The Frigidaire EFIC121 is the cheap champion of the current ice maker market in 2025, leading the army of Frigidaire in a battle between well-known Frigidaire brand versus countless of Chinese ice makers at the moment. In my today Frigidaire EFIC121 review, I want you to remember the previous best budget ice maker from Ice Artisan, which is dethroned by its brother – the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS.
In Ice Artisan, I only review the ice makers that I had used or repaired. So I can guarantee that:
- I give you honest review (both pros and cons) of an ice maker. No hidden deal behind the website.
- I share my technician’s point of view, so I focus not only on the performance, but also the build of an ice maker.
- I compile an ice maker ranking list (coming soon) so you can compare all ice makers easily.
Jump to:
PROS
- Compact size, budget price
- Appealing look
- Durable than other competitors
- Decent ice making process
CONS
- It’s still the cheap product, so nothing fancy here
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
Frigidaire has been an American name in household appliances for over 100 years, now as part of the Electrolux. Known for manufacturing affordable and reliable kitchen appliances, Frigidaire continues to innovate in the countertop ice maker market with models designed to meet everyday household needs while keeping reasonable price points.
Frigidaire ice makers
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Price
- Available to buy now
- Costs $89 in the U.S market
- Many people’s top picks
The Frigidaire EFIC121 launched alongside the, working as the replacement in the budget segment for the Frigidaire EFIC189. It isn’t the latest model of Frigidaire, and the Frigidaire EFIC128 is under my 6-month stress test, to see if it’s worth to be the successor of the Frigidaire EFIC121 or not.
At its launch, you can find more color variants of the Frigidaire EFIC121 to choose, but at the moment, only the silver option is available. The Frigidaire EFIC121 currently retails for $89, however, you can find a far better deal on my website. This positions it competitively in the budget-friendly Frigidaire countertop ice maker category, making it one of the more affordable options for consumers seeking daily ice production capabilities.
In the same price range, the Frigidaire EFIC121 is competing with the Euhomy IM-06D and lots of “random name” countertop ice makers. For many people, investing a known name is still the wisest choice, though I always advise my readers to get a protection plan rather than settle down for the 1-year warranty.
The Frigidaire EFIC121 was my pick for the best budget ice maker. It is superseded by the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS at the moment.
Related post: Best ice maker 2025.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Durability
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Design
- Perhaps the most portable ice maker
- Unique stainless steel color, but still made of plastic
- Large ventilations
The Frigidaire EFIC121 measures 12.3 x 8.7 x 12.5 inches and weighs approximately 15 pounds. These compact dimensions make it smaller than others in Frigidaire lineup like the Frigidaire EFIC115. This positions the Frigidaire EFIC121 as one of the more space-efficient options for your kitchen. Because of its small footprint, super affordable budget and overall great quality, I once considered the Frigidaire EFIC121 as the best portable ice maker for RV, too.
Just a glance, and you can see the Frigidaire EFIC121 distinct from the rest of countertop ice makers at the same price point. Why? The ice maker features an unique stainless steel color (or you can say “silver”). Together with the black and red variations, the Frigidaire EFIC121 uses a texture that make us feel like having a real metal-body ice maker. I find it as more premium for placing in my countertop.
Frigidaire is quite generous at making bigger ventilation, which is usually a plus when you need to clean the dust off your ice maker. Sadly, the design is never consistent for a budget ice maker brand, and that’s why I don’t personally like the latest Frigidaire countertop ice makers as much as the Frigidaire EFIC121. It’s just a minor complaint, however.
The top viewing window is quite common for ice maker at that price point, and I don’t think anyone will have a liking for such design. The Frigidaire EFIC121 has typical membrane buttons for its control board, and yes, it’s better than a touch control board.
Related post: Best countertop ice maker.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Build
- Frigidaire has better durability
- Less appears in my repair bench
The Frigidaire EFIC121 has a plastic housing with stainless steel accents, thanks to its lightly textured color. It doesn’t add up more durability in the ice maker, but from my technician’s view, a Frigidaire ice maker is really good. I know, it is still made in China like other ice makers you can find online, but the Frigidaire’s quality control process is better, end of the debate.
One thing I will add to the durability of an ice maker is its available parts to find in the market, and the Frigidaire EFIC121 is truly an ice maker from a former American brand. Most parts are available online, and you can easily book a Frigidaire service. That’s much better convenience than an out-of-nowhere ice maker from China.
The interior components include plastic parts for the ice-making mechanism and water reservoir, which is just like your common refrigerator. But if you’re doing the part replacement on your own, make sure you know what you’re doing.
Long-term durability, I don’t expect much from the price point, but Frigidaire is certainly what I’m less likely to see in my repair shop. For your information, this is currently the daily driver in my workshop, and I have used it for more than 1 year. Personally, the Frigidaire EFIC121 is supposed to making ice for me at least 3 years more.
