Ice makers are a convenient component of your fridge when you’re hosting a party, making cocktails, or icing a cooler for tailgating. However, if your ice maker breaks down, you may find yourself in a bind. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can make do without your ice maker until it’s repaired or replaced.
If Your Freezer Still Works
If your ice maker isn’t producing ice, but your freezer still works, you’re in luck! You can still make ice cubes at home. You can use ice trays to make ice cubes for small quantities of ice. Silicone ice trays are best for removing the ice cubes easily, but the older style plastic ones will still get the job done. For larger quantities, you can purchase bags of ice from your local grocery store or gas station. If the ice maker dispenser is working, you can simply dump the bag of ice into your fridge’s ice bucket and dispense as normal. For filling coolers, freezing water in deep saucepans to produce large blocks of ice to use works well, but this method can be inconvenient if you have a small freezer.
When Your Freezer Doesn’t Work Either
If your freezer is also not working, you’ll need to make do without the ability to make ice for a little while. However, there are still ways to get ice. You can purchase bags of ice from your local store or borrow some from a neighbor. If you have a cooler, you can store the ice in it to keep it separate from your food. Alternatively, you can make use of the standalone bulk ice machines that dispense ice directly into a bag or cooler.
Using Alternative Ice Makers
If you need a larger amount of ice than you can make with ice trays, but don’t want to make repeated trips to the store for bags of ice, you may want to consider using an alternative ice maker. For example, you can use a countertop ice maker, which is similar to a portable ice machine. You simply fill it with water, and it produces ice in minutes. These machines require more investment and are only capable of making a small quantity of ice at a time, but you may find you enjoy having them later even after your fridge’s ice maker is repaired.
While it may be inconvenient to be without your ice maker, there are still ways to make do without it. Whether you’re using your freezer, purchasing bags of ice, or using a countertop ice maker, you can still enjoy cool drinks and cocktails while you wait on your repair.
See our other articles on making do without your appliances: dryer, range, dishwasher, microwave, and ice machine.
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