A refrigerator with a built-in ice maker can be an excellent addition to any family, and it can be highly beneficial if you are someone who can do a lot of entertaining. If you feel bad about refilling ice trays and spilling a lot of water when transporting the ice trays from the kitchen to the refrigerator, then you should opt to buy the best refrigerator with a built-in ice maker. A lot of French door fridges and double door models comes with ice making function, just like the top-freezer refrigerators. Some refrigerators with ice makers come with an ice and water dispenser to make the entire process very comfortable.
Factors to Consider while Buying the Best Refrigerator for Ice Making
If you love ice and wish to get a decent supply of ice regularly then you should buy a refrigerator for a dedicated ice-making function. A study from Bosch states that more than half of Americans consume about 36 pounds of ice per month as part of their daily water intake. If you are one among them, then it is optimal that you buy a refrigerator that has a dedicated ice-making function. Here are some factors to consider while looking for a refrigerator with a built-in ice-making function.
1. Double door refrigerators
The double-door refrigerators are one of the most popular choices among ice lovers. These refrigerators come with two doors and are known for their durability and energy efficiency. One of the doors of this refrigerator functions as a refrigerator and the other door acts as a freezer. There are again two types of double-door refrigerators. In the top mount freezer types, the freezer is on the top and the refrigerator is at the bottom. Such conventional models are used widely.
The bottom mount freezers are also quite popular, where the freezer is at the bottom and the refrigerator is on the top. They will have in-built freezers with dividers.
2. Side by side refrigerators and French door refrigerators
There are also side-by-side door refrigerators that will have ice and water dispensers on the front of the door so that we can enjoy cold water and ice without having to open the refrigerator. French door refrigerators also have integrated ice dispensers and are extremely unique.
3. Budget
The price tag is one of the most important deciding factors to consider while buying a new refrigerator. The refrigerators with built-in ice-making capacity will surely be costly but it is worth the spend.
Best Refrigerators for Ice Making
Some refrigerator models have a separated freezer compartment to help make ice. But it can take a few hours to complete the ice-making process. Some refrigerators have built-in ice dispensers and this is available inside by side and French door models. Here are some best refrigerators with ice-making capability from leading brands.
#1. Kenmore 04671212 Top Freezer Refrigerator – Best Overall
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.3 |
| Controls and Functionality | 9.3 |
| Build quality | 8.9 |
| Energy efficiency | 9 |
| Value for money | 9.3 |
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If you are looking for a refrigerator and ice maker combo, then the Kenmore top freezer refrigerator should be your ideal choice. The refrigerator has a total capacity of 21 Cu.ft. with a dedicated space for making ice cubes. The exterior of this refrigerator is super elegant and is presented in a white matte and glossy finish. This is a top-mount freezer refrigerator with two crisper drawers. It also holds pre-installed ice makers with ample storage for fresh and frozen food items.
The refrigerator has easy-access shelves and features slide-out glass shelves that are efficient to store. The glass also helps with easy access and can be removed to accommodate larger food items. The interiors of the refrigerator have bright incandescent interior lighting to illuminate the interior of the refrigerator naturally. There are also dedicated shelves in the door of this refrigerator to store taller and wider food items.
The refrigerator has low maintenance and high performance and its clean black design hides the condenser coils, preventing the accumulation of dust and enhancing the performance of the refrigerator with too many folds. Its dedicated ice maker helps in making fresh ice right at hand instantly. This built-in ice maker is in the freezer of the refrigerator and keeps fresh ice right at the grab of the hand. This can be of great benefit while hosting a party at home or making fresh juice for children instantly.
Pros
- This is a high-performing refrigerator that is easy to maintain.
- The compact measurements of this refrigerator fit it in small spaces in the home.
- The refrigerator has the Energy Star advantage for the benefit of the users.
- Makes use of an energy-efficient and environment-friendly refrigerant.
Cons
- It won’t be able to make ice in large volumes.
- The refrigerator appears larger in person.
Also check: Best Refrigerator for Large Family in 2022
#2. Galanz GLR10TS2K08 Refrigerator – Runner Up
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and Functionality | 9.1 |
| Build quality | 8.9 |
| Energy efficiency | 9 |
| Value for money | 9.1 |
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This is an elegant and multi-functional refrigerator that has a freezer on top. The total capacity of this refrigerator is about 10 Cu.ft. and it features a modern and sleek design. This is a dual-door built-in ice maker refrigerator that has two separated compartments for freezer and refrigeration separately. It offers the family flexible storage and ice-making options, and its installed ice maker is capable of producing about 3 lbs. of ice in a day.
The interior compartment of this refrigerator is capable of storing food, beer, soda, and other beverages and it consumes minimal energy to carry out its refrigeration function. The refrigerator is also compactly spaced and it holds a modern and sleek design. The interior lights of this refrigerator offer a clean view of its interiors and this refrigerator has leveling legs with adjust the height of the refrigerator and place it on a stable surface.
Its adjusting electrical thermostats allow users to change and control the temperature according to needs efficiently. The temperature can be altered separately on the fresh food compartment and the freezer drawers. The temperature of the refrigerator compartment of this unit is between 32 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature of its freezer compartment is from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. There are glass shelves in the refrigerator compartment to segregate and store food items. They can also be removed for efficient cleaning and for storing taller vessels.
Pros
- The refrigerator has a large storage capacity and ice-making capability
- Its LED interior lighting helps with better visibility.
- The installed ice maker in the upper freezer drawer makes about 3 lbs. of cubed ice in a day.
