Can You Buy A Refrigerator Without An Ice Maker?

Refrigerators with ice makers are the popular choice among people. If you think you don’t want an in-built icemaker due to some reason and pondering whether there are any options to buy refrigerators without an ice maker, you are at the right place.

Generally, most brands have a wide range of options for a refrigerator without an ice maker. These refrigerators are not only budget-friendly, but they also provide several benefits like energy efficiency, spacious refrigerators, door-in-door features, and temperature control features.

In this article, you will get a clear answer to your question and know the benefits of buying a refrigerator without an ice maker. So, keep reading.

Is it possible to buy a refrigerator without an ice maker?

Several refrigerator brands sell refrigerators without ice makers.

It is common to feel odd to have a preference for buying a refrigerator without an ice maker when refrigerators with ice makers are the popular choice of people. 

Still, there are refrigerators available without an ice maker. 

If you have a burning question about buying a refrigerator without an ice maker, the straightforward answer is yes, you can buy such refrigerators. 

Still have questions like:

• Are refrigerators without an ice maker worthy?
• What are the benefits you are going to get?
• Is buying a refrigerator without an ice maker the right choice?
• What are the other methods of making ice when necessary? 

You will get answers to all these questions if you stick to the end of this article. 

Now, let’s elaborate on why you would prefer buying a refrigerator without an ice maker:

• You may not be a person who uses ice frequently.
• You may need a refrigerator with less maintenance effort.
• You may not have a water source to install a waterline.
• You may need a portable ice maker.
• You may already have an external ice maker, and you don’t want a refrigerator with an ice maker. 

Whatever you prefer, you must analyze if you are making the right decision before buying a refrigerator. 

So, let’s understand in detail a different perspective of buying a refrigerator without an ice maker.

What are the benefits of buying a refrigerator without an ice maker?

Let’s start by discussing the benefits of buying a refrigerator that doesn’t have an in-built ice maker.

Before thriving in detail about the benefits, think of your priority and ask these questions to yourself. 

Thinking on these fronts will help you make an informed decision.

• Do you or your family use ice more frequently?
• Do you have an external ice maker already?
• Is having more space in your refrigerator more important than the ice-dispensing feature? 
• Are you a person who will clean the waterline of the refrigerator if you buy a refrigerator with an ice maker?
• Are you a person who has time to make an effort to make ice manually in the tray or the external ice maker if you need it?
• Do you want your refrigerator to be energy efficient? 

After analyzing all these questions, if buying a refrigerator without an ice maker is the right decision, go for it. 

Here are the benefits of refrigerators without an ice maker.

1. Refrigerators are smaller in size

Refrigerators without an ice maker are relatively smaller in size than those that come with an in-built ice maker. 

If you live alone or are a student with a small kitchen, these refrigerators can be accommodated in smaller spaces. 

A smaller refrigerator allows you more space for other essentials in your kitchen. 

Or, if you already have a big refrigerator in the kitchen and want to buy another refrigerator to keep in your teenage daughter or son’s room, which is far away from the kitchen just to store their essentials, these refrigerators will be the best choice. 

2. It saves your money

As refrigerators without ice makers are small and don’t have ice dispensing technology, they are more affordable than refrigerators with an in-build ice maker. 

For example, refrigerators with ice makers will cost around $900 to $1300.

Wherein a refrigerator without an ice maker will cost you around $700. 

These refrigerators will be your perfect fit if you are looking for affordable refrigerators. 

It will also cut the cost of installing a water line to the refrigerator. 

If you rarely use ice, the tray with this refrigerator will help you make ice whenever necessary.

If there is no tray in your refrigerator, you can buy it at a very affordable price. 

3. Energy efficient

You can save utility bills with the refrigerator without an ice maker as they don’t dispense ice frequently. 

If you are concerned about utility bills, you can choose the refrigerator without an ice maker. 

It helps you save energy for other important uses. 

4. Extra space in your refrigerator

Being spacious enough to fill all the one of the important benefits of refrigerators without an ice maker.

As they don’t have ice makers, you can find more space to organize your refrigerator. 

Buying a refrigerator without an ice maker will benefit you if you go out shopping for groceries and fresh fruit and veggies sparingly. 

With these refrigerators, you can store all the extra items for a week or even a month.

When you already have a refrigerator with an icemaker and find it hard to accommodate all the items, you can buy these refrigerators as an extra to store them. It will save you so much hassle. 

5. Add aesthetics to your kitchen area

Refrigerators without an ice maker are small and add aesthetics to your kitchen with their designs. 

Some people don’t cook a lot and just need a refrigerator to store essentials; in such cases, you can choose a refrigerator without an ice maker to add aesthetics to your kitchen area. 