Related post: Best undercounter ice maker.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Performance
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Capacity
- Produces up to 26 lbs of ice daily
- Internal storage: 1.7 lbs
The Frigidaire EFIC121 can produce up to 26 lbs of ice per day with a water reservoir capacity of 2.1 quarts and an ice basket capacity of 1.7 lbs. This daily production rate matches the industry standard for countertop ice makers, as all current countertop ice makers under $100 will be expected to make 26 pounds of ice per day. However, with a bigger ice storage, the Frigidaire EFIC121 requires less times to pick ices in order to make a new batch, so yes, it’s convenient than many other Chinese competitors that have only 1.2-lb capacity.
It takes us about 6-7 minutes to get the first new batch of ice, depending on the ice size and other environment conditions. You should read my article of “How long does an ice maker take to make ice?” to know which factors are delaying your ice making process. As you can see, the Frigidaire EFIC121 is one of the quickest Frigidaire countertop ice makers to make the first ice batch.
For the first batch of ice, the Frigidaire EFIC121 will make 9 bullet-shaped ice cubes. This is also the standard of countertop ice makers at the moment, and you can expect about 1.5 hours (more or less) to get a full basket of ice. Then you need to unload the storage for the Frigidaire portable ice maker to make new batch of ice.
Related post: Best commercial ice maker.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Ice Quality
- Bullet ice
- A bit softer than fridge’s cube ices
The Frigidaire EFIC121 produces bullet-shaped ice cubes in two selectable sizes. These hollow, cylindrical ice bullets are designed for easy fitting into water bottles, which cool your drink quickly. Bullet ice quality of the Frigidaire EFIC121 is quite common for the price, and after all, I don’t have any expectations for an ice maker that makes bullet ices. Remember, bullet ices are meant for quick ice making, not for better visual in your drink.
Ice clarity varies significantly based on water quality and ambient conditions. I made an useful article on “How to make clear ice in ice maker?”, and boiled and filtered water can make difference in aesthetic for your end results. Try this to make your ices last longer.
Related post: Best clear ice maker.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Energy and Water Consumption
- Normal water and energy consumption
I wrote an article of “How much electricity does an ice maker use?” to give you a free calculator to find out whether you are spending more on your ice maker or not. The Frigidaire EFIC121 has a power consumption rating of average 105W, this translates to approximately 9.7 kWh per 100 lbs of ice production (assuming you’re maximizing your ice maker capacity).
So to say, the Frigidaire EFIC121 will cost you about $33 annually, and this is the cost for running it 24/7. If you just need it occasionally, the Frigidaire EFIC121 can cost much less, and its durability will also be better.
The bullet ice is the baseline of ice making, and it doesn’t waste water on anything else. For a quick math, you will need about 12 gallons of water to make the same 100 pounds of ice. All countertop ice makers will do the same process, so you don’t really need to think of water consumption in this price range. After all, you’re the one consuming the water. Read my article of “Does an ice maker use a lot of water?” to have a better explanation.
Related post: Best nugget ice maker.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Noise Level
- Quiet operation
The Frigidaire EFIC121 operates at about 38 decibels, providing that we don’t count when it is dropping the ices, and we usually clean the ice maker. Well, 38 dB is comparable to a whisper or quiet library, and I must say that you won’t notice it’s operating.
For customer reviews, I find many people report it to be “loud”, but whenever I asked my customer for the initial operation, they still confirm the Frigidaire EFIC121 to be quiet. With regular cleaning, I find the Frigidaire EFIC121 to be a trusted companion for making quiet ices.
Related post: Best ice maker for RV.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Features
- Lacks self-cleaning feature
- Add water alert, ice full notification
- Adjusts ice size
It is not the first Frigidaire countertop ice maker to lack the automatic self-cleaning program, and sadly it is by far the only feature that I need for an ice maker. As a household appliance that frequently uses water to make ice, it’s necessary to have an auto-cleaning feature to “clean” the pipe inside the Frigidaire portable ice maker. I highly recommended only use purified water for an ice maker, to reduce the mineral buildup in the internal components, thus prolong the life of the ice maker.
The control panel includes LED indicators for power, ice size selection, add water alert, and ice full notification. It’s a simple control board, yet it’s some QoL features that help you to run the Frigidaire EFIC121 better. It’s one of a few ice makers in this price range which can adjust the ice size, so if you find an ice maker without something like the Frigidaire countertop ice maker, make sure it’s cheaper.
Related post: Best budget ice maker.
Verdict
The Frigidaire EFIC121 ice maker offers an attractive entry point for budget-conscious consumers needing basic countertop ice production. At under $100, it stands out in the competition with its better design and reliable durability. However, in 2025, I think the Frigidaire EFIC123-SS should be the better option.
Still, I recommend the Frigidaire EFIC121, as long as it is possible to buy one. Frigidaire ice maker is usually the first thing you should check for when buying a budget countertop ice maker, especially when it has a better deal than the competitors.
Frigidaire EFIC121 Review: Trusted Review in 2025
Frigidaire EFIC121 review by IceArtisan.com in 2025. We tested this countertop ice maker for daily use—see if it’s the right fit for your kitchen, RV, or bar.
Product Brand: Frigidaire
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 89
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.7
