Clear Ice Makers Explained: How Clear Ice Is Made and Whether You Need One

A clear ice maker is a dedicated undercounter machine that makes hard, crystal-clear cubes like the ones in a good cocktail bar, instead of the cloudy crescents from your refrigerator's ice maker. It's also one of the most misunderstood appliances you can put under a counter.

The quick answer: a clear ice machine is worth it if you entertain, drink cocktails or iced drinks daily, or go through bags of store-bought ice. It's not worth it if you use a handful of cubes a week. The three 15-inch machines in our data, from Scotsman, U-Line and Sub-Zero, list from about $3,799 to $6,750 and rate between 55 and 65 lb of ice a day.

Below we explain why ice turns cloudy, how a clear ice machine makes clear cubes, what to check before installation, how the three leading machines compare and how to make clear ice without one. Specs come from manufacturer and retailer listings, not hands-on testing.

Why ordinary ice is cloudy

Tap water contains dissolved air and minerals. When water freezes in a tray, it freezes from the outside in, on every side at once. The ice that forms first is fairly pure, and it pushes air and minerals toward the center. With nowhere to go, they're trapped in the middle of the cube as a white, cloudy core.

That cloudiness isn't harmful. But cloudy ice tends to crack and break up more easily, and it looks less appealing in a glass.

How a clear ice machine works

A clear ice machine changes how water freezes. Instead of freezing a still block of water from all sides, it freezes water gradually in one direction, layer by layer, while unfrozen water keeps moving across the freezing surface. Air and dissolved minerals stay in the moving water instead of being trapped, and that leftover water is drained away.

The result is a dense, clear cube. Scotsman describes its cubes as slow-melting, and U-Line and Sub-Zero describe theirs as clear square cubes. Shapes differ: Scotsman makes a top-hat style gourmet cube, while U-Line and Sub-Zero make square cubes.

Clear ice maker vs refrigerator ice maker

Refrigerator and freezer column ice makers freeze water in a mold, the way a tray does, so they generally make ordinary cubes. Some are clever, like Thermador's Diamond Ice System in its Freedom freezer column, which makes slow-melting shaped ice. But if clear cubes are the goal, you need a dedicated clear ice machine. Our column refrigerator guide covers freezer columns.

The three clear ice machines worth knowing

Scotsman Brilliance: the value leader

The Scotsman Brilliance 15-inch comes from a commercial ice-machine specialist. It lists 65 lb a day at 70°F air and 50°F water, a water-quality sensor, and clean and no-water alerts. Its warranty is the weak spot: 1 year parts and labor, plus 5 years on compressor parts.

U-Line 1 Class: flexible finishes

The U-Line 1 Class 15-inch lists 55 lb a day and lets you set how full the bin gets. It comes in stainless, black, white or panel-ready. It isn't approved for outdoor use, so keep it indoors. Registering it adds a year of parts and labor coverage.

Sub-Zero Designer: integrated and connected

The Sub-Zero Designer 15-inch lists 65 lb a day, MaxQuiet noise reduction, Wi-Fi through the Sub-Zero app and indoor or outdoor approval. It costs the most, but it's panel-ready to match a Sub-Zero kitchen and carries a 2-year warranty. See Scotsman vs Sub-Zero ice maker for the head-to-head.

Before you buy: installation checklist

Drain: gravity or pump

Every clear ice machine needs a drain for meltwater and cleaning water. A gravity-drain model needs a floor drain or standpipe below it. If you don't have one, buy the pump-drain version, which pushes water up to a sink drain. Scotsman's pump-drain SRCP065A, U-Line's UHCP115 and Sub-Zero's DEU1550IP are the pump options, usually at a higher price.

Water line and water quality

You'll need a cold water line. Minerals that stay behind in the machine build up over time, so harder water usually means more frequent cleaning. Ask your installer whether filtering your water makes sense.

Location and heat

Output drops in warm conditions. Scotsman lists 65 lb a day in normal conditions but 49 lb a day at 90°F air and 70°F water. Keep the machine away from ovens and dishwashers, and if it's going outside, buy a model rated for outdoor use. Our outdoor kitchen hub covers outdoor refrigeration.

Cleaning

All three machines remind you when they need cleaning. Follow the schedule; scale and buildup affect both ice quality and the machine.

How to make clear ice without a machine

If you only want a few perfect cubes for cocktails, you can copy the machine's trick at home with directional freezing. Fill a small insulated cooler with water, leave the lid off and put it in the freezer. The insulation forces the water to freeze from the top down, pushing air and minerals toward the bottom. Remove the block before it freezes solid, let it temper, and cut away the cloudy bottom. It works, but it's slow and messy, which is exactly why entertainers buy a machine.

Is a clear ice maker worth it?

Buy one if you host often, make cocktails at home, have a bar or outdoor kitchen, or are tired of buying bagged ice. Skip one if you rarely use ice, have no drain path for the cabinet, or need the 15 inches for storage. For ranked picks, see the best undercounter ice makers or browse the undercounter refrigeration hub.