
Nugget ice makers are trending for a reason
EUHOMY Nugget Ice Maker
This ice maker can make up to 34 pounds in one day. It features a clear bin that lets you see how much ice is available and a removable basket. The ice is ready in six minutes.
Frigidaire Countertop Crunchy Chewable Nugget Ice Maker
This chic nugget ice maker is slim enough to fit on a countertop and yet makes up to 44 pounds of ice a day. The bin holds three pounds at a time, and the ice is ready within 15 minutes.
Silonn Countertop Ice Maker
This affordable nugget ice maker makes two types of cubes and has a handle for easy transport and a self-cleaning basket.
Joy Pebble Nugget Ice Machine
This ice maker operates quietly, has a light to indicate when the bin is full and features a self-cleaning mode that starts at the touch of a button.
GE Profile Opal Countertop Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank
This nugget ice maker might cost more, but it's worth the splurge. It recirculates melted ice, which means clumping isn't an issue. It takes less than 15 minutes to produce the first batch of ice, it makes up to 24 pounds daily and it has an indicator light that'll let you know you're running low.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
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CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
Ice Maker on the Rocks? Here Are the Common Issues and Easy Fixes
The unfortunate reality of owning a refrigerator with an ice maker is that it can fail, which is not ideal during warmer weather. On the bright side, ice makers are also relatively simple machines that, for the most part, all operate the same way. Whether you need that iced coffee hit in the morning or are hosting a cookout at night, you may be able to diagnose and repair a faulty ice maker yourself without forking over cash for an expensive service call. It can take a lot of trial and error to find the right fix for your ice maker, as a recent Reddit thread illustrates. Here's how to fix some common ice maker problems. When ice is not ejecting If you find ice inside the ice mold, it means your ice maker is receiving water and the problem likely isn't with the water supply. Instead, it's most likely a mechanical or electrical problem. Cause: When moving things around in the freezer, it's not uncommon to accidentally nudge the control arm into the off position, which halts production of ice. Fix: This is an easy fix. Locate the metal control arm and move it to the down or on position. Cause: If the control arm is in the on (down) position and the mold is filled with ice, the problem likely lies with the motor, gearbox or electrical connection. Fix: Start by making sure all electrical connections are properly seated. Slide the refrigerator out from the wall, turn off the water supply valve and disconnect it from power. Locate the quick release plug on the back wall inside the freezer. Unplug the connection and reconnect it to ensure it's fully connected. Manually remove any remaining ice from the mold by adding some water and letting it sit for a minute. The ice will begin to melt and should be easier to remove. Restore power to the refrigerator and lift the control arm to the off position. Lower the control arm back down and wait for approximately 10 seconds for the solenoid to engage and fill the mold with water. Wait three to four hours for the ice to freeze and see if the ice now ejects. If not, it's likely that you will need to replace the motor or gearbox. When it's not making ice at all If your ice maker isn't producing ice at all or is producing crescents or cubes that are smaller than usual, it's typically indicative of a clog somewhere along the supply line. Cause: A common cause for a clog is frozen water in the line. Fix: To repair a frozen line, slide the refrigerator and unplug it. Locate the shut-off valve, typically underneath the sink or behind the refrigerator. Turn the valve to the closed or off position. Fill a turkey baster with warm water and pour the water over the water line. Alternatively, you can defrost the water line with a hair dryer or by letting the refrigerator sit unplugged for upward of two hours. Restore power to the refrigerator and listen for the water supply to fill the ice mold. If the clog is anything but translucent, consult with a professional for help removing the clog. Cause: There is also a possibility that the water filter for the ice maker is clogged. Fix: Locate and replace the water filter. Filters for ice makers are typically located inside the refrigerator (to keep them from freezing). When cubes are too big or small Cause: If the ice crescents are too big or there is no clog and they're still too small, chances are, the ice maker just needs a little adjustment. Fix: To adjust how much water the ice mold is filled with each cycle, first remove the cover from the ice maker. It's the white plate on the frontmost part of the ice maker assembly and it should pull off rather easily. If you're having difficulty removing it, use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry it away from the housing. Under the cover, you should see a screw and spring assembly, along with a plus and minus indicator. This controls the dosing for water. Screw in (toward the minus symbol) to decrease the amount of water per dose and out (toward the plus) to increase the amount of water per dose.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Beyond books: The varied, and perhaps unexpected, free offerings at the library
