Cooks Professional 12KG Ice Maker Review: a compact workhorse for people who are tired of refilling ice trays

I’ve been using this Cooks Professional 12KG ice maker for a few weeks now, mainly for drinks in the evening and for when friends come over at the weekend. Before this, I was constantly buying those big bags of ice from the supermarket or filling silicone trays that never seemed ready when I needed them. So I wanted to see if a countertop ice maker actually changes anything in day-to-day life, or if it’s one of those gadgets you use twice and then forget in a cupboard.

In practice, this thing sits on my counter, plugged in, and I drag it closer to the sink when I want to fill the 1.3L tank. No plumbing, no installation – you literally pour water in and press a button. The first batch of ice comes out in roughly the 6–8 minute range, which lines up with what the brand claims. You’re not filling a big cooler in 10 minutes, but for a couple of drinks it’s quick enough that you’re not standing around annoyed.

My use is pretty typical: a few glasses of iced drinks after work, then heavier use if we’re doing cocktails, slushies for kids, or filling a small ice bucket for a barbecue. I also tested leaving it running longer to see if it could keep up with a small party. The advertised 12 kg per 24 hours basically means it can keep churning ice as long as you remember to empty the basket and top up water. It doesn’t magically store 12 kg inside; that’s a production number, not storage.

Overall, first impression: it’s not life-changing, but it definitely makes life easier if you use ice regularly. It’s not perfect – there’s some noise, you need counter space, and you have to babysit it a bit if you want to stockpile ice. But compared to constantly buying bags or messing with trays, it’s a pretty solid step up.

Price-wise, this sits at the higher end of the home ice maker range. You can definitely find cheaper machines that claim similar specs and output. I’ve actually tried one of those cheaper ones before, and it died within a few months and felt flimsy from day one. With this Cooks Professional model, you’re paying a bit more for a unit that feels more solid, runs more consistently, and comes from a brand that at least has a support line and a stated two-year guarantee. So you’re not just paying for ice; you’re paying for fewer headaches, hopefully.

If you only use ice occasionally, like once a month, then honestly, this is probably overkill. Buying a bag of ice now and then is cheaper and takes zero counter space. Where the value starts to make sense is if you use ice several times a week, or if you host often. Those supermarket ice bags add up, and they take a lot of freezer space. With this, you can make ice on demand, store some in a bag in the freezer, and not worry about last-minute shop runs when people are already at your place.

Compared to cheaper machines, the main difference I noticed is the speed and consistency. This one reaches a good production rhythm quickly and the cubes are denser, so they last longer in drinks. The insulation around the basket is also a bit better, so the ice doesn’t melt as fast while it’s waiting. Is that worth the extra money? For someone like me who uses it a lot in summer and hates dealing with trays and emergency ice runs, yes. For someone who just wants the cheapest thing possible for very occasional use, maybe not.

So in terms of value for money, I’d call it pretty solid for regular users: not cheap, but reasonable for what you get – a compact machine that works reliably, produces decent ice quickly, and is backed by at least some customer service. If your budget is tight or you barely use ice, it’s probably not the smartest buy. But if you’re already spending on bagged ice or have killed a couple of cheap ice makers, this feels like a more sensible, longer-term option.

Design-wise, this ice maker is fairly clean. The silver finish is that typical brushed stainless look with plastic bits, so it blends with most modern appliances. It’s not some design piece, but it doesn’t look tacky or like a toy either. On my counter next to a stainless kettle and toaster, it fits in fine. If you hate visible appliances, nothing will change your mind, but at least this one doesn’t look out of place in a normal kitchen.

The footprint is quite compact for what it does: 29 x 22 cm is basically the size of a medium bread maker. The height (29 cm) is low enough that it can live under wall cabinets without blocking them. The top lid lifts up, so you need a bit of clearance, but I had no issues opening it under standard UK cabinets. The viewing window is practical – you can quickly see if there’s enough ice or if it’s worth waiting for the next batch. I found myself glancing at it instead of constantly opening and closing the lid, which probably helps the machine run more consistently.

Controls are basic but clear. The ice size button is a simple toggle between small and large, and the indicator lights are obvious: one for when the water is low, one when the ice basket is full. There’s no screen showing exact time remaining, but after a few uses you get used to the cycle rhythm. The included scoop has its own little spot and is fine for filling glasses or a small bucket. It’s not heavy-duty bar gear, but it does the job.

