would include grabbing some ice for a beverage on a hot day or hosting smaller social events. The Frigidaire EFIC103 is also great for camping, RVing or taking with you on your boat. It’s large enough to make all the ice you’ll need and small enough to be carried to different venues.
Notice some great features of the EFIC103 portable ice maker:
- It’s a compact, portable ice maker
- It makes a 26 pounds of ice
- It has a great design and would fit into any kitchen
- It’s affordable, but still loaded with great features
- It’s built to last a long time
Let’s take a look at the Frigidaire EFIC103 and notice why this is a great choice for your home.
The Features of the Frigidaire EFIC103
This portable ice maker produces 26 pounds of ice in a 24-hour period. How much ice is that?
The average cycle time of each ice maker is about 12-20 minutes (This is the time that the ice maker takes to produce its first batch of ice. Usually the second and third rounds of ice are considerably faster). On average, portable ice makers can produce 20-35 pounds of ice a day. A Fridge ice maker produces on average 4-10 pounds of ice every day.
To bring things into perspective, you can purchase a 20 lb bag of ice at Walmart for about $6-8. You can create one 20-pound bag of ice every 24 hours – that’s a savings of $250 a month!
Expert Tip: If I’m planning a party, I’ll create several bags of ice and place them in freezer bags and store them in the freezer overnight. This way when I host my event, I have several bags of ice ready to go.
Also, (if you have space) you can freeze several bags of ice for camping or use the ice for going to the cottage. Though the EFIC103 cannot create several 20 lbs bags of ice in one day, if you plan everything right, it can still handle more significant events and functions.
One feature that makes this ice maker stand out from the others in this price range, is its oversized ice bin (which can store 2.2 pounds of ice at one time). Having the oversized ice storage bin allows the ice machine to store more ice at one time. With a larger ice bin, you always have ice available when you need it.
Think of it this way, with the 26 pounds of ice a day, you’ll be emptying the ice maker about 13 times. Comparable machines at this price range are even more. Most ice makers in this price range have a storage bin that has a capacity of 1.2-1.5 pounds. This larger storage bucket gives the EFIC103 a significant advantage over the competition.
This ice maker also allows you to create three different ice sizes.
Comparable ice makers only have two options which give the EFIC103 another edge.
Why would you need three ice sizes? Well, it all comes down to the size of your glass.
Smaller glasses mean you’re going to need smaller ice cubes. The smaller size is great for putting in your water bottle; having the option of three ice sizes is an excellent feature to have available to you.
The EFIC103 creates bullet-shaped or hat-shaped ice which is perfect for most needs. If you are looking for sonic ice, then I suggest that take a look at the Opal Nugget Ice Maker 2.0.
The EFIC103 portable ice maker can produce the first batch of ice in as little as 6 mins which is considerably faster than the average ice maker in its price range.
For the price, this is a great, compact ice maker.
Overall Assessment
The Frigidaire EFIC103 is a great portable ice maker for a variety of household needs.
Use this ice maker beside the pool, on the boat, or in your kitchen. Your summers are never going to be the same once you add this portable ice machine to your life.
This ice maker gives you a lot of value for its price point. I have owned the Frigidaire EFIC103 for several months now, and love this ice maker. It makes great bullet-shaped ice, it’s easy to clean, and looks great in my kitchen.
I strongly recommend this ice maker to anyone needing a portable one in their life.
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below. Also, If you own an EFIC103, how do you like it? You can give us your review below.
- Affordable
- Compact
- Stainless Steel
- Small Capacity
Ikaria Lean Belly Juice is a powerful new formula that makes weight loss easier, faster and much more fun - Watch Our Video Now
8 Comments
Just trying to get a portable that makes sonic type ice. I don’t have $400 to spend on a machine. It seems to me that all of the portable ones under $200 do not make sonic type ice. Bummer!(
Unfortunately, the only ice maker that’s available to purchase for making nugget or sonic ice that’s not a commercial unit is the Opal Nugget Ice Maker.
Mine is about 1 year old and is starting to make a lot of noise as it fills the tray ready for making ice but I cannot figure out why and the fan runs smooth with no noise from that end. I need to know what it is and how to repair it.
It sounds like the pump. I would contact Frigidaire for more information. If the unit is less than one year, then it will be under warranty.
Our Frigidaire Ice Maker Model EFIC103 has decided to start making a grinding noise when Ice starts being made. I cannot locate it or know what it is, It is set on a counter and never moves except to clean ever do often when needed. Can you tell me what it is and will it deteriorate from here.
Sounds like the fan to me. This can be replaced or you may want to look at replacing the whole unit if the ice maker is old. Newer ice makers are going to be more efficient. Click here – these guys will be able to help you out.
Why do these ice makers carry a Prop 65 warning? It makes no sense that they are required to have the warning, but not required to tell you why.
I am not sure, it’s not listed.