If you’re in the middle of designing an outdoor kitchen… one of the appliances on your wish list may be an ice maker. It sure is convenient to have a steady stream of ice on hand when you’re grilling on a hot summer’s day!
So you want to know: “What are the best outdoor kitchen ice makers?”
As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer that has helped design thousands of outdoor kitchens, we’ve often encountered customers who want to incorporate an ice maker into their outdoor kitchen. In the past, we have sold ice makers from a few different brands… and as a result, have formed a perspective on outdoor kitchen ice makers.
In this article, you will learn about the best outdoor ice maker brands, why we generally don’t recommend ice makers for an outdoor kitchen, and great alternatives to a traditional ice maker.
What are the Best Outdoor Ice Maker Brands?
Over the years, we have worked with customers who purchased ice makers from Perlick, Marvel, U-Line, and Summit for their RTA outdoor kitchens.
In our experience, Perlick and Marvel ice makers were prone to failure rather quickly. RTA used to sell U-Line ice makers, but we discovered that many times a defective product was sent to the customer and valid warranty claims were not honored. We discontinued the sale of U-Line ice makers after a few cases of this.
Some RTA customers have purchased ice makers from Summit. Some of these ice makers were purchased by the customers themselves, and a few were sold through us. As of yet, we haven’t heard any complaints about Summit ice makers, so this may be the better option overall.
In the near future, we will also be offering ice makers from Coyote Outdoor Living. But since this is a brand-new product, we can’t yet speak to how they will perform in the long run!
Not Sure What Appliance Option is Best for Your Outdoor Kitchen?
Why We Generally Don’t Recommend Outdoor Kitchen Ice Makers
As you may have gathered, we at RTA generally aren’t super keen on outdoor ice makers. There’s a few reasons for this:
- Ice Makers are Problem-Prone: In our experience, ice makers are the first appliance to fail in an outdoor kitchen. Leaks and hose issues are common, and ice makers are simply not suited to performing well in an outdoor environment. Maintaining freezing temperatures under a hot, beating sun for hours on end is no easy task, so it’s not surprising ice makers tend to fail rather quickly.
- Ice Makers are High-Maintenance: Piggybacking on their problem-prone nature, this makes outdoor ice makers quite high maintenance. Part replacements and repairs will be frequent, making this appliance choice a high-maintenance one.
- Drainage is Complicated: Ensuring proper drainage of your ice maker can prove to be complicated, and an outdoor kitchen is already a complex project! Runoff and excess water from your ice maker will need to be properly drained… the last thing you want is to constantly be walking around in a pool of water while you’re trying to grill!
- They’re Expensive for the Value You Get: Due to the aforementioned issues, outdoor ice makers are expensive for the value you get. You can expect to pay anywhere from $2,500 – $5,000+ for an outdoor ice maker… which is a hefty price to pay if you can’t expect much longevity out of that investment.
Are there Alternatives to an Outdoor Kitchen Ice Maker?
Now that you’ve seen a potential outdoor ice maker brand to consider and why RTA generally recommends against them… you’re likely wondering: are there any good alternatives to an ice maker?
For customers who decide against an ice maker, but still would like the convenience of having ice at their outdoor kitchen, here’s a few options we recommend:
- Opt for a Drop-In Cooler or Ice Chest Instead: A drop-in cooler or ice chest will keep plenty of ice cold for a full-day BBQ, and there’s no maintenance involved aside from regular cleaning! You will lose the convenience of on-demand ice, so that is a consideration to keep in mind.
- Use an Interior Ice Maker Instead: Although interior ice makers aren’t immune to problems, either… they will be less expensive and offer high ice output. So you can still get the convenience of having ice on-demand without as steep of an initial investment.
- Consider a Countertop Ice Maker: Several of our customers have purchased small, countertop ice makers that have performed well for them. If they’re small enough, they can be stored inside your outdoor kitchen between uses… and being inexpensive, it’s not a death blow to your wallet if it fails.
If you’re interested to learn more about what appliance options may be best for your outdoor kitchen design… perhaps it’s time to speak with a seasoned Design Expert. Book a free design call below to get personalized advice on your outdoor kitchen appliance layout.
