An ice maker is an excellent home asset, especially if you like entertaining. There are two types of ice makers for sale, manual trays or automatic ice makers. Both of them have their advantages and disadvantages, so there are a few things you need to consider before buying your first ice machine. Firstly, how much ice do you need, what is the ice going to be used for and what type of ice do you want? All of these options mean that the price of ice makers varies considerably, with each machine producing different quantities and qualities of ice in different time frames. Here's a guide that might help you decide which ice maker to go for.

Type of Ice

You need to consider what you'll be using the ice for. Some ice is suitable for using in drinks, some for cold storage and some for health benefits. Ice types include gourmet cubes, dice cubes, half dice cubes, tubes, nuggets, crushed, flaked or shaved styles. Each type has different melting times and uses, with the first three being the better options for use in drinks or for keeping bottles cold, crushed being ideal for cocktails and the others being more suitable for food preservation. Some machines are able to change the type of ice they produce, so if you are likely to want different types, it's worth shopping around for the right appliance.

Manual Tray

The simplest ice maker is the manual ice tray. This is basically a plastic tray that you fill with water and place into your freezer. Simple and inexpensive, but lacking in capacity, which makes this option suitable for those who only use ice occasionally. The manual tray is also only able to make one type of ice, usually the cube, which is only really suitable for drinks. If you were having a buffet dinner party and wanted to use ice to keep your food cool whilst on display, the manual tray would not be up to the job.

Portable Ice Makers

These automatic appliances are designed specifically for home use and can make much larger quantities of ice in a much quicker time than the manual tray. Many of these machines can make ice in a matter of minutes. They are also very simple to use - simply fill the machine reservoir with water and turn the power on. The ice that is made in these portable units is also considered to be of a higher quality than manual tray ice, as the latter is often stored in the freezer next to other food items, thereby often absorbing unpleasant food odours. Additionally, many of the better machines allow you to choose the size and type of ice you want, offering anything from crushed or shaved ice to larger cubes. Finally, these portable machines are reasonably priced, efficient and usually reliable, and are often only small in size so that they can be easily stored in a cupboard when not in use.