Frigidaire EFIC106-SS stainless front-control ice maker review

The Frigidaire EFIC106-SS is a small stainless countertop maker whose documentation is unusually specific about its tank, basket and electrical requirements—and unusually unclear about the shape of its ice. The manufacturer lists a 2.3-quart reservoir, up to 26 pounds per day and storage for only half a pound at a time. If you are flexible about ice geometry and can tend a small basket, it is worth comparing; if a defined bullet, cube or nugget is essential, do not treat the listing photo as proof.

Shop by the complete model code

The Frigidaire/Curtis page identifies the U.S. SKU as EFIC106-SS and prints UPC 058465805388. Use the full code when searching and compare the unit label with the seller’s listing. The page’s title says stainless steel and front controls, and its own image is associated with that exact SKU. The photographed cabinet has a brushed-metal front, a dark top and front selector/indicator panel. Curtis does not say whether that image is a photograph or a rendering, and it should not be treated as evidence about the ice itself.

Availability and package details can vary by seller, so compare the full EFIC106-SS code on the offer and the unit label before ordering. A listing that says only “Frigidaire ice maker” is not enough to establish this model or its included package.

Read the daily number as a ceiling, not a household promise

Curtis advertises 26 pounds per 24 hours; the linked English/French manual gives 12 kilograms per 24 hours. Those are manufacturer figures, not independent output tests, and neither source provides a paired room- and water-temperature condition for that daily rating. Do not use the headline to forecast a party’s supply. The manual separately describes an approximate 6-to-13-minute ice-making cycle depending on room temperature, while the product page prints a six-minute cycle claim. The manual’s technical table says nine pieces per ice-making interval, but neither figure tells you what your kitchen will produce over a day.

More immediately, the manufacturer lists a maximum stored amount of one-half pound. That is the collection basket’s limit, not a freezer or a large insulated bin. For a few drinks, you can move ice to a separate freezer container and let production continue. For a busy gathering, plan to check and empty the basket rather than assuming the stated daily output accumulates inside the machine.

The shape is an important unknown

The exact page calls this an ice maker and lists two ice sizes; its linked manual also describes size selection. Neither names the pieces as bullet, cube, nugget, crescent or sphere. The image shows the appliance closed, not the shape it produces. Therefore do not choose EFIC106-SS to satisfy a required ice-shape preference. If rounded hollow bullet ice is non-negotiable, compare the Frigidaire EFIC117-SS_SC instead: its exact product page explicitly calls its two-size output bullet-shaped. The EFIC106-SS can remain a sensible option only when shape is flexible.

Refill and cleaning need a closer look

The page states a 2.3-quart reservoir. The exact linked manual describes removing the basket, pouring potable water into the tank below its marked maximum line, and refilling when the add-water indicator appears. It does not document a direct water-line connection. A 2.3-quart fill is useful for choosing how much water to keep nearby, but it is not a continuous-plumbed supply.

There is a meaningful care discrepancy: the product page lists “manual cleaning,” while the PDF linked from that same exact SKU page contains an automatic self-cleaning section and says the program takes 30 minutes, followed by draining and cleaning the interior. The manual also recommends draining and drying the interior after a long period unused. Because the two official sources disagree, treat the self-clean feature as unconfirmed for a purchase that depends on it; ask the seller to show the supplied model’s label and instructions. The manual’s program is not a sanitation claim, and a timed cycle would not remove the need for hands-on care.

Measure the counter and allow ventilation

The linked manual lists a body 8.7 inches wide, 11.6 inches deep and 11.4 inches high. Its English instructions call for four inches between the back and side walls; the French section says six inches. That internal language difference means the body figures are useful for an initial fit check but not a definitive clearance envelope. Leave open space for ventilation, plug access and the lid, and verify the supplied instructions before choosing a tight shelf.

The manual specifies a grounded 115-volt, 60-hertz supply and 90–120 watts, and asks the owner to let refrigerant settle for an hour before first use. It also lists a front drain cap, an ice-full sensor, an add-water indicator, a viewing window and an included scoop. These practical details make setup more predictable, but they do not tell us the appliance’s noise level or guarantee a particular cycle time.

Who should shortlist it?

EFIC106-SS is best for a counter where the documented compact body is useful, manual refilling is acceptable, and a half-pound basket will be emptied into a separate freezer container. It has a known reservoir size, a two-size selector and clear basic power specifications. Those are real planning advantages over a page that omits all operating details.

Skip it when your essential need is a verified ice shape, a measured daily production rate under your room conditions, an exact basket larger than one-half pound, a confirmed self-clean program, or a direct water line. Its output numbers and cleaning instructions conflict in small but purchase-relevant ways, while its body dimensions do not settle the clearance question. For a shape-specific choice, EFIC117-SS_SC has a more explicit bullet-ice claim; for EFIC106-SS, buy only after the exact model code and care instructions match the unit you will receive.