Cool Down This Spring and Summer with a Portable Ice Maker

Our portable icemaker was on my Christmas Gear Guide and has been an excellent addition to our camping gear!

Spring and summer camping will be here before you know it, and so will the long hot days that come with warmer weather.  When you are lounging in your camping chairs, there is nothing better than an ice cold beverage.  I had been pricing and eyeing portable ice makers for months.  Finally, I have one and feel like it is the perfect partner for the Mississippi heat where we live.

Our portable ice maker has been in its box waiting for camping season to begin since Christmas.  I was so excited to finally give it a try on our recent trip.  Besides the convenience of making cold drinks, why else would you want to purchase a portable ice maker?

1. I'm tired of making trips to the camp store to purchase ice while camping.  It will be a time saver.  The camp store is not always close.
2. Without all of these trips to the store, I can see it saving us money over time.  The cost of gas to get to the store to get ice plus the ice itself adds up.  Plus someone is always begging for a snack when we get there.  Now I can eliminate all of that.
3. I can refill my cooler with ice as I need it.
4. The ice that is made in my portable ice maker is always clean, so I feel better about what is going into our drinks since I can scoop ice directly from the ice basket in our ice maker.
5. In a pop-up camper, all of these things are important since you are limited on refrigerator space and won't have a freezer. 

So how does the ice maker work?  Its a really simple device that makes ice quickly!  First, you will want to set your ice maker on the counter or flat space and allow the refrigeration liquid to settle for about an hour.  Once that has happened, you can fill up the water reservoir to the max line.  

The water reservoir is well marked as to how far you can fill it.

After you have filled up your water reservoir, place the ice holding basket into its designated location.  Across the top of the ice maker are the power button, ice size selection and indicator lights for water and ice.  Turn on the power and use the selection button to select the size of ice you want to make.  

After you have filled up the water reservoir, place the ice basket into its location.

I did a timed test to see how long it would take to make a batch of large ice.  This took approximately 7 minutes.  Once ice starts making, it really starts to crank it out.  An indicator light will tell you when the water level is too low in the reservoir or if the ice basket is full.

Close the lid, turn on the power and select the size of the ice you want to make.

Once the ice starts making it will dump into the ice basket.  The indicator light will come on to tell when the basket is full or the water level in the reservoir is too low.

Make a basket of ice before your meals or before bedtime to add ice to your cooler.  I only make ice as I need it.  Therefore, the icemaker isn't running constantly.  

Before you pack up to come home, there is a rubber plug under the water reservoir that you can use to empty the ice maker.  Dry everything completely before you store it.  I like to open the lid and allow it to sit on the counter at home for a while to ensure it is totally dry before it is stored.  

If you have been on the fence about another gadget and tool for your camper, this is a really good one.  My husband isn't a big gadget fan, and he even loves this one.  Being able to make ice on demand is what won him over immediately.  He is still talking about it!  

Igloo makes this particular model aqua, black, red and silver.  I have aqua and love that it matches Peggy Sue.  But, you could pick from a variety of colors.  With a portable ice maker this summer, you will have your A game on for entertaining, saving time and money!  And what more can you ask for?

For more camping gear ideas, check out my Camping Gear Page.  I have all of the things there that we use on a regular basis for camping.  And if you are looking for printable lists and menus to help get you organized while you are on the road, I have a Lists and Menu Page too!

Until next time...

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