Costco Members: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker w/ 1 Gallon XL Side Tank

overzeetop

Jan 7, 2022 4:35 PM

3.6K Comments

Joined Feb 2008

overzeetopJan 7, 2022 4:35 PM

3.6K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank overzeetop

Quote from Debit2Cash

:

At these prices, wouldn't it make more sense to just get a larger commercial ice maker? The 100lb ones go for around $500 at home depot.

It's not a standard commercial ice maker, it's a nugget icemaker which extrudes the ice into small, pellet-like semi-frozen chucks. The best name brand is Scotsman, and it has the best nugget ice, but Hoshizaki also makes an alternate version. Scotsman ice is softer (less solidly frozen) and, imho, the gold standard. They start around $2500 for the smallest under-counter, and a countertop version (for institutional/hospital use) starts in the mid to upper $3000 range. Hoshizaki are around the same price, maybe $500-700 more. The Hoshizaki produces a nugget that is closer to a truncated pie (trapezoid) shape and is frozen pretty solid. Full size nugget heads (that you could put in a garage - 36x36x36 head - usually sitting on a storage bin) like you see in Sonic or McDonalds are going to start in the $4000-5000 range.

Why do I know all this? I'm insane. Also, I stalked restaurant auctions in the 2010-2015 time frame looking for an undercounter unit to put in my game room. I found one and won the auction for $300, and had to drive a pretty good distance to pick it up. I then stripped, cleaned and reassembled the whole thing, replacing a couple of worn parts for $150-200 or so. It's been running well ever since, though any replacement parts are stupid expensive so I'm always a bit paranoid.

32

1

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 4:41 PM

1.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2009

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 4:41 PM

1.4K Comments

Quote from overzeetop

:

It's not a standard commercial ice maker, it's a nugget icemaker which extrudes the ice into small, pellet-like semi-frozen chucks. The best name brand is Scotsman, and it has the best nugget ice, but Hoshizaki also makes an alternate version. Scotsman ice is softer (less solidly frozen) and, imho, the gold standard. They start around $2500 for the smallest under-counter, and a countertop version (for institutional/hospital use) starts in the mid to upper $3000 range. Hoshizaki are around the same price, maybe $500-700 more. The Hoshizaki produces a nugget that is closer to a truncated pie (trapezoid) shape and is frozen pretty solid. Full size nugget heads (that you could put in a garage - 36x36x36 head - usually sitting on a storage bin) like you see in Sonic or McDonalds are going to start in the $4000-5000 range.

Why do I know all this? I'm insane. Also, I stalked restaurant auctions in the 2010-2015 time frame looking for an undercounter unit to put in my game room. I found one and won the auction for $300, and had to drive a pretty good distance to pick it up. I then stripped, cleaned and reassembled the whole thing, replacing a couple of worn parts for $150-200 or so. It's been running well ever since, though any replacement parts are stupid expensive so I'm always a bit paranoid.

ICE LIFE!

I always assumed that to be the case but never bothered to look up any of the details. Thank you for the due diligence !

1

andrewmc23

Jan 7, 2022 4:44 PM

1.5K Comments

Joined Jan 2017

andrewmc23Jan 7, 2022 4:44 PM

1.5K Comments

Quote from Jedis

:

Reviews are mixed about this one. Was recently on sale on Amazon and people complained about several broken ones that just made loud whirling sounds and stuff without actually making ice. Hit or miss. If you get one that works, expect good ice for a year before it needs replaced.

Amazon does sell used stuff as new, so who knows..

alphawave

Jan 7, 2022 4:53 PM

1.7K Comments

Joined Dec 2005

alphawaveJan 7, 2022 4:53 PM

1.7K Comments

Like overseetop, fellow loony here, running year 3 on my Opal 1, from a HD clearance posted here 3 years back, with no issues and only regular maintenance. Before my local Dairy Queen bit the dust, they had a Hoshizaki FLAKED ice machine that was friggen dynamite...was like having soft snow in your soda and there's nothing better on a 100F+ day. Been pining for one ever since, but keep moving into small condos and can't seem to settle down long enough to buy one and set it up, so the Opal will have to do. Still, I'm not suffering much. Costco makes this a thumbs way up.

edit: If GE/Opal came out with a flaked ice machine, I'd pay triple...straight up.
edit2: Industry wants to call it 'nugget' ice, but fans have called them 'chewblets' since forever.

Last edited by alphawave January 7, 2022 at 08:57 AM.

2

jfe

Jan 7, 2022 4:57 PM

157 Comments

Joined Oct 2004

jfeJan 7, 2022 4:57 PM

157 Comments

I had one since 2019, yes, just as the pandemic hit. My first unit got stuck in the defrost mode, and they replaced it free of charge. Took them close to two months to replace, and the new one works perfectly.
This is Dairy Queen ice, Bucees ice, soft, crunchy, my kids love it.
The first unit I was using filtered water, and had to clean it weekly. Not hard to do, but time consuming. The replacement I decided to go with distilled water, and now I clean it about 6 weeks. And the noise that the other one made is gone.
So, get one, but make sure that you understand that there is an additional expense of the distilled water. Depending how much you use it, will be about $1 a day

6

lowercase

Jan 7, 2022 5:12 PM

215 Comments

Joined May 2016

lowercaseJan 7, 2022 5:12 PM

215 Comments

Purchased version 1 from Home Depot a couple years ago and it's still going strong. Just remember to clean it from time to time and keep the side vents clean and you should be good.

