Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 Countertop Nugget Ice Maker

The EFIC255 is for the buyer who wants to find out whether nugget ice becomes a daily habit before paying for a GE Opal. It is the budget pick on our nugget ice maker list: a plain machine with two buttons, a 3-pound basket and a daily rating that beats the Opal on paper. Reviewed, which named it the best value in its June 2026 ice maker rankings, called it a middle ground between high-end and low-end models.

It is not for someone chasing the softest possible chew, anyone who wants to start the machine from a phone, or a household that needs it to run quietly in a living area.

Simplicity. There is an Ice button and a Clean button, an Add Water light and an Ice Full light, and nothing to pair with an app. You fill the reservoir, press Ice, and Frigidaire says the first nuggets arrive in 10 to 15 minutes. There is no side tank or water line to install; the manual asks only for a grounded outlet and some ventilation space.

Output. Frigidaire rates it at 44 pounds a day, higher than the 38 pounds GE claims for the Opal 2.0 Ultra. Reviewed measured roughly 24 ounces, or 1.5 pounds, an hour, which it described as in line with others in its price range. The basket holds 3 pounds, the same as the Opal's bin.

Taste and melt. Reviewed's taste tests found the ice clean and neutral, which it read as a sign of good filtration. The pellets are firmer than the Opal's; that costs some chewability but means they melt more slowly, so a drink gets less watered down. If you like your nugget ice on the crisp side, that is a plus.

Size and looks. The manual lists 10.6 inches wide, 14.6 deep and 16.5 tall, narrower than the Opal with its side tank. It comes in grey, cream, navy and black with a matte finish and a stainless-look faceplate, and Reviewed found it better looking than most countertop ice makers it has seen.

Texture. Reviewed found the pellets a little too hard for its taste; they do not burst into cold water on the tongue the way the Opal's do. For people who buy nugget ice specifically for that soft chew, this is the main trade-off.

Noise and missing features. Reviewed says the volume is broadly comparable to other machines, but the sound comes as irregular growling rather than a steady drone, which is harder to tune out. There is no interior light, so it is hard to see the ice level in a dim kitchen, and no Wi-Fi, so you cannot schedule production or switch it off remotely to save power.

Maintenance. The manual tells you to change the reservoir water every 24 hours and to run the Clean cycle, about 20 minutes, before first use and whenever it has not been cleaned in a while, then drain through a plug at the back. It gives no descaling schedule or solution, so hard-water households will need to set their own routine. Frigidaire also says to run the machine below 90°F and to keep more than 15 centimeters of space at the hot-air outlet.

Reliability. The EFIC255 is made under license by Curtis International, not by Frigidaire's own appliance division. Reviewed notes that licensed products can be hit-or-miss on quality control and that owner reports on this model are split between people who love it and people whose unit stopped making ice. The warranty is one year.

The GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra makes softer ice, adds a 0.75-gallon side tank, a scale-inhibiting filter, app scheduling and maintenance alerts, and has a longer track record. It costs a price class more. If you already know you will use nugget ice every day, the Opal is worth the step up.

The GE Profile Opal Mini is the other entry-level option: narrower at 8.6 inches, with a top-fill reservoir and Wi-Fi, but a smaller 2-pound bin and a lower 36-pound rating. It is newer, so there is little independent testing yet.

The Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 does the basic job for the least money on this list: chewable, clean-tasting ice in quantity, with nothing to set up. Buy it if you prefer firmer nuggets or want to try nugget ice before committing. Keep the receipt, keep to the daily water change and cleaning routine, and step up to an Opal if texture and quiet matter more to you than cost.