6. Special compartments

Refrigerators without ice makers come with unique compartments as they have more space than refrigerators with ice makers. 

These compartments include a wine rack and a fruit rack to keep them fresh for the longest time. 

If you have separate compartments in your refrigerator, it will help you keep organized. 

7. Door-in-door feature

Most refrigerators without an ice maker have a door-in-door feature.

It will enable you to access the frequently used items in the refrigerators without wanting to open the entire refrigerator door. 

It will add convenience and make kitchen activities hassle-free.

This feature will come hand-in-hand, especially when cooking in a hurry. 

It can also save energy consumption by avoiding frequent opening and closing of doors. 

8. Temperature control

As there is no ice maker, you can adjust the temperature according to your preference in the refrigerators without an ice maker. 

You can connect the refrigerator with your smartphone and control its temperature remotely. 

It adds convenience, and fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator will stay fresh as they are not prone to freezing temperatures. 

9. Easy installation

Another important consideration when buying a refrigerator with an ice maker is installing a separate water line to dispense ice. 

If you buy a refrigerator without an ice maker, you don’t want to install it, and it makes the installation process quick and easy.

10. Less maintenance

As I mentioned above, you will have to install a water line for the refrigerators with an ice maker.

The installation process is tough, but the water line maintenance also requires effort. 

Once every six months, you will have to replace the water filter, and water lines are prone to dirt and mold formations. 

The water line becomes infected with harmful microorganisms due to frequent water flow.

To prevent this, you must check the condition of the water line and clean it regularly. 

In the case of not cleaning regularly, it has a higher chance of causing illness to people consuming the ice.  

You can analyze the benefits of buying a refrigerator without an icemaker and decide if it is right. 

I have discussed the general benefits of buying refrigerators without an ice maker; the features and specifications may vary based on the brand and specific model of the refrigerator.

Alternative methods to make ice without an in-built ice maker

Now, you know the benefits of buying a refrigerator and analyze it with your preference. 

Let’s say you decided to buy a refrigerator without an ice maker, and you don’t have an external ice maker.

Still, you may need ice to make some drinks sometimes.

So, it is important to know the alternative methods to make it without an in-built icemaker in your refrigerator. 

Read below to learn the alternative methods of making ice: 

You can make ice using trays, silicon molds, and plastic bags.

You can use egg cartons to make ice if you don’t have all these options. 

Let’s discuss this one by one.

1. Making ice with trays

When buying refrigerators without an ice maker, it is best to choose refrigerators with ice trays. 

Ice trays are a convenient way to make ice.

All you need to do is, whenever you need ice, fill the tray with water for an hour. 

Ice will be ready, and you can flip the ice into the bowl. 

2. Making ice with silicone molds

The next choice is using silicone molds to make ice.

You can buy the desirable size of silicon molds online or in the offline store. 

If you already have silicone molds, then you are good to go. 

Choose silicon molds that are good in quality and can withstand temperature in the refrigerator. 

It is best to choose silicone molds with square and circular shapes. 

You must avoid choosing silicon molds with thin space as they will make small ice cubes, and there is more possibility of water spillage. 

After you have chosen the silicon mols, fill it with water.

Hold it carefully and place it inside the refrigerator. 

Let it freeze for 4 to 8 hours. 

Once done, tap on the back side of the ice cubes with your hands to remove them from the molds.

You are ready to use the ice. 

3. Making ice with a plastic bag

If you want a cheaper option and ice, go for plastic zipper bags. 

You can make good quality ice with plastic zipper bags.

There are different options available in the size of the bag.

You can choose large, medium, or small bags based on your preference. 

Fill the plastic bag with water, only it is half full.

When you fill the water up to half full, it will easily break the ice after freezing. 

After filling the water, zip it well to avoid spillage. Place the plastic bag in a horizontal position for effective ice freezing. 

Let it freeze for 8 hours. Ice cubes will be ready.

Factors to consider while buying a refrigerator without an ice maker

While buying a refrigerator without an ice maker, you must consider features and other factors to check if it is the right choice for you and your family. 

Here is the list of factors you must consider wily buying a refrigerator without an ice maker:

• Size of the refrigerator. 
• Style of the refrigerator.
• Storage space. 
• Special features include dual evaporators, flex drawers, air filters, and smart home connections. 
• Budget of the refrigerators. 

Final thoughts

You can buy a refrigerator without an ice maker if you live in a small apartment and need a small refrigerator. 

It is a good choice if you are looking for a budget-friendly refrigerator; you can buy a refrigerator without an ice maker. They are small and don’t have advanced technology, so they come at affordable rates. 

They also have several benefits, including temperature control and door-in-door features. You can consider this option when you don’t need ice frequently. Analyze all the benefits, and you can choose the brand and specific model of your preference.

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