Janelle Powell and her husband went to their local library branch for an electric saw and grabbed a pasta maker while they were at it. The Markham, Ont., couple were contemplating buying the power tool for a one-off home reno project, but didn't think they would use it again. So to the library they went. "We were doing that checkout process (and) I noticed that they had a pasta maker," said Powell, who works in marketing and writes online about various "life hacks" on the side. "I was like, 'Oh my gosh, I'm borrowing this.'" After two weeks whipping up ravioli and other pasta shapes, Powell asked herself whether she wanted to buy her own machine. It was fun, but she concluded "probably not." Libraries have far more to offer than books and hushed spaces. Sometimes you have to ask or dig around, but a library card can get you a wide array of tools, gadgets, resources and services at no cost. For littles From drop-in storytimes to play areas with a rotating selection of toys, libraries can be a haven for parents looking to save cash — and their sanity — as they try to keep their kids occupied. "We see some of the same families and children repeatedly every single day," said Barb Gillard, executive director of visitor experience at the Calgary Public Library. There are several early learning centres at branches across the city. One features a decommissioned fire engine where kids can push buttons to make the lights go, listen to recordings of pretend emergency calls and don mini firefighter gear. Another has a real-life helicopter. For Powell, checking out video games at the Markham library has been a better option than shelling out $80 a pop for new ones her nine-year-old quickly beats. The toy library has also been a godsend, allowing her to grab a bag for a week and rotate them out before her two-year-old loses interest. "I wish I knew about it before I had my second son because you spend so much on toys and trying to entertain your kids and they get bored of them so quickly." For workers and job seekers The Vancouver Public Library has been seeing more people use its spaces for remote work post-pandemic, said director of information technology and collections Kay Cahill. "There's no price of admission. You don't have to go and keep buying cups of coffee to feel like you can stay," she said, adding the library is also thinking about adding soundproof pods so people can take video calls in privacy. Libraries generally have plentiful power plugs, good wireless networks, meeting rooms and some free printing available. Computers available to borrow often come preloaded with software that would otherwise carry a hefty subscription price. For creators and art lovers Audio-visual equipment, recording suites, editing software and green-screen studios are some of the offerings your city's library may have. The Toronto Public Library has a dozen Digital Innovation Hubs spread across the city, with various software programs, specialized equipment and courses. A 3D printer can be used for a minimal fee. "Instead of having to go out and buy something or pay for a service or a course, you now have the resources to potentially do it yourself," said Natalie Colaiacovo, the Toronto library's manager of innovation services. "Recently I had a customer reach out to me who was experiencing homelessness and she mentioned that she was using our graphic design tablet and the software in the Digital Innovation Hub to help her achieve her goal of self-publishing a children's book." The North York branch has a fabrication studio with sewing machines, a serger, embroidery machine, heat press, vinyl cutter and button maker. The Vancouver library runs in-demand clothes-mending courses. Many libraries have musical instruments that can be checked out. "If you don't want to invest in the instrument, if you're not sure if it's something you're going to enjoy, you can borrow it for a short amount of time to try it out," said Gillard, in Calgary. The Vancouver library was flooded with interest the day it opened its instrument-lending program, recalled Cahill. "Literally everything went out except for one left-handed guitar," she said. Some libraries have passes to local museums and other attractions. And of course, there are films available to stream through Kanopy, ebooks, audiobooks and magazines through Libby and thousands of newspapers from around the world through Press Reader. Powell figures she's saved thousands with her library card. She said she was deluged with comments after she posted a video chronicling her foray into pasta-making, incredulous that the machine could be borrowed from the library. "It just kind of dawned on me that most people don't realize the library allows you to borrow things beyond books," she said. "It's evolved so much past that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2025. Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Yahoo
