• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
logo snugkitchen.com

Snug Kitchen

Top-Rated Kitchen Products and Reviews

  • Kitchen Cookware
  • Kitchen Electronics
  • Kitchen Utensils
  • Reviews
  • Guides

How to Keep Ice From Sticking in Ice Maker 2021 – Guide

June 2, 2020 By Elizabeth Smith 4 Comments

Table of Contents show
1 How to Keep Ice From Sticking in Ice Maker
1.1 Use a Paper Bag:
1.2 Lower the Temperature:
1.3 Place More Food.
1.4 Use an Ice Tray:
1.5 Service the Ice Maker:
1.6 Wrap Up:
1.6.1 Related Posts:

sticking ice cubes

How to Keep Ice From Sticking in Ice Maker

Have you ever pulled out ice cubes from the ice maker, only to find that they have clumped together? You’re not alone. Ice cubes sticking to each other is a common problem that can leave you banging your ice against the counter.

So why does this happen? While the exact cause of this is often hard to pinpoint, there are some probable reasons. The most common reason is that the ice is defrosting at some point, and then freezing over gain. In this way, a layer of water forms between the cubes which freezes over.

How can you prevent this from happening? If you’re tired of your ice clumping together, then try some of the methods below:

 

Use a Paper Bag:

paper bag snugkitchen

Ice starts to stick together when there’s excess moisture between the ice cubes that freezes over. One way you can get rid of this is to wrap the bucket in the paper. The trick here’s that paper has tiny pores that absorb extra moisture. And it’s this moisture that refreezes and makes two ice cubes stick. 

The paper technique has been proven to work countless times. Another way you can prevent the ice from clumping is by manually stirring the contents every so often. Observe your ice maker for a few days. See how frequently the ice sticks and stir it with a wooden spoon whenever it starts to stick. 

Paper bags can tear apart when they get wet. So remember to switch out the paper bags every so often. Also, make sure the bag is safe to use at such low temperatures.

Lower the Temperature:

Lower temperature snugkitchen

If you still find that your ice is clumping up together, it could be due to the defrost cycle occurring too frequent. Let us explain what this means.

You see, your freezer is designed to generate below-freezing temperatures. However, this means that the heat exchanger can get frozen over as well. Which is why your system will initiate what is called a defrost cycle.

A defrost cycle is one where the temperature is lowered ever so slightly to thaw out the heat exchanger and the evaporator coil. If this happens too often, it can lead to the ice in your ice maker melting. The defrost cycle could be warming up the ice too much, resulting in the ice clumping and sticking.

When that happens, there’s usually a problem with the thermostat. Lower the temperature down and see if the problem persists. If it does, you can try replacing your thermostat, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. Otherwise, try the other methods.

Place More Food.

food in freezer snugkitchen

You can also prevent your ice from melting by placing more food in the freezer. This does two things. Firstly, it allows the cold air to be circulated more evenly, resulting in colder ice cubes. And secondly, it blocks the heat from the oncoming defrost cycle. In this way, your ice cubes can stay drier for longer. 

You may also check if you’re placing hot food in the freezer too often. The heat from the food will not only defrost any frozen goods but will cause your ice cubes to melt and refreeze. The ideal temperature of food you should place in the freezer is below 40 degrees C . 

Not placing hot food in the fridge is actually recommended for a number of other reasons. The heat from the heat can defrost the other frozen goods, leading to bacteria quickly building up.

Use an Ice Tray:

Ice trays snugkitchen

If you find that the problem persists, you can either call customer support or ditch the ice maker entirely. Ice trays are a better way to segregate ice cubes from each other. You’ll have to fill them up manually, but they can solve the issue of your ice cubes sticking.

Your refrigerator may have already come with an ice tray. It’s not the best way to make ice, as it’s a manual process. And the water can spill too. Also, taking ice out from the ice tray is tough. You’ll be left banging the tray on the kitchen counter, which isn’t always an option for weaker people.

And if you’re running a restaurant or ice cream parlor, you’re left with no choice but to buy a new ice maker. But for home use, getting an ice tray can fix the issue, with some compromise on comfort.

Service the Ice Maker:

Another option you have is to service and clean out the ice maker. Often, a frozen-over heat exchanger or evaporator coil can lead to the temperature not getting regulated. Some refrigerators have an automatic defrost cycle. If yours doesn’t, you’ll have to thaw the ice by yourself.