1

bob1054

Jan 7, 2022 5:12 PM

209 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

bob1054Jan 7, 2022 5:12 PM

209 Comments

I have a broken one in the garage. Even after getting the replacement it's worked 6 out of the 12 months. Still waiting on warranty again.

SkillfulAction676

Jan 7, 2022 5:18 PM

30 Comments

Joined Jan 2018

SkillfulAction676Jan 7, 2022 5:18 PM

30 Comments

Anyone know if the water tank can be run directly to a water line or do you have to continually refill the water tank when it runs low?

soAsian

Jan 7, 2022 5:21 PM

185 Comments

Joined Nov 2011

soAsianJan 7, 2022 5:21 PM

185 Comments

Quote from overzeetop

:

It's not a standard commercial ice maker, it's a nugget icemaker which extrudes the ice into small, pellet-like semi-frozen chucks. The best name brand is Scotsman, and it has the best nugget ice, but Hoshizaki also makes an alternate version. Scotsman ice is softer (less solidly frozen) and, imho, the gold standard. They start around $2500 for the smallest under-counter, and a countertop version (for institutional/hospital use) starts in the mid to upper $3000 range. Hoshizaki are around the same price, maybe $500-700 more. The Hoshizaki produces a nugget that is closer to a truncated pie (trapezoid) shape and is frozen pretty solid. Full size nugget heads (that you could put in a garage - 36x36x36 head - usually sitting on a storage bin) like you see in Sonic or McDonalds are going to start in the $4000-5000 range.

Why do I know all this? I'm insane. Also, I stalked restaurant auctions in the 2010-2015 time frame looking for an undercounter unit to put in my game room. I found one and won the auction for $300, and had to drive a pretty good distance to pick it up. I then stripped, cleaned and reassembled the whole thing, replacing a couple of worn parts for $150-200 or so. It's been running well ever since, though any replacement parts are stupid expensive so I'm always a bit paranoid.

you make a good case. i kinda want one but gonna wait for it to show up in the warehouse

Debit2Cash

Jan 7, 2022 5:23 PM

2K Comments

Joined Aug 2010

Debit2CashJan 7, 2022 5:23 PM

2K Comments

Quote from overzeetop

:

It's not a standard commercial ice maker, it's a nugget icemaker which extrudes the ice into small, pellet-like semi-frozen chucks. The best name brand is Scotsman, and it has the best nugget ice, but Hoshizaki also makes an alternate version. Scotsman ice is softer (less solidly frozen) and, imho, the gold standard. They start around $2500 for the smallest under-counter, and a countertop version (for institutional/hospital use) starts in the mid to upper $3000 range. Hoshizaki are around the same price, maybe $500-700 more. The Hoshizaki produces a nugget that is closer to a truncated pie (trapezoid) shape and is frozen pretty solid. Full size nugget heads (that you could put in a garage - 36x36x36 head - usually sitting on a storage bin) like you see in Sonic or McDonalds are going to start in the $4000-5000 range.

Why do I know all this? I'm insane. Also, I stalked restaurant auctions in the 2010-2015 time frame looking for an undercounter unit to put in my game room. I found one and won the auction for $300, and had to drive a pretty good distance to pick it up. I then stripped, cleaned and reassembled the whole thing, replacing a couple of worn parts for $150-200 or so. It's been running well ever since, though any replacement parts are stupid expensive so I'm always a bit paranoid.

Haha. Thanks! I'm now educated on ice Smilie

I had never realized there was so much information!

StutterFace

Jan 7, 2022 5:34 PM

1.7K Comments

Joined Sep 2011

StutterFaceJan 7, 2022 5:34 PM

1.7K Comments

Quote from Dr_Funke

:

Built-in WiFi. For some foreign adversary, one more thing to increase their attack surface.

Can I borrow your tinfoil hat?

3

1

StutterFace

Jan 7, 2022 5:35 PM

1.7K Comments

Joined Sep 2011

StutterFaceJan 7, 2022 5:35 PM

1.7K Comments

Quote from freeskier98

:

It's the GOOD ice !

What is "good" ice?

1

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 5:41 PM

1.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2009

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 5:41 PM

1.4K Comments

Quote from soAsian

:

you make a good case. i kinda want one but gonna wait for it to show up in the warehouse

IF it shows up. You never know. It may not. If it does just buy it there and then return the unopened box to Costco online? I'm not sure they will price adjust online via store ?

TexCTSV

Jan 7, 2022 5:42 PM

37 Comments

Joined Aug 2011

TexCTSVJan 7, 2022 5:42 PM

37 Comments

Quote from Jedis

:

Reviews are mixed about this one. Was recently on sale on Amazon and people complained about several broken ones that just made loud whirling sounds and stuff without actually making ice. Hit or miss. If you get one that works, expect good ice for a year before it needs replaced.

I mean, I don't know how you can objectively state that. I've had one that has been trouble free from the first batch of Kickstarter units, so 6 years and an enormous amount of ice made through it. With the Costco warranty, I would be 100% comfortable with purchasing one if I wanted good ice but the reliability was a concern.

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 5:42 PM

1.4K Comments

Joined Nov 2009

freeskier98

Original Poster

Jan 7, 2022 5:42 PM

1.4K Comments

Quote from StutterFace

:

What is "good" ice?

Ice from sonic. Go buy a large cup of ice there and check it out. Superior in every form. CRUNCH

Last edited by freeskier98 January 7, 2022 at 10:47 AM.

1

Costco Members: GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker w/ 1 Gallon XL Side Tank

$550

$679

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