Find great ‘chai kuih' at Pandan Jaya's Si Xiang Restaurant together with well-crafted ‘tong sui' and various snacks
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Depending on which part of the city you're located, different food items appear more often as community favourites. Around the Ampang area, the Teochew chai kuih is much loved for a light breakfast or even just as an afternoon snack. This shop located near to the famed Jia Li Mian Noodle House in Pandan Jaya is a wonderland for all kinds of snacks, light bites and even frozen food. It's mainly a takeaway joint but a few seats at the back can curb your snack cravings immediately. Many come here for the chai kuih – steaming away in an enormous steamer fronting the shop – said to be made in-house. Four different flavours – yam bean, pumpkin, chives, taro – can be selected for RM1.20 per piece. Fronting the restaurant is a multi-tier steamer that hides the 'chai kuih'. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Each plump morsel is wrapped in a translucent skin, pinched in the middle to resemble a leaf-like shape. The skin is thin, slightly stretchy but doesn't break easily as you use your chopsticks to daintily pick up a piece. Each maker has their own proprietary recipe to create that all important skin, which needs to be resilient yet not too thick to upset the ratio of skin to filling, affecting your mouthfeel. This version also feels healthier as it's not slick with oil, as some kuih makers use oil to allow inexperienced hands to handle the whisper thin skin easily. The generous fillings do not disappoint too, each flavour catering to different preferences, from savoury to sweet, or soft to slightly crunchy. Bubur Cha Cha (left) comes with chunky sweet potatoes and mochi for a sweet treat as one can select the Tomyam Fried Beehoon (right) with its light, piquant flavours. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Traditionally, it's yam bean and this version is slightly sweet with soft-crunchy textures mingled together. Softer fillings are the ones with pumpkin and taro, with a creamier mouthfeel for the sweet pumpkin and a fluffier bite for the cooked taro that has a hint of savouriness. Take away your 'tong sui' to enjoy at home like the thick Red Bean Black Glutinous Rice Dessert (left) and Ginkgo Barley (right). — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Gleaming a vibrant jade green, the Chinese chives with dried prawns has a strong flavour of onion and garlic, a trademark of this vegetable. It comes with an orange coloured chilli sauce. complementing the chai kuih with a zingy flavour rather than heat. Here, the snack game gets better with their homemade tong sui, six varieties prepped daily. Yam Cake is substantial with tiny bits of taro and an aromatic topping of fried dried prawns and fried shallots. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Bubur Cha Cha was my pick, since it's pretty scarce on menus and this version is heavy on the ingredients, especially the soft chunks of purple and orange sweet potatoes. The purple hued coconut milk was light and easy to drink with the chewy mochi too. Other picks I decided to takeaway were their super thick Red Bean Black Glutinous Rice Dessert and the heat busting Ginkgo Barley, essential for these hot days. The tong sui is priced at RM3.80 for a small portion. Golden, flaky Kaya Kok are a crowd favourite with their regulars. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi On the cards here, expect homemade simple meals, assorted kuih from Aroma Nyonya, baked goods and packed food like nasi lemak Pulau Ketam and mee Siam. Try their Tomyam Fried Beehoon, lightly fragrant with torch ginger flower and chillies, fried with vegetables and omelette strips. Options to add a fried egg or fried chicken are also available. For the nasi lemak Pulau Ketam (RM3.70), it's pretty plain with just a small portion of their trademark tiny prawns and spicy sambal. Go for the hefty Yam Cake (RM5) topped with fragrant fried dried prawns and fried shallots for a more substantial snack, paired with the same zingy chilli sauce used for chai kuih. The shop is filled with all kinds of goodies that you select from the counter or WhatsApp to order for a quick pick-up. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Apparently the Kaya Kok (RM5) is a crowd favourite, as seen by this lady who took away at least three boxes of the pastry with her! The golden flaky pastry is half filled with thick pandan kaya, making it a good snack on the go. A chicken version for RM7 is also available but less sought after. Orders can also be made via WhatsApp to book the chai kuih and if you want the convenience of dining at home or the office, you will need to arrange for delivery yourself. Previously at another shoplot down the road, this new location puts them nearer to the popular Jia Li Mian Noodle House. — Picture by Lee Khang Yi Si Xiang Restaurant, No. 33, Jalan Pandan Jaya 2/2, Pandan Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. Open: 8am to 4pm. Closed every second Tuesday of the month. Tel:016-4012729* Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems.