Quick Answer: The Antarctic Star countertop nugget ice maker makes 34 lbs of chewable ice in 24 hours, with a first batch ready in about 10 minutes using just 1.1 liters of water, and typically sells for $170-220 on Amazon (pricing varies by color and current promotions). It’s a budget, Amazon-native brand rather than a legacy appliance name, but its one-touch self-clean cycle — which the manufacturer says sanitizes the ice path in about 20 minutes — matches a feature that pricier machines like the GE Profile Opal charge a premium for. Antarctic Star also sells a larger 44 lbs/24H model (58020RIM0, $249.99 list) rated under 45 dB, for buyers who need more daily output.
We rank Euhomy and Silonn as the top overall and budget-compact picks in our best nugget ice maker guide and best small ice maker guide; this review looks specifically at where Antarctic Star fits for buyers comparing a third, cheaper option.
Antarctic Star 34 lbs/24H at a glance
| Spec | Antarctic Star Countertop Nugget |
|---|---|
| Ice type | Soft, chewable nugget/pellet |
| Advertised output | Up to 34 lbs / 24 hrs |
| Water use per batch | ~1.1 liters |
| First batch | About 10 minutes |
| Self-clean cycle | One-touch, ~20 minutes (manufacturer spec) |
| Larger sibling | 58020RIM0, 44 lbs/24H, sub-45 dB, $249.99 list |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (standard for the category) |
| Typical Amazon price | $170-220 (varies by color/retailer) |
Antarctic Star Countertop Nugget Ice Maker
- First batch of chewable nugget ice in about 10 minutes; one-button operation.
- One-touch self-clean cycle sanitizes the ice path in roughly 20 minutes.
- Reservoir-fed — no water line or drain required, works on any counter or in an RV.
- Undercuts most established nugget-ice brands on typical street price.
Getting one before the weekend? Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days and get your ice maker in two days instead of waiting on standard shipping.
Output and how it compares
Antarctic Star’s core countertop model is rated for 34 lbs of nugget ice in 24 hours, built from batches that use about 1.1 liters of water and finish in roughly 10 minutes for the first cycle — output that lands between the Silonn SLIM21’s 26 lbs/24H bullet ice and the Euhomy’s higher-volume nugget output. Antarctic Star also sells a step-up 44 lbs/24H unit (model 58020RIM0, $249.99 list) with a 10-15 minute cycle and sub-45 dB operation for buyers who need more ice per day without moving up to an undercounter build-in, plus a 33 lbs/24H version with a larger 1.8-liter water tank for less-frequent refilling. As with every countertop nugget machine, real-world daily output typically runs lower than the advertised number once melt-back in the storage basket is accounted for — budget for meaningfully less than the rated 34 lbs if you’re pulling ice non-stop through the day.
Cleaning and maintenance
The one-touch self-clean cycle is Antarctic Star’s headline convenience feature: hold the button and the machine circulates water through the internal path for about 20 minutes per the manufacturer’s spec, the same style of flush cycle the Silonn SLIM21 uses. That cycle clears loose mineral buildup, not a full descale — run it weekly, and add a nickel-safe descaler (never straight vinegar or CLR, which can damage internal seals) about once a month if your water is hard. Our best ice maker cleaners and descalers guide has a safe pick.
Antarctic Star vs. the competition
- vs. Euhomy (our top overall nugget pick): Euhomy has the deeper review history and higher rated output; Antarctic Star typically undercuts it on street price and matches the self-clean convenience. If you want the safer, more proven buy, stick with Euhomy — see our best nugget ice maker guide.
- vs. Silonn SLIM21 (budget compact bullet ice): Different ice type — the SLIM21 makes bullet cubes, not nugget/pellet ice, in a narrower 8.7-inch body for a lower street price. Choose Antarctic Star if chewable nugget ice specifically is the goal; choose the SLIM21 if footprint and price matter more than ice shape. Full breakdown in our Silonn SLIM21 review.
- vs. GE Profile Opal Mini (premium small nugget): The Opal Mini costs roughly $300-400, well above Antarctic Star’s typical street price, but carries the deepest brand track record and service network in the category. Buy Antarctic Star to save money on the same ice style; buy the Opal Mini if long-term reliability data matters more than upfront price. See our Opal Mini review.
Who should buy the Antarctic Star ice maker?
Buy it if you want chewable nugget ice at a genuinely lower price than the established brands and you’re comfortable with a shorter track record than GE Profile or Euhomy carry. Skip it if you want the widest possible service and reliability history behind your purchase, or if you specifically need bullet or cube ice rather than nugget — in which case the Silonn SLIM21 or a best countertop ice maker pick is the better fit.
The bottom line
Antarctic Star earns a place on the value end of the nugget ice maker market: a real 34 lbs/24H rated output, a one-touch self-clean cycle that matches pricier machines, and a typical Amazon price meaningfully below the category’s best-known names. It doesn’t have Euhomy’s or GE Profile’s accumulated reliability data, so treat it as the budget option it is rather than a like-for-like swap — but for buyers who just want chewable nugget ice without paying for brand history, it’s a legitimate contender.