GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker Dispenser

I became something of a legend amongst my peers earlier this week when I posted a picture of my glass.

"Is that the good ice?"

"How did you get that? Did you go to Sonic?"

"Can I use my company's wellness benefit for this? Because I need it in my life."

Yes, I was lucky enough to have a chance to review the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker Dispenser (which could have been more concisely named Opal 3.0, but hey, what do I know of corporate marketing?). This fabulous beast has one purpose and one purpose only. To create and dispense…

For those of you unfamiliar, The Good Ice is that crunchy ice you get, most often, from fast food joints. It won't crack your teeth like normal ice and it's addictively chewable. Pair it with something carbonated, and it instantly elevates the beverage.

GE's Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker Dispenser is the third iteration of the infinitely popular device. It can make a whopping 38 pounds of nugget ice every day (a considerable increase over the 2.0's 24 pounds). It averages around 1.6 pounds of ice every hour.

The ice is made by compressing ice flakes into small nuggets. The benefit, other than their inherent crunchiness, is that you can get your ice quickly. The Profile Opal machine can start dispensing ice in as little as 15 minutes after setup.

Good enough to make room for

First things first, make no mistake that the GE Profile Opal Nugget Ice Maker Dispenser (man, I'm going to get tired of typing that) is an appliance. At 45 pounds, it's a hefty beast. It's also going to take up a considerable amount of space on your countertop. And if you have under-cabinet lighting, you might be scrambling trying to find a place for it, as it's nearly 18 inches tall. Thankfully, the modern design fits in just about anywhere. I never would have expected an ice maker to have swoopy architectural lines and an all-black, glossy, minimalist interface, but GE has exceeded expectations with the Profile Opal.

The next hurdle is getting the screen filter removed to install the included water filter. I'm extremely grateful that GE included a filter in the box, but removing the mechanical screen proved to be a challenge that required a considerable amount of time Googling and scrubbing through videos.

The challenge is that this an all-black piece sitting at the bottom of a water reservoir that you 100% can not see into. Having to navigate by feel alone, the worry that I was about to break something on this very expensive ice maker was high (it's in there quite tight). In the end, I needed to jam a butter knife in the wee gap I was able to find, then pray I was levering the right piece out. Once the screen was out, installing the filter was a snap. But the included instructions did not prepare me for the struggle.

After I found a spot, got the water filter installed, and ran through a cleaning cycle (you need to flush the system three times before you can start making ice). I got the Profile Opal hooked up to GE's SmartHQ app. The app gives you insight into whether the machine needs to be cleaned, if it needs a new filter, and lets you control the illumination and set schedules to power down the machine. As far as app functionality goes, it's fairly comprehensive for such a spec-purpose device. There's also Alexa and Google Home voice control but, honestly, it seems like overkill.

Not being much of a fast-food aficionado myself, I'll admit I didn't quite get the "Good Ice" hype. But, after a month of enjoying 32-oz. cups full of nugget ice, I have to admit that I'm hooked. The ice that the Profile Opal maker creates is perfectly crunchy and infinitely chewable.

It produces ice infallibly, keeping the 1.8 lb storage bin topped off throughout the day. Unlike previous models, there's no removable ice bin, but an automatic dispenser, activated from an illuminated flat panel. Especially for an ice maker, it's possibly the most stylish appliance I have in my kitchen. The controls are clear and simple, it's easy to operate, and just about all the information you need from the device is clearly illuminated on its glossy black surface when you need to know it.

There is, however, a price to pay for becoming your own Good Ice dispensary.

Into every ice maker, a few nuggets must fall. The Profile Opal isn't the loudest appliance in my household, but it makes a noticeable, persistent hum while making ice. If the ice-dispensing auger gets stuck, the nuggets make a horrible squealing sound until you reverse it (done by pressing the power and cleaning buttons at the same time).

While the special filter for the Profile Opal lasts for three months, and a built-in UV light keeps bacteria from building up in the unit, GE recommends that you regularly descale the device. This requires loading it up with a water/bleach or water/vinegar combo, then flushing the entire unit at least three times, maybe more. In the case of vinegar, you need to let the vinegar soak for 18 hours before running the numerous cleaning cycles. You'll also need to switch out the water filter for the mesh screen you fought to remove initially, an onerous process.

I'll be honest, the SmartHQ app has been telling me for a couple of days now that I need to run a cleaning cycle and I've resisted. Partially because I don't want my kitchen to smell like vinegar for a weekend, partially because I don't want to give up my nugget ice for that long.

Then there's the cost. The GE Profile Nugget Ice Maker Dispenser is $699 at full retail price. That's a lot to pay for something you get for free with your soft drink.

Only you can say if nearly seven hundred dollars is worth it to have nugget ice whenever you want it. But then, if you've read this far, I think it's safe to say it's not outside the realm of possibility for you.

If the price doesn't scare you off, and you're willing to take on regular maintenance for the pleasure of having The Good Ice at all hours of the day, you can learn more at GE's website.