- Frost-free technology prevents the formation of ice on the interiors of the freezer.
Cons
- Requires manual defrosting.
- The freezer door won’t close easily.
Also check: Best Refrigerators for Family of 4
#3. Kenmore 04650049 Side by Side Refrigerator – Editor’s Choice
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and Functionality | 9 |
| Build quality | 8.9 |
| Energy efficiency | 8.7 |
| Value for money | 9.1 |
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This is an elegant side-by-side refrigerator with a freezer and has a total capacity of about 25 cubic feet. The refrigerator looks elegant in its black color and matte finish. This is an elegant slim freezer and refrigerator combo and it renders ample space to store both fresh and frozen food items. The refrigerator has a slim design and it has a dual pad ice and water dispenser. The refrigerator has convenient storage and its 15.46 cubic feet of interior refrigerated space helps in holding fresh and frozen food items for a long time.
The freezer compartment of this refrigerator has about 9.11 cubic feet of storage space for frozen food and its gallon-size door bins help in storing taller and wider items efficiently. The refrigerator has easy and adjustable shelving and its shelves can be removed and rearranged for easy organizing and easy cleaning. The clear bottom plastic crisper in this refrigerator helps with expert humidity control.
This is an excellent refrigerator to store fresh fruits and vegetables and its glass shelves and crisper drawers help with easy removal and expert arrangement of the glass shelves. The refrigerator is also very compact and fits in smaller kitchens easily. There is an in-door dual pad ice and water dispenser in this unit, that makes it easy for us to fill a cup of ice and water without having to push any button.
Pros
- We only have to push the ice pad to dispense ice or slide the cup back and press the water pad to dispense water.
- We can keep an eye on the ice levels of this inbuilt ice-make through a clear and built-in window.
- The gallon-sized door bins and dairy shelf helps accommodate tall items and grab frequently used drinks quickly and easily.
Cons
- The refrigerator is not energy star compliant
- It is a large side-by-side refrigerator.
#4. Smad DM-827WMU French Door Refrigerator – Good for Ice Making
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and Functionality | 9 |
| Build quality | 8.8 |
| Energy efficiency | 9 |
| Value for money | 8.9 |
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This is an excellent refrigerator with a bottom freezer. The refrigerator has a stainless steel finish and it holds a large capacity of 22.5 cubic feet. The refrigerator comes with an auto ice maker facility and it can be a perfect addition to any home kitchen. Its counter-depth design makes it an ideal refrigerator for home and office and its electronic temperature controls help in tracking even small temperature changes easily and efficiently.
The refrigerator holds an adjusting cooling system to keep the food items very fresh for a very long time. This is a full-width refrigerator that comes with a pantry drawer. There are also individually controlled crisper drawers to store vegetables and fruits expertly. The premium interior LED lighting of the refrigerator helps us to view the interiors of the refrigerator easily and to pick up things easily and efficiently.
The glass shelves of the refrigerator have a spill-proof capacity and they also have a raised outer rim, that helps prevent the spilled liquid and leaked food from dripping down on the contents of the shelves below. There are two drawers in the freezer compartment of this refrigerator to keep all the frozen food items well organized.
Pros
- Inbuilt ice maker with frost-free technology
- Comes with a bottom freezer and an automatic icemaker
- The refrigerator with a built-in ice maker has a grip handle and a glossy black finish with a recessed handle.
- Makes use of an energy-efficient R600A refrigerant.
Cons
- Requires adequate clearance on sides for optimal installation.
#5. Frigidaire FFHT1425VV Freestanding Refrigerator – Brand Value
| Features | Rating |
| Performance | 9.1 |
| Controls and Functionality | 9.1 |
| Build quality | 9 |
| Energy efficiency | 9.1 |
| Value for money | 9.2 |
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This is an elegant and efficient 36-inch counter-depth French door refrigerator with a total capacity of 21.7 Cu. Ft. capacity. The refrigerator has adjustable storage, gliding crisper drawers, even temperature maintenance, and an ultra II filtration system. This refrigerator is also energy star certified and it is also Star K certified. The refrigerator features adjustable interior storage and it offers over 100 ways to customize and organize the refrigerator.
The freezer basket has a divider and it renders deep freezer storage with an adjusting divider to keep the food items easily accessible and organized. Its effortless and humidity-controlled crisper drawers make it easy to configure organization in the refrigerator in many ways. We can stock the items in this refrigerator either side by side or stacked on top of each other, to organize the refrigerator in the best way that one desires. The refrigerator can accommodate gallon-size bins that are designed to store more food items.
The edge-to-edge shelves in this refrigerator offer more space to store the food items. The easy-to-glide shelves glide out smoothly and extend completely, to give us more access to what is available inside the refrigerator. The Even Temp mechanisms help in maintaining an even temperature throughout the refrigerator. There is also corner to corner LED lighting inside the refrigerator that lights up the entire refrigerator interiors for better visibility.
Pros
- The refrigerator has a genuine filtration mechanism to keep the water fresher and cleaner.
- The Pure Source ultra II water filters help in removing about 99.3% of lead and 99.9% cysts from the household water.
- The refrigerator maintains an even temperature throughout its interiors.
- Bottom mount freezer basket with divider.
Cons
- The exterior of this refrigerator is not fingerprint resistant and it is not smudge-proof.
Bottom Line
Refrigerators with built-in freezers and ice dispensers are highly beneficial in getting the ice ready instantly for grand parties in no time. We hope our product recommendations and buying guide helps you buy the best refrigerator for ice-making in your home.
