Among the Dozen Ice Makers I've Tested, This Euhomy Is Best for Slow-Melting Ice That Won't Water Down Your Drinks

4 min readHaving spent a full year testing and reviewing countertop ice makers, I’ve learned something I did not realize before: people can be very particular about how they want their ice. Some want the crunchy little chunks of a nugget ice maker, while others absolutely must have hard, classic cubes.For those in the latter camp, countertop ice makers that delivered on these demands were few and far between. The new Euhomy Luna Pro Crescent Countertop Ice Maker fills the gap nicely.There are a number of good reasons to prefer one ice style over the other. For some it’s simply a matter of preference, but people with certain health conditions need especially hard ice to suck on for hydration.Health reasons aside, sometimes a drink benefits from harder, slower-melting ice. The Euhomy Luna Pro delivers precisely that. Furthermore, you can control ice thickness and other functions via an app, and its operation is straightforward and reliable.ProsHard, crescent ice melts slowlyCompact design takes up less countertop spaceThe batch countdown is a nice touchConsDenser ice has a slower production rate than nugget ice makers Daily Ice Production28 poundsBin Storage Capacity2.2 poundsTime to First Batch7–15 minutes (varies depending on desired ice density)Sound volumeUnder 45 decibels Weight21.4 poundsDimensions9.4 W x 14.0 D x 15.6 H inchesHow I TestedOver the past year, I’ve tested more than a dozen ice makers from top brands, and spent several weeks putting the Euhomy Luna Pro Crescent Countertop Ice Maker through its paces, during which it operated more or less continually.I timed its production from empty and tested all of its various functions and features. I also kept an eye on how effectively it holds and keeps ice chilled in its storage bin.Harder, slower-melting ice is where this ice maker shines.The Luna Pro does everything I would expect from a quality ice maker, plus it delivers the harder, slower-melting ice some people want or need. It produces up to 28 pounds of ice per day, with the first batch coming in 7 to 15 minutes depending on your desired ice thickness.Nick HildenThe crescent-shaped ice is harder and melts far more slowly than normal cubes.While that’s somewhat slower than nugget ice makers, you have to keep in mind that the harder, denser ice takes longer to freeze. Additionally, its operation is as easy as can be: pour water into the reservoir, turn on, ice comes out.My household has a lot of appliances competing for kitchen counter space, so I appreciated its compact size. At roughly the footprint of a shoebox, it’s one of the most space-efficient ice makers I’ve seen.It also comes with a decently sized 2.2-pound ice bin, which isn’t quite as large as the 3-pound ice bin in the GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker, our Best Overall pick, but isn’t as small as bins you’ll find at the smaller end of the spectrum. I’ve found that it’s a good amount for most users, allowing for several rounds of cold drinks. The included ice scoop is helpful, too.You can adjust the ice density.It has three ice thickness settings, with a decent range between the thin and large settings. I did find that the thin ice melts significantly faster than the medium and large settings, but that’s to be expected. I’d consider the thin to be something akin to nugget ice in density and melting speed, while the higher two settings produce ice that is more reliably hard and slow-melting.Personally, I don’t have much need for the other app functions, but they do work if you want to use them. The same can’t be said for all ice maker apps, which often have connection issues. I encountered no such problems with the Luna Pro.Nick HildenInside the app you can control ice thickness and see how much time is left.Nick HildenThe display also shows ho wmuch time is left on the ice maker.You can connect it to WiFi and Bluetooth to allow remote operation via the Euhomy app. App functions include an on/off scheduler, controls for its internal light and cleaning program, and ice thickness adjustment.Cleaning is a snap.The only thing I’ve disliked about ice makers in general is that they require fairly regular cleaning to avoid bacterial growth and remove minerals that build up in the system. With some models, this can be quite a chore, but not with this pick.Nick HildenThe ice tray holds two pounds of ice.Euhomy has really nailed it with the auto-cleaning cycle in its latest generation of ice makers, and the Luna Pro Crescent maintains that. While some involve unplugging hoses and multiple cleaning cycles, Euhomy’s program is easy: You just turn on the auto-clean mode, replace the water, run some white vinegar through the system once a month to descale it of mineral buildup, and that’s it.It produces noise, but not at a disruptive level.All ice makers produce some level of noise, and having tested a lot of them, I’d say the Luna Pro falls somewhere around the middle volume-wise. When it's not actively producing ice, it’s basically silent, but when it is producing, it does whir and gurgle a bit. I think it’s pleasant—about the volume of a small water fountain—but if you need total quiet, it’s something to keep in mind.It also falls somewhere in the middle in terms of power draw, using 200 watts when producing ice. Based on testing models spanning a range of draws, that should translate into a roughly $10 increase on your monthly electricity bill, if you’re running it constantly.Final ThoughtsSimply put, the Luna Pro is an easy-to-use, reliable ice maker, requiring little maintenance and offering a nicely compact build. If you’re looking for harder, slower-melting, crescent-shaped ice, you’ll likely be more than happy with its performance.The noise level might not be for everyone, but I didn’t find it particularly disturbing. App controls are typical for these kinds of smart units, and while I personally don’t find them very useful for myself, it’s one of those things that can be good for someone who likes that convenience. For now, I’m content with running the Luna Pro manually for all my drinks.Shop Euhomy Luna Pro Crescent Countertop Ice MakerMore Ice Makers We RecommendFrigidaire EFIC189 Ice MakerEuhomy Countertop Ice MakerNow 22% OffGE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice MakerNow 10% OffNick Hilden is a writer, globetrotter, and jack-of-many-talents who has written gear reviews for the likes of Runner’s World, Popular Science, Men’s Health, Thrillist, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Greatist, and the Manual, and his lifestyle, culture, and tech writing has also appeared in Scientific American, Afar, Salon, Vice, Healthline, and many others. Before entering journalism some 15 years ago, he worked as a bartender, brewery manager, sound engineer, recording and touring musician, cook, teacher, and in a variety of other trades. These days, he lives all over the world, performs music sporadically, and spends a lot of time thinking how to best improve his Honda Element conversion.Xavier Piedra is a Senior Reviews editor at Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Best Products. Xavier’s previous experience includes editing shopping, home, and lifestyle content at major outlets such as Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Popsugar, and more. When he isn’t thinking about the best products for readers, Xavier is likely watching the latest flicks at a nearby AMC, or filling out his physical video game collection.