One design detail I appreciated is the carry handle on the basket and the fact that the unit isn’t insanely heavy. You can move it to the garden or a bar area without feeling like you’re hauling a brick. On the downside, the design doesn’t include a drain hose, so when you want to empty the tank completely you end up tilting the whole machine over a sink. For regular day-to-day use that’s not a big deal, but it’s worth knowing if you plan to store it dry between uses.

The outer shell is mainly stainless steel with some plastic parts, which is pretty standard for this type of machine. The stainless sections feel solid and don’t flex when you press on them. The plastics on the lid and inside aren’t luxury-grade, but they don’t feel super flimsy either. I’ve wiped it down a bunch of times and haven’t seen any immediate scratching or weird discoloration. It’s the kind of finish that’s easy to keep clean with a damp cloth.

Inside, the ice basket is lightweight plastic with a carry handle. It’s not insulated like a proper cooler, so the ice will start to melt if you leave it there for ages, but that’s more a design choice than a material flaw. The metal prongs that form the ice bullets look and feel like typical refrigeration hardware – nothing fancy, but they don’t feel like they’re about to snap off if you accidentally bump them with the scoop. I tried not to be rough, but I did knock them once or twice and nothing bad happened.

The water tank is integrated, so you’re not dealing with a removable reservoir. The plastic around the tank area feels sturdy enough and didn’t give any signs of leaks or flexing when full. The lid hinge is one thing I always worry about on these kinds of appliances, and here it feels okay: it opens smoothly and doesn’t wobble too much. Time will tell how it holds up, but after a few weeks of daily opening and closing it’s still fine.

Overall, the materials match the price: better than the really cheap off-brand machines I’ve handled, but obviously not industrial bar-grade metal everywhere. The 110W compressor and internals haven’t shown any weird noises or overheating so far. Considering there is at least one review saying theirs died after two uses, I’d say quality control might not be perfect, but that’s true for a lot of small appliances. The bonus is there’s a two-year guarantee, so at least you’re not completely stuck if you get a dud. So far, for me, it feels pretty solid for home use.

I haven’t had this machine for years obviously, but in the weeks I’ve been using it, it’s been running without any real issues. I’ve done several long sessions of 3–4 hours straight, plus regular shorter runs of 30–60 minutes, and it hasn’t overheated or thrown any error lights. The fan and compressor sound the same as on day one, and the ice production speed hasn’t noticeably dropped.

The reviews are mostly positive, but there are a few people saying theirs failed quickly, like the one that broke after two uses. That’s always a bit worrying, but it’s also pretty common with small appliances in general. At least here there’s a two-year guarantee and people mention Cooks Professional’s service being decent, which is reassuring. Personally, I haven’t had to test the warranty, but knowing it’s there makes me feel a bit better about the price compared to anonymous brands with no real support.

From what I can see, the parts most likely to cause trouble long term are the pump, the sensor that detects when the basket is full, and the lid hinge. So far, the water sensor works fine – when the tank is low, it stops and shows the light, and when the basket is full, it pauses as it should. No random stopping, no leaks under the machine, no odd vibrations. I’ve moved it around a few times and the casing hasn’t loosened or started rattling.

Of course, long-term durability is hard to judge early on, but compared to cheaper ice makers I’ve tried or seen returned, this one just feels a bit more sorted. The extra you pay seems to go into slightly better build and the backing of a known brand. I wouldn’t say it’s bulletproof, but for normal home use – a few times a week, heavier in summer – I’m reasonably confident it will hold up, and if it doesn’t, at least there’s that two-year safety net.

This is the part that really matters: does it actually pump out enough ice, fast enough, to be useful? In my tests, starting from room temperature but using chilled water from the fridge, I was getting the first batch of small cubes in about 6–7 minutes. With tap water at room temp, it’s a bit slower and the first couple of batches are smaller and softer, which matches what one of the Amazon reviewers said. After those first runs, once the internals are cold, the ice gets more consistent.