You can try using a thawing spatula, or you can use a stream of warm water or even a hairdryer. Be prepared for a wet mess as the ice melts.

Thawing out the excess ice is also crucial as sometimes the ice can block the ice maker line. This means that the ice maker won’t be able to achieve the right temperature.

Servicing is recommended even if there are no immediate issues, or if the problem was solved by the other methods. Clean out the ice maker once in every 6 months, or more often if the ice is clumping together more .

Wrap Up:

Ice sticking in the ice maker is the last thing you’d want in this debilitating heat. Above were a few ways you can prevent this from happening. Use the above methods to prevent ice from sticking together and make it as perfect as they can be.
There are tons of reasons why the ice in your freezer is freezing over, but maintenance is a big culprit. Make sure you’re regularly cleaning the ice maker and defrosting the ice. Regular maintenance, especially of the heating element, will prevent ice from clumping together.
So use the above techniques to prevent your ice from sticking, and enjoy the summer while it lasts!

Ice cubes snugkitchen

Related Posts:

  • How to Keep Eggs From Sticking to Pan 2021 - Guide
    How to Keep Eggs From Sticking to Pan 2021 - Guide
  • How to Make Ice Maker Work Faster 2021 - Guide
    How to Make Ice Maker Work Faster 2021 - Guide
  • Best Ravioli Maker 2021 – Buyer’s Guide
    Best Ravioli Maker 2021 – Buyer’s Guide
  • KitchenAid Ravioli Maker 2021 - Review
    KitchenAid Ravioli Maker 2021 - Review
  • Best Ice Crusher 2021 - Buyer's Guide
    Best Ice Crusher 2021 - Buyer's Guide
  • Best Pans to Cook Steak 2021 – Buyer’s Guide
    Best Pans to Cook Steak 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

Filed Under: Guides

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    July 23, 2020 at 7:43 am

    It’s a good advice to use paper bags to prevent the ice from clumping. But still, I believe that it’s better just to use ice trays. Tried a lot of method, but this old one is still the best.

    Reply
  2. Ethan says

    August 20, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    I’m a home bartender and it’s essential (for my wifie) to use perfectly crystalline ice cubes for cocktails. Recently we had some problems with the ice maker and I stood the thought of buying a new one. But luckily i came across this article and brought the machine back to life! A thousand thanks!

    Reply
  3. Timophy says

    October 2, 2020 at 7:33 am

    Recently, I faced a problem of ice sticking. Tried all the described methods and spotted a problem with my thermostat. Actually, I had no idea that it should be replaced once in a while. Thanks a million!

    Reply
  4. Holly says

    November 4, 2020 at 6:35 pm

    Recently I moved to a new flat, and the owners left an ice maker for me. I have never used it before, so I had no idea how long it takes for ice cubes to freeze or what temperature should be set. Despite the fact I don’t have a problem with ice sticking, this guide provided me with useful information. Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ABOUT MY SNUGKITCHEN

 

Elizabeth Smith

Hi everyone! I’m Elizabeth Smith and I’m a freelance writer. Cooking has always been a big part of my life, I worked in the restaurant industry for almost 15 years…Read more

Follow us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • tumblr
  • medium
  • linkedin

Recent Posts

  • How to Cook a Steak in an Iron Skillet 2021 – Guide
  • How to Cook Marinated Steak Tips in a Frying Pan 2021 – Guide
  • Best Pans to Cook Steak 2021 – Buyer’s Guide
  • Bokashi Knife 2021 – Review
  • Best Chefs Knife Under 100 2021 – Buyer’s Guide

ABOUT US

Hi everyone! I’m Elizabeth Smith. Cooking has always been a big part of my life. I worked in the restaurant industry for almost 15 years. My obsession with cooking made me want to share my experience and knowledge with people who value their time and money and want to buy the best things for their kitchen. 

Follow us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • tumblr
  • medium
  • linkedin

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Some posts may contain affiliate links. Best Kitchen products guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

DMCA Protection

DMCA.com Protection Status

GETTING IN TOUCH

Phone: +19293228865
Email: info@snugkitchen.com
Hours: Mon — Fri: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday – Sunday: 11:00am – 3:00pm

45 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003, USA

  • About
  • Amazon Affiliate Disclosure
  • Contacts
  • Sitemap
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · snugkitchen.COM · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED · Some posts may contain affiliate links