Quick Answer: Cuisinart sells two distinct countertop ice makers, not one. The IMC-12 Nugget Ice Cube Maker makes soft, chewable nugget ice — up to 36 lbs in 24 hours, first batch in about 8 minutes, for $299.95 — while the separate IMC-2 Compact Bullet Ice Cube Maker makes traditional hard cubes at up to 26 lbs/24hr for $149.95-189.95, per Cuisinart’s own product listings. Both carry a 1-year limited warranty. If you want chewable nugget ice, buy the IMC-12; if you want smaller, cheaper, and hard bullet ice, buy the IMC-2 — they are not the same machine at two price points, which is a mix-up we’ve seen (and, until this review, made ourselves).
Cuisinart’s name shows up constantly in “best small ice maker” searches, but the two machines behind it get confused with each other more than almost any other brand on this site — including, until this update, in our own best small ice maker guide, which had listed a “Cuisinart Nugget” at roughly 10 lbs/day for about $150. That figure doesn’t match either real Cuisinart machine: the actual IMC-12 nugget maker produces far more ice (36 lbs/24hr) at a higher price ($299.95), while the ~$150 price point belongs to the IMC-2 bullet model, which doesn’t make nugget ice at all. We’ve corrected that entry — here’s what Cuisinart actually sells.
Cuisinart’s two ice makers at a glance
| Spec | Cuisinart IMC-12 (Nugget) | Cuisinart IMC-2 (Bullet) |
|---|---|---|
| Ice type | Soft, chewable nugget | Hard bullet cubes, 2 sizes |
| Rated output | Up to 36 lbs / 24 hrs | Up to 26 lbs / 24 hrs |
| First batch | ~8 minutes | 7-9 min (small) / 8-10 min (large) |
| Water/ice capacity | 1.5L water · 2L ice basket | 1.1 qt reservoir |
| Dimensions | 8.86"W x 15.43"D x 13.5"H | 8.11"W x 10.55"L x 11.1"H |
| Self-cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
| Typical price | $299.95 (white); IMC-12SS stainless higher | $149.95-189.95 |
Cuisinart IMC-12 Nugget Ice Cube Maker
- Makes soft, chewable nugget ice at up to 36 lbs in 24 hours — a genuine Sonic-style output, not a token amount, confirmed on Cuisinart's own product page.
- 1.5L water reservoir feeds continuous batches until empty; the 2L removable ice basket comes with a scoop.
- Self-clean function; compact-for-its-output footprint at 8.86 inches wide.
- Only a 1-year limited warranty, a year short of what some competing nugget makers (like Kenmore's KNMR-series, reviewed separately on this site) offer.
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Cuisinart IMC-2 Compact Bullet Ice Cube Maker
- A genuinely different machine from the IMC-12 — hard bullet cubes, not nugget ice, with a choice of small (7-9 min) or large (8-10 min) batches.
- Smaller 1.1-quart reservoir and a narrower body (8.11" wide, 13.6 lbs) suited to tight counters, RVs, or a second machine.
- 120-watt draw, self-clean function, and the same 1-year limited warranty as the IMC-12.
- Priced roughly $110-150 below the IMC-12, but it will never make chewable nugget ice — buy the IMC-12 instead if that's the requirement.
The mix-up, and why it happened
Search “Cuisinart ice maker” and most retailer listings, review roundups, and even our own prior coverage blur these two machines into one. It’s an easy mistake: both are countertop, both self-clean, both carry Cuisinart’s name and a 1-year warranty, and both show up in the same “compact ice maker” searches. But they’re not tiers of the same product — they make physically different ice. The IMC-12’s auger-and-drum mechanism produces soft, chewable nugget ice at a genuine 36 lbs/24hr, confirmed directly against Cuisinart’s own listing. The IMC-2 is a simpler tray-based bullet-ice machine at 26 lbs/24hr with no nugget capability at all. Our own best small ice maker guide had conflated the two — listing a “Cuisinart Nugget” at the IMC-2’s rough price point but neither machine’s real output — and we’ve corrected that table and entry as part of this review.
Cuisinart vs. the competition
- vs. GE Profile Opal Mini (best compact true nugget): The Opal Mini matches the IMC-12’s 36 lb/24hr nugget output in a narrower 8.6-inch body with app control, for a comparable $299 price — the stronger pick if Wi-Fi features matter to you.
- vs. Kenmore KNMR1271 (budget bullet, longer warranty): The Kenmore ice maker undercuts the IMC-2 on price (about $98-124) with a 2-year warranty, a full year longer than Cuisinart’s 1-year coverage.
- vs. Silonn SLIM21 (cheapest self-cleaning bullet): The Silonn SLIM21 beats the IMC-2 on price (about $69-90) with a similar 26 lbs/24hr rated output.
- Full brand rankings: see our best ice maker brands guide for how Cuisinart compares against every major name on this site.
Who should buy a Cuisinart ice maker?
Buy the IMC-12 if chewable nugget ice is the actual requirement and you’re comfortable with a roughly $300 price and a 1-year warranty — its 36 lb/24hr output is genuinely competitive with the category’s best-known nugget makers. Buy the IMC-2 if you want traditional hard ice, a smaller footprint, and a lower price, and don’t need the nugget texture at all. Skip both if warranty length is your deciding factor — Kenmore’s bullet-ice model offers twice the coverage at a similar or lower price.
The bottom line
Cuisinart’s ice maker lineup is smaller than most brands on this site — just two machines — but the two get confused with each other constantly, including in our own prior coverage. The IMC-12 is a real 36 lb/24hr nugget ice maker at $299.95; the IMC-2 is a separate 26 lb/24hr bullet-ice machine at $149.95-189.95. Knowing which one you’re actually looking at before you buy is the whole game here.
Last updated: September 29, 2026.