The machine claims 12 kg in 24 hours. I didn’t sit there timing a full 24-hour run, but running it on and off for a long afternoon, emptying the basket into a freezer bag every time it filled, I got a decent stockpile for a family barbecue with no need to buy extra bags. If you let it run continuously, you’re realistically looking at a full basket roughly every 45–60 minutes depending on room temperature and ice size. The basket isn’t huge, so you do have to empty it regularly if you want to build a stash rather than just keep a small supply for immediate use.

The ice shape is the usual hollow bullet style – not classic square cubes. On the large setting, they’re chunky enough for drinks and they don’t melt in seconds. Density is actually pretty solid; they’re not that thin, flaky type you sometimes get from really cheap machines. For cocktails and soft drinks, they’re perfectly fine. For people who are picky about crystal-clear, bar-style cubes, this won’t tick that box, but that’s the case with most home ice makers in this price range anyway.

Noise-wise, it’s there but not crazy. You hear the fan and compressor humming, and occasionally the clunk when the ice drops into the basket. In an open-plan living room kitchen, you’ll notice it, but it’s more like a small fridge or desktop fan than a loud appliance. I could still watch TV with it running in the background without cranking the volume. Overall, in terms of performance, it gets the job done: fast enough for everyday use, strong enough to keep up with small gatherings, as long as you’re willing to empty the basket and top up water when needed.

Out of the box, the package is pretty straightforward: the ice maker itself, a removable ice basket, a plastic scoop, and a basic manual. No fancy extras, but nothing missing either. The machine is more compact than some cheap chunky models I’ve seen: around 29 cm deep, 22 cm wide, 29 cm high. So it fits under my upper cabinets and can slide back against the wall without feeling like it’s taking over the whole kitchen. If you’ve got a tiny worktop, you’ll still feel it, but in a normal-sized kitchen it’s manageable.

Setup is exactly what you’d expect. I wiped it down, let it sit upright for a bit (habit with anything that has a compressor), then filled the 1.3L tank to the max line with cold filtered water and plugged it in. There’s a simple control panel on top: power button, a button to choose ice size (small or large), and a couple of indicator lights (add water, ice full). No app, no Wi-Fi nonsense, and frankly that’s fine for what it does. The transparent window on top lets you see the ice dropping, which is actually useful to check if the basket is full without opening the lid every 2 minutes.

Functionally, the machine cycles in batches. It freezes small bullets of ice on metal prongs, then drops them into the basket. When the basket gets full, it pauses until you empty it. If you don’t, the ice slowly melts back into the tank and the machine reuses that water. That’s both good and annoying: good because you’re not wasting water, annoying because if you want to build up a stash in the freezer, you need to remember to empty the basket regularly.

I’d say the overall presentation is honest: it’s a compact, plug-and-go appliance that does one thing. No over-complication, but also no built-in storage bin or freezer-like insulation. If you’re expecting some huge reservoir full of rock-hard cubes on demand, that’s not what this is. It’s more like a small ice factory that you have to manage a bit.

In day-to-day life, this ice maker has basically replaced my ice trays completely. I keep a freezer bag of ice on hand, and when it runs low, I fire this up for an hour or two. In that time, I can refill the bag without much effort. For regular evenings with two people having a few drinks, it more than keeps up. We just turn it on at the start of the evening, and by the time we’ve made the first drink, there’s already enough ice for a couple of glasses.

For heavier use, like when kids want slushies or we’re making a bunch of cocktails, it still holds up, but you need to be a bit more active. The basket fills, you dump it into a bigger container or straight into the blender, and let it run again. It’s not a set-and-forget machine if you’re trying to build up a big stock; you’re basically doing little rounds of emptying and refilling. If you want constant, huge amounts of ice like a busy bar, this isn’t it. But for a normal home, small parties, or a garden barbecue, it’s enough as long as you plan ahead by an hour or so.

One thing that helps a lot is using cold, filtered water. With cold water, the ice is a bit harder and more consistent, and the machine doesn’t have to work as long to cool everything down. With warm tap water, the first batches are softer and smaller, and you might think the machine is weak. After a few cycles, it stabilises, but if you want the best out of it, start with chilled water like one of the reviewers suggested.

So, in terms of effectiveness, it does what I bought it for: saves trips to the shop for ice, gets rid of annoying ice trays, and keeps us supplied for drinks and small gatherings. It’s not magical, and you still have to think ahead and occasionally babysit it, but it definitely changes ice from “annoying to manage” to “pretty easy” in a normal household.