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An ice maker is basically a convenience feature, not a necessity! If you're constantly drinking iced beverages or living somewhere hot, it's actually a lifesaver - you don't have to keep refilling trays and waiting for the water to freeze. But if you only need a little ice or rarely use it at all, you can totally get by with regular plastic trays - they take up less space in the freezer and the fridge uses less electricity.
It all depends on your habits and lifestyle. If you don't drink beverages with ice at all and keep drinks in the fridge, then an ice maker is just wasting space and electricity. But if you regularly need ice in summer for cocktails, compotes, or just cold water, then an automatic ice maker is definitely more convenient than messing with ice trays every time.
I prefer sticking with regular trays - ice blocks last a couple of days, and it's less hassle. An ice maker requires a water connection, can take up space in the freezer, and if something breaks, repairs get expensive. Plus, in older models, ice sometimes picks up odors from the freezer, so quality isn't guaranteed.
If you're choosing a new fridge though and you like cold drinks, then for a small extra cost you could get one with a built-in ice maker - just weigh the convenience against your actual needs. But it's definitely not a must-have feature.
Do you actually freeze ice at home or do you buy it? Because if it's the latter, a built-in ice maker really is convenient, but if it's the former, the difference isn't that big.
Here's the thing - most people overestimate how convenient a built-in ice maker is. Yeah, it's automatic and doesn't need constant attention, but it takes up freezer space, needs regular cleaning so the ice doesn't smell like the fridge, and breaks down pretty often. Regular plastic ice trays cost next to nothing, take up minimal space, and last for years. Just pour water in, forget about it for a few hours - done.
Here's a practical tip: if you decide to skip the ice maker, do this - freeze several trays ahead of time and pour the finished ice cubes into a bag for storage. The bag takes up way less space than an ice maker mechanism, and the cubes won't absorb random odors. Plus you'll always know the water was clean. If the ice maker comes with the fridge when you buy it, just leave it there and turn it on when you need it. But if you're choosing between models - don't pay extra for this feature, spend the money on something more useful instead.
svetlana.petrova asker
Thanks, that's helpful. I've been freezing ice in trays at home for 15 years, then I bought a fridge with an ice maker - honestly, I rarely use it. A bag of ice takes up less space, I completely agree.
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