Key takeaways
- Know which ice you’re buying: LG’s Craft Ice makes 2-inch slow-melting spheres for spirits. Nugget or pellet ice is the soft, chewable kind from soda fountains. They’re different mechanisms, and a fridge that makes one usually doesn’t make the other.
- Measure depth twice, including the handles: Counter-depth models sit roughly flush with 24-inch cabinets, but handles and door thickness add two to four inches. Standard-depth units will protrude noticeably. Tape the footprint on your floor before ordering.
- Locate your water supply first: Every ice maker needs a 1/4-inch line. If there’s no shutoff behind the fridge, factor in a saddle valve or a proper tee off the nearest cold line, plus the cost if you’re not comfortable soldering.
- Budget for output realistically: Sphere ice production is slow, often three balls per batch and a full day to fill the bin. If you host regularly, plan on a separate ice maker rather than expecting one fridge to keep up.
- Check filter cost over five years: Replacement cartridges run $40 to $60 and want changing twice a year. Over the life of the unit, that adds up to more than most people expect, so price it into your comparison.
What's inside
Slow-melting sphere ice used to mean a trip to a cocktail bar or a freezer full of silicone molds you forgot to refill. Now it’s a built-in feature, but the marketing has gotten muddy: “craft ice,” “nugget ice,” and “gourmet ice” get used interchangeably, and a fridge advertising one may not produce the other. If you’ve spent an afternoon comparing spec sheets and come away unsure whether you’re buying round ice, chewable pellets, or plain old crescents, you’re not alone. The difference matters, especially if you’re paying a premium for it.
I’ve spent enough time pulling toe kicks, leveling legs, and rerouting water lines to know that the ice maker is only half the decision. Cabinet depth, door swing, water supply access, and drain placement decide whether an install is a Saturday morning or a full weekend with a call to a plumber. This guide covers the refrigerators and standalone units actually worth considering in 2026, what each one produces, and the practical install details that spec sheets bury.
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How to Choose a/an Refrigerator With Craft Ice Maker (2026)
- Know which ice you’re buying: LG’s Craft Ice makes 2-inch slow-melting spheres for spirits. Nugget or pellet ice is the soft, chewable kind from soda fountains. They’re different mechanisms, and a fridge that makes one usually doesn’t make the other.
- Measure depth twice, including the handles: Counter-depth models sit roughly flush with 24-inch cabinets, but handles and door thickness add two to four inches. Standard-depth units will protrude noticeably. Tape the footprint on your floor before ordering.
- Locate your water supply first: Every ice maker needs a 1/4-inch line. If there’s no shutoff behind the fridge, factor in a saddle valve or a proper tee off the nearest cold line, plus the cost if you’re not comfortable soldering.
- Budget for output realistically: Sphere ice production is slow, often three balls per batch and a full day to fill the bin. If you host regularly, plan on a separate ice maker rather than expecting one fridge to keep up.
- Check filter cost over five years: Replacement cartridges run $40 to $60 and want changing twice a year. Over the life of the unit, that adds up to more than most people expect, so price it into your comparison.
The Best Refrigerator With Craft Ice Maker (2026)s Reviewed
LG 23 cu. ft. InstaView Door-in-Door Counter-Depth with Craft Ice
This is the reference model for sphere ice, and the counter-depth cabinet makes it the easiest of the LG lineup to fit into an existing galley without eating walkway space. The Door-in-Door panel is genuinely useful for a snack shelf, though the knock-to-see glass gets fingerprinty and the ice bin lives in the freezer drawer, so you’re bending down for it.
LG 24 cu. ft. Smart Counter-Depth with Craft Ice
An extra cubic foot over the 23 without a deeper cabinet, which is the better buy if you don’t need the Door-in-Door glass panel. Same Craft Ice mechanism and the same slow fill rate, so treat the sphere bin as a reserve you build up over a few days rather than an on-demand supply.
Antarctic Star 20 Cu Ft French Door with Nugget and Cube Ice
Notable for producing both nugget and cube ice at a price well below the major brands, with a side freezer layout that keeps ice at eye level instead of in a bottom drawer. Fit and finish is a step down from LG or GE, and the door gaskets benefit from a careful check on delivery, but for chewable ice on a budget it’s the most direct route.
GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker
If nugget ice is the real goal, this countertop unit outproduces any refrigerator on the list at 38 pounds a day and costs a fraction of a new fridge. The side tank buys you about three days between refills, and the scale-inhibiting filter matters more than it sounds in hard-water areas, where these units otherwise gum up fast.
2 in 1 Undercounter Ice Maker and Beverage Fridge
Two drawers, one for ice and one for drinks, in a 15-inch undercounter footprint that suits a bar or island run. The reversible door and adjustable cube thickness are welcome, but it needs a drain and a water line, so this one belongs in a planned build rather than a weekend swap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is craft ice the same as nugget ice?
No. Craft Ice is LG’s trademarked 2-inch sphere designed to melt slowly in whiskey. Nugget ice is soft compressed pellets meant for chewing. If you want both, you’ll need two appliances.
How long does a batch of sphere ice take?
Expect roughly 24 hours for three spheres in most LG models. The freezer has to hold a stable low temperature to form them, so opening the drawer constantly slows things down further.
Can I install one of these myself?
The fridge itself, yes, provided you have two people and a hand truck. The water line is the real variable. If there’s an existing shutoff valve behind the unit, it’s a twenty-minute connection. If not, you’re tapping into a cold supply line, which is a plumbing job.
Do I need a water filter?
Strongly recommended. Sediment and hard-water scale are the leading cause of failed ice makers, and a $50 cartridge is cheaper than a service call. Set a phone reminder for every six months.
Final Thoughts
For a single appliance that does sphere ice properly, the LG 24 cu. ft. Counter-Depth with Craft Ice is the better value of the two LG models unless you specifically want the InstaView Door-in-Door panel on the 23 cu. ft. version. If chewable pellets are what you’re actually after, skip the fridge upgrade and pair whatever you own with the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra, which makes more nugget ice per day than any refrigerator here for a fraction of the outlay.
