The Frigidaire EFIC452-SS is the clear-ice specialist — a countertop maker that produces transparent, square cocktail-style cubes rather than cloudy bullets. IceArtisan rates it 3/5 with a B+ grade, praising the clear cubes while noting they emerge fused in sheets. With up to 40 lbs/day and a 2.3 qt tank, it is the pick for home bartenders who want presentation-grade ice, accepting slower cycles and manual cleaning.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The EFIC452-SS's purpose is clear ice, and it delivers. Reviewed reports it reliably produced beautiful transparent ice cubes that far outperform the cloudy crescents from a standard freezer, and it was named a best overall countertop ice maker by the Wall Street Journal's Buy Side. Clear ice is denser and melts more slowly than cloudy bullet ice, and it looks far better in a glass — the reason home bartenders seek it out.
It churns out 24 square cubes in roughly 15 minutes, with two size options and up to 40 lbs per day. The 2.3-quart water tank is generous, allowing extended runs between refills, and the bin holds 2.4 lbs. The trade-off versus bullet makers is speed: at 15-18 minutes per batch the EFIC452-SS is slower than the EFIC189's ~9-minute cycles, because freezing clear ice properly takes longer. For its intended use — quality over quantity — that is an acceptable compromise.
Ice Quality and the Sheet Problem
The clear cubes are the headline, but reviewers are candid about a quirk. IceArtisan notes that all current countertop clear ice makers, including the EFIC452-SS, produce batches of 24 cubes that stick together — the cubes emerge fused in a sheet that you have to break apart. It is a minor annoyance rather than a dealbreaker; Home Depot owners report the ice breaks up easily once you tap the sheet, and the resulting cubes are genuinely clear and attractive.
Home Depot reviewers describe the ice quality as superb, noting it is great out of the basket, freezes well, and breaks up easily, with very quiet operation. The clarity comes from a different freezing process than bullet makers use, which is also why the cycle is slower. For cocktails, whiskey, or any drink where ice is on display, the result is worth the wait.
Noise and Design
Unlike the loud bullet-making EFIC189, the EFIC452-SS runs quietly. Home Depot owners specifically praise the very quiet operation, with the only real noise being cubes dropping into the bin. That makes it more pleasant to run in a kitchen or entertaining area than the louder compact bullet makers.
The stainless design with a transparent window looks the part of a premium bar accessory, and the larger 2.3-quart tank means fewer refills during a party. It is a mid-size countertop unit — bigger than the compact bullet makers but far smaller than a built-in machine — designed to sit out and be used, which suits its entertaining-focused buyer.
Where It Falls Short
The clear-ice trade-offs are real. Beyond the fused-sheet issue, the EFIC452-SS lacks a self-cleaning feature, so it requires manual cleaning and descaling — more upkeep than makers that automate it. IceArtisan's 3/5 editor rating reflects that the clear-ice experience, while appealing, comes with these practical caveats.
Durability is the other concern: some owners report units failing early, including a few that quit within weeks, which is a risk to weigh on a $250-plus machine. Output is also slower than bullet makers. The EFIC452-SS is a specialist — excellent at clear cubes, but asking you to accept slower production, manual maintenance, and some reliability variance for that specialty.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The EFIC452-SS is the only clear-cube maker in this lineup, so it has no direct substitute if presentation ice is your goal. Against the bullet-ice Frigidaire EFIC189 and Magic Chef MCIM22SV, it makes far better-looking, slower-melting ice but costs more and produces it more slowly. Against the nugget-ice GE Profile Opal 2.0, it is cheaper but makes a completely different product — clear cubes for sipping versus soft nuggets for chewing.
It slots in as the mid-priced specialist: more expensive than the value bullet makers, cheaper than the premium nugget Opal, and unique in producing clear ice. The choice between it and the others comes down entirely to what kind of ice you want.
Who It's Best For
The EFIC452-SS is for home bartenders and entertainers who want clear, square, cocktail-grade cubes and will accept slower cycles, manual cleaning, and breaking apart the occasional fused sheet to get them. If you want maximum ice volume cheaply, choose a bullet maker; if you want soft chewable nugget ice, choose the GE Opal. For clear presentation ice on a countertop, this is the pick.
Strengths
- +Makes genuinely clear, square cocktail-grade ice cubes
- +Up to 40 lbs/day with a generous 2.3 qt water tank
- +Two cube sizes, first batch in about 15 minutes
- +Quiet apart from the sound of cubes dropping into the bin
- +Was named a best overall countertop ice maker by WSJ Buy Side
Watch-outs
- −Cubes come out fused in sheets that must be broken apart
- −No self-cleaning — requires manual cleaning and descaling
- −Slower 15-18 minute cycles than bullet makers
- −Some durability complaints, including early failures
How it compares
The only clear-cube maker among the picks, making presentation-grade square ice that differs from the bullet ice of the Frigidaire EFIC189 and Magic Chef MCIM22SV and the nugget ice of the GE Profile Opal 2.0 and Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255. It is pricier and slower than the bullet makers but cheaper than the premium Opal.
Who this is for
At a glance: Home bartenders and entertainers who want clear, square cocktail-style cubes and will trade speed and self-cleaning for ice presentation.
Why you’d buy the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS Clear Ice Maker
- Makes genuinely clear, square cocktail-grade ice cubes.
- Up to 40 lbs/day with a generous 2.3 qt water tank.
- Two cube sizes, first batch in about 15 minutes.
Why you’d skip it
- Cubes come out fused in sheets that must be broken apart.
- No self-cleaning — requires manual cleaning and descaling.
- Slower 15-18 minute cycles than bullet makers.
Rating sources
“While clear ice is appealing at first glance, remember that all current countertop clear ice makers, including the Frigidaire EFIC452-SS, produce batches of 24 ice cubes that stick together.”
“It reliably produces beautiful transparent square cubes that far outperform the cloudy crescents from a standard freezer, with quiet operation.”
“The clear square cubes freeze well and break apart easily, and the larger water tank allows extended runs between refills.”
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
