Is having an ice maker at home worth it? g1 tested two models; see pros and cons

Every family has that person who fills the molds in the freezer to make ice and that one who leaves the tray empty, waiting for the next member with goodwill. Domestic ice machines promise to solve this problem. The Shopping Guide tested two models with a production capacity of up to 12 kg per day: the Elgin Easy Ice and the Mondial Turbo Ice Premium MG-12-GI. Small ice machine makes 9 stones at a time — Photo: Henrique Martin/g1 The quantity is more than enough to help cool down in the heat or to cater to guests at a party at home. For comparison, professional equipment used in hotels and restaurants produces 50 kg or more daily. Tip for everyday use: start production one or two hours before the event to have more quantity and avoid having to wait for the ice to be ready. To speed up the first batch, it is worth putting cold water in the reservoir and the ice comes out ready, without wasting time with thin ice that melts quickly. The models evaluated cost between R$ 530 and R$ 610 in online stores in October. In a test done in 2023 with other similar equipment, the prices were much higher, reaching R$ 1,700 for the same 12 kg capacity. Ice machines: g1 tests Elgin (left) and Mondial (right) models — Photo: Reproduction Below, see the results and, finally, the conclusion and pros and cons. Elgin Easy Ice - Elgin Easy Ice - Average price: R$ 530 (cheapest in the test, in October) - Production capacity: 12 kg/day - Speed: 9 stones per cycle (8 to 10 minutes) - Dimensions and weight: 28.5 cm (W) x 20.5 cm (L) x 24 cm (H) / 6 kg - Warranty: 1 year The Elgin model was the cheapest among those tested. It is a machine with a white or black finish, with a quite sober design. It has a handle for transport, which helps move the equipment. It has a simple and intuitive digital panel: there, the user turns the appliance on and off, chooses the size of the stone (small or large) and views the alerts for lack of water or full ice basket. Elgin Easy Ice Panel — Photo: Henrique Martin/g1 During the Shopping Guide tests, the Easy Ice delivered 9 stones per cycle, which lasts between 8 and 10 minutes. The stones have a shape very similar to those produced by the Mondial competitor. Large ice produced by Elgin Easy Ice — Photo: Henrique Martin/g1 About the selectable sizes on the panel, the real difference is only in thickness: the "large" ice is a little thicker on the inside. Filled with its maximum capacity (1.2 liters of filtered water), the machine took three and a half hours to reduce the water to a level slightly below half and to alert to refill the reservoir. In this continuous period, it produced about 180 stones (equivalent to two baskets). The machine has an infrared sensor that automatically stops production when it detects that the basket is full. A trick to quickly free up space is to use the plastic scoop (included in the box) to push the accumulated ice forward, freeing the sensor's view for the machine to make another batch. At the end of use, the water left in the reservoir — which is very cold — needs to be removed. It is possible to drain it through a stopper at the bottom. The design problem (common with the Mondial machine) is that this drain is located below the product, closer to the front of the container. This makes it a little difficult to empty the water completely without having to tip the heavy equipment onto the sink. Mondial Turbo Ice Premium MG-12-GI - Mondial Turbo Ice Premium MG-12-GI - Average price: R$ 630 - Production capacity: 12 kg/day - Speed: 9 cubes per cycle (8 to 12 minutes) - Reservoir capacity: 1.3 liters - Dimensions and weight: 34 cm (W) x 32 cm (L) x 27 cm (H) / 6.82 kg - Warranty: 1 year The Mondial model stands out for its gray and stainless steel finish and brings performance characteristics very similar to its competitor in the test. With a slightly larger reservoir, 1.3 liters, just plug it into the socket and fill it with cold filtered water to produce ice. Mondial Expert Ice Panel — Photo: Henrique Martin/g1 In the tests, the Mondial Turbo Ice Premium delivered 9 stones per cycle, which lasts between 8 and 12 minutes. The stones have a shape very similar to those produced by the Elgin competitor, and the "large" ice is thicker than the "small" one on the inside. Small ice produced by Mondial: almost no difference from the large in any machine — Photo: Henrique Martin/g1 The machine took almost four hours to reduce the water to a third of the level and to alert to refill the reservoir. In this period, it also produced about 180 stones, or two full baskets. After use, the drainage of the water left in the reservoir is done through a bottom outlet valve. Just as with the Elgin model, the position of this front drain requires the user to slightly tip the appliance onto the sink to drain the water completely. Conclusions on the two models - Is it worth it? Yes. The main advantage is the practicality of having quick ice, without depending on the freezer. The two tested machines functioned very similarly and delivered a good amount of ice in a reasonable time. - Elgin Easy Ice: Has a lower price, but its water reservoir is smaller than the Mondial's. - Mondial Turbo Ice Premium MG-12-GI: Costs more, but the water capacity is greater, reducing the time to refill the tank. The purchase is recommended if you usually receive friends for small parties or consume cold drinks in daily life – as long as there is space available on the countertop to house the appliance. And remember: always seek authorized technical assistance if the ice takes longer than normal to be ready or the machine shows defects. Pros and cons The operation of the equipment is quite simple and intuitive. No hydraulic installation is necessary. Just plug it into the socket (check the voltage of the place before purchase, as they are not bivolt), put filtered water in the container up to the indicated limit and choose the stone size (small or large). Manufacturers recommend not using other liquids in the machine besides water. In each cycle, which lasts around 10 minutes, the machines produce 9 ice stones. The first production cycles can be misleading. The stones come out small and thin at the beginning, but this is normal in all products. If you use cold water, they come out larger. Furthermore, they are large and heavy machines (about 6 kg on average). Although smaller than an air fryer, they occupy a considerable area on the kitchen counter. Warning: they are not freezers. The ice, once ready, needs to be consumed or transferred. Despite having thermal insulation, the machines do not preserve the stones for more than 2 or 3 hours. If the equipment is turned off or stops producing because the basket is full, the stones will melt and the water will fall back into the bottom container, being reused in the next cycle. If you want to make larger quantities to use later, it is possible to store the ice in your refrigerator's freezer. However, because they are wet when they come out of the machine, the stones will stick to each other. The main negative point of these appliances is that they heat the environment where they are installed. Just like refrigerators, these machines use an internal compressor that dissipates heat through the exterior. On very hot days, this hot air can be uncomfortable, depending on the room's ventilation. Also, due to the compressor and the refrigerant gas, manufacturers require that the products stay stable on the countertop. If you transport or move the machine, it is necessary to leave it still for a period (about one hour to 24 hours, depending on each brand's manual) before plugging it in. HOW THE TESTS WERE DONE: The Shopping Guide requested the manufacturers to send an ice machine indicated for domestic use. The tests were done at home, producing ice for several cycles, until all the water in the container was used up. 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