Back in the Lidl catalog, the SilverCrest Ice Maker, 105 W is the machine of the summer. Small review of the product from Lidl.

Presentation of the SilverCrest Ice Maker

The SilverCrest Ice Maker, 105 W is 24.7 cm long, 29.3 cm high and 34.9 cm deep. Its volume is quite dominant and allows the integration of a water tank of 1.8 liters. The machine is very easy to use thanks to the “soft-touch” control panel. The SilverCrest 105W Ice Maker comes with an ice scoop to collect the ice cubes from the ice tray and put them in another container. The machine also comes with an ice cube tray with a capacity of about 800 grams that can be removed from the machine. Moreover, this tray is pierced on the bottom to let the ice cubes pass through and melt as they come out. These melted ice cubes are recovered in a water tank which will reuse this water to make ice cubes again.

Finally, the power cable is immediately connected to the machine, which is convenient not to lose it but also bulky when you want to store it since it is still 180 cm.

The test of the ice machine

Before starting the machine, it will be necessary to fill the water tank. To do this, a small physical marker in the water tank will tell you how much to fill. After several uses, a small add water light will come on when the machine runs out of water. The maximum tank capacity is 1.8 liters. The small rods freezing the water are installed at the bottom of the tank. In theory the machine produces 9 ice cubes every 8 minutes. And at start-up, it produces the first ice cubes between 7 and 15 minutes depending on the temperature of the water inserted in the tank. In continuous production, the machine produces between 11 and 12 kilos of ice cubes per day. This statistic is absolutely useless for occasional use, but it does give the full production capacity of the SilverCrest ice maker. Finally, on the consumption side, the machine is rather economical with a power of 105 W.

During our test, the first ice cubes were created in about 9 minutes. Their size was also smaller than the next ones, much thicker. The next ones were indeed within the performance range announced by the manufacturer. In our opinion, the ice cubes are consistent and last for a long time in the open air. On the other hand, the machine is slightly noisy which can be disturbing.

The frozen water transformed into ice cubes then flows into a small cup that will pour them into the ice cube tray, when they are definitely ready.

If you decide to make the ice cubes ahead of time, the batches can be stored in the tray if the machine is on. Otherwise, you can always store them in your refrigerator.

Maintenance of the machine

To avoid damaging the machine, the manufacturer recommends filling the tank with water between 8° C and 30° C. In other words, do not use water from the refrigerator, but rather running water around 10°C. The manufacturer also recommends not to start the machine directly after moving it, like a refrigerator. Indeed, it will take about 2 hours after several movements and handling to restart the machine safely, without risk of damage. For regular use, it is therefore recommended to install it permanently on the work surface and not to move it.

Note that in case of defects, the product is guaranteed 3 years by the manufacturer. The manufacturer will repair or replace the product. Remember to keep your receipt.

The machine also has a cleaning program. You will have to press for 10 seconds on the switch on button to start it. This self-cleaning process takes about 15 minutes. Afterwards, it will be enough to empty the dirty water from the tank by removing the cap and dry the inside of the water tank. This small plug is located on the bottom of the machine to drain the water, and empty the tank when it is removed.

All in all, the machine is quite efficient, but the ice creation time is insufficient in some situations. Indeed, one of the main advantages of this type of machine is to be able to create ice cubes when you forget to fill the ice tray of the fridge. In this sense, the time is a very important parameter to satisfy the guests as during an unexpected aperitif for example.

The machine is more adapted to a situation where we anticipate a future event and we launch the production of ice cubes half an hour or even an hour before, depending on the number of guests.