I know it sounds pretty silly to say that something like a countertop ice machine could bring some happiness into my life, but please allow me to explain. You see, it’s been years since I’ve been able to enjoy a simple party with my friends and family. Most people take these “get togethers” for granted and probably don’t appreciate how meaningful they can be for some of us.
You see, I’ve struggled with a chronic illness that would always leave me weak, exhausted, or jittery, and I spent most of the time spaced out on the couch or just lying in bed. When I felt a tiny bit of energy, I usually spent it feeling sorry for myself and wasn’t exactly in the mood to play host for a party – even if others offered to do most of the physical work for me.
But after years of struggle and searching for answers, things have slowly gotten better for me, and I’ve been able to enjoy some better health and good times with my loved ones. Having overcome so many obstacles and feeling so grateful, I wanted to celebrate with my old friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while!
So, as you might have guessed already, I invited a few friends to a party at my house to catch up and enjoy a little junk food (I really missed that stuff after trying every health and wellness diet under the sun).
The only thing was that my friends and I love ice in my drinks, and there were going to be a few people over for a change. Not only that, but some of my friends have joined me on the wellness journey and have even become virtual health nuts, which means they prefer to use spring or distilled water (even in their ice).
My sister had the great idea of buying me a portable ice maker – just a simple standalone unit that I could place on the kitchen countertop or some other convenient place.
There were several things we liked about the Avalon Bay unit. First of all, it can start making ice in as little as six minutes, and it can supposedly make up to 26 pounds of ice per day! Of course, we weren’t trying to test the limits of the machine or break any world records. We just wanted a convenient countertop machine that was easy to use. Also, we really liked the fact that the bottom drain would allow for easy cleaning of the machine.
In case you were wondering, the unit dimensions were 11 x 14.8 x 14.7 inches. It does weigh 20 pounds, which isn’t too bad, but it’s not exactly a featherweight either.
If you’re getting ready for a party or family gathering yourself, or even if you would just like to make your own ice from your choice of water, I recommend you take a look at the item below.
You see, I’ve struggled with a chronic illness that would always leave me weak, exhausted, or jittery, and I spent most of the time spaced out on the couch or just lying in bed. When I felt a tiny bit of energy, I usually spent it feeling sorry for myself and wasn’t exactly in the mood to play host for a party – even if others offered to do most of the physical work for me.
But after years of struggle and searching for answers, things have slowly gotten better for me, and I’ve been able to enjoy some better health and good times with my loved ones. Having overcome so many obstacles and feeling so grateful, I wanted to celebrate with my old friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while!
So, as you might have guessed already, I invited a few friends to a party at my house to catch up and enjoy a little junk food (I really missed that stuff after trying every health and wellness diet under the sun).
The only thing was that my friends and I love ice in my drinks, and there were going to be a few people over for a change. Not only that, but some of my friends have joined me on the wellness journey and have even become virtual health nuts, which means they prefer to use spring or distilled water (even in their ice).
My sister had the great idea of buying me a portable ice maker – just a simple standalone unit that I could place on the kitchen countertop or some other convenient place.
There were several things we liked about the Avalon Bay unit. First of all, it can start making ice in as little as six minutes, and it can supposedly make up to 26 pounds of ice per day! Of course, we weren’t trying to test the limits of the machine or break any world records. We just wanted a convenient countertop machine that was easy to use. Also, we really liked the fact that the bottom drain would allow for easy cleaning of the machine.
In case you were wondering, the unit dimensions were 11 x 14.8 x 14.7 inches. It does weigh 20 pounds, which isn’t too bad, but it’s not exactly a featherweight either.
If you’re getting ready for a party or family gathering yourself, or even if you would just like to make your own ice from your choice of water, I recommend you take a look at the item below.
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Stainless Steel Ice Bucket & Scoop
Now, one of the downsides of these kinds of ice makers is that they won’t keep the ice frozen for a long period. In other words, the ice will eventually melt as the units aren’t really designed to be used as freezers or storage units.
If you need to hold your ice outside the freezer for a while, you might want to consider a stainless steel bucket like the one below. They’re pretty inexpensive and very durable, and the ice can last up to 6 hours. There’s enough room for about half a gallon of ice too.
I’m not a big wine person, but some of my friends are. If you are a wine or champagne aficionado, this insulated unit can serve as a wine cooler too.
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Over-Sized Ice Bucket for Your Kitchen Counter
The thing about the Avalon machine above is that it has a smaller ice bucket, so you have to keep emptying out the ice. If you need an over-sized option, this model will hold more than two pounds worth of ice. Not to mention that it makes ice in three different sizes instead of just two, and it’s also stainless steel.
Ice Maker & Dispenser for your Countertop
The last option I wanted to mention really quickly was a dispenser model. You might prefer this kind of machine if you’d rather be able to fill your glass directly, and it can be connected directly to your water line as well. It’s the same idea as the typical refrigerator ice dispenser, except that this product is designed to fit on your tabletop.
By the way, here’s a great tip we got from an Amazon review written by a refrigerator repair man: Place the unit upright for 24 hours before using the machine for the first time. What this does is to allow the coolant to settle, and some Amazon reviewers weren’t aware of that and were assuming that the unit was defective or something!
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Common Questions about the Avalon Unit:
Can I make crushed ice with this unit?
The ice comes in two sizes, and you just choose which size you want by pushing the buttons on the ice maker. It’s not really crushed ice, but it does have a hole inside the cube which makes it easier to crush yourself (or possibly chew if you enjoy munching on ice, but be careful with your teeth).
Will my ice have a plastic taste to it?
Well, what’s wrong with a little plastic, anyway? Just kidding, of course. There’s no plastic taste to it, especially if you follow the instructions in the manual by cleaning with some soapy water first. Just be sure to carefully follow the instructions in your manual when you receive the item.
Can I use it to store ice in between uses?
No, this model was not intended to be used as a freezer. If you leave the ice inside, it will eventually melt. The good news is that the water won’t leak or anything. The water will just be there for you to remake into ice whenever you’re ready.
You can take a look at the stainless steel ice bucket I mentioned above if you need to store for several hours outside the freezer.
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