Antarctic Star Nugget Ice Makers Ranked for Game Night Drinks

The Antarctic Star Nugget Ice Maker Countertop with self-dispensing is the one to get if you hate digging a scoop into a basket while guests wait. According to the listing, it has a detachable cup tray lined up with the ice outlet, so you place a cup and touch the screen to dispense ice on demand. It produces up to 33 lbs of chewable nugget ice per 24 hours, holds 1.8 L of water, stores 1.5 lbs of ice and has the first batch ready in 10 to 15 minutes.

It also lists a self-cleaning system that automatically cleans the internal water lines, plus a touch screen for one-touch ice dropping. The footprint is long and narrow at 16.38 inches deep, 6.59 inches wide and 13.46 inches tall, which makes it easier to slide beside a console shelf or bar cart than a boxy unit. The trade-off is its smaller ice basket, so on a busy night it will dispense steadily rather than store a big reserve. The model number is HZB-15DN and it weighs 19.8 pounds.

• Touch screen dispensing into a cup tray
• Up to 33 lbs of nugget ice per 24 hours
• 1.8 L tank and 1.5 lb ice basket
• Automatic self-cleaning of internal water lines

The Antarctic Star Nugget Ice Maker Countertop 44 lb model, listed as HZB-20EN, has the highest output in this group at up to 44 pounds of ice per day with a 10 to 15 minute cycle. It adds an Ice Full alert and a Water Shortage alert, an LED touch panel for adjusting settings and starting cleaning, and a one-touch self-cleaning mode that runs for 20 minutes.

The listing highlight also mentions two ice sizes, a 1.8 L tank and 2.65 lbs of ice storage, which is the largest stored amount in this lineup. At 9.45 inches deep, 12.20 inches wide and 14.96 inches tall, it is squarer than the self-dispensing unit. It lists a one year warranty and 120 watts. Note that it does not dispense into a cup; you pull ice from the removable basket. The highlight mentions a scoop, but the included components list only the ice basket and water tank. Pick this one if volume matters most, for example when a full squad is over for a long raid night.

• Up to 44 lbs of ice per day
• Ice full and water shortage alerts
• 20-minute one-touch self-cleaning
• 2.65 lb storage and 1.8 L tank

The Antarctic Star Nugget Ice Maker Countertop in silver (HZB-15S/N) is built around portability. The listing describes a lightweight body with a carrying handle, an included ice scoop and storage basket, Ice Full and Low Water indicators, a first batch in 10 minutes and up to 34 lbs of ice per day. It is rated at 136 watts on 110 volts.

Self-cleaning here is a manual trigger: add water, turn the machine off and hold the power button for five seconds to start cleaning mode. The specifications list a capacity of 1 liter, which reads like the water tank size, but the listing does not say so clearly. It suits a dorm room, office or a LAN party table where you might move it around, and it gives way to the 44 lb model if you need maximum volume or to the self-dispensing model if you want hands-free ice.

The Antarctic Star Nugget Ice Maker Countertop in black (HZB-15NH) is the Antarctic Star sonic ice maker for anyone who wants a darker finish. Like the silver model, it lists up to 34 lbs per day, a first batch in 10 minutes, a handle, scoop and basket, and Ice Full and Low Water indicators. Its title also calls out a removable top cover, and the listing says the one-touch auto-cleaning helps with mineral buildup, and that it needs no plumbing.

The feature text says “12-15 lbs stored”, which seems high for a countertop basket and is not backed by another spec, so treat that figure with caution. The warranty field is left blank. Power is listed as 136 watts at 115 volts. It suits camping trips, boats and anyone matching a black kitchen or setup, and it gives way to the self-dispensing model if convenience comes first.