Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 nugget ice maker review

A manual-backed nugget family, not a generic “44-pound” class

The Frigidaire Gallery EFIC255 is a countertop nugget maker whose official product page lists four finish codes: EFIC255-GREY, EFIC255-CREAM, EFIC255-NAVY and EFIC255-BLACK. The linked manual names those same four codes alongside other machines, so the shared controls and care instructions are tied to this family rather than inferred from a similar-looking ice maker. The official page also lists a separate white EFIC255-WHITE-CC package. Its own exact manual connection is not established here, so this review does not quietly fold that suffix into the Grey/Cream/Navy/Black assessment.

The practical choice is about texture and tending the machine. Its soft, chewable nuggets suit drinks where small pieces are more useful than hard cubes. That is a different job from the hollow bullet ice of compact batch makers or the large format of a sphere machine. The product page calls the finish matte; the Grey reference image is the manufacturer’s own cutout-style rendering, not a photograph of an independently tested unit.

Daily production is not the basket you can carry to the table

The product page and manual both say up to 44 pounds in a day, and the page says the first nugget appears in 10–15 minutes. These are manufacturer claims, not results measured in a home kitchen. Neither source states the ambient-air and water-temperature pair for the 44-pound figure. If a strict warm-room daily minimum is essential, leave the EFIC255 out unless the manufacturer confirms that exact operating condition.

Collection is a separate limit: the page specifies a basket of up to 3 pounds. It also places “2.5 quarts” beside that basket claim, while the manual describes a separate drawer-style water tank and later gives a 3.2-liter maximum for a cleaning solution. Those statements do not securely establish a normal-use reservoir volume, so this review uses the documented 3-pound basket and does not promise a water-tank size. During a long serving window, expect to check the water, remove a full basket and transfer ice to a freezer if you need a reserve. The documents do not describe a powered frozen-storage compartment.

Plan for two drawers, hand filling and real clearance

The manual’s water tank and ice basket are separate drawers. You pull out the tank, open its lid, add potable water and slide it back; the basket is another removable part. The page explicitly says no water hookup is required. That makes the machine easier to place than a plumbed appliance, but it also means refill and transfer remain part of the routine. The indicator panel includes Power, Ice Full and Add Water lights, and the manual describes separate Ice and Clean controls.

For a tight counter, use the manual’s unit dimensions—10 inches wide, 14.6 deep and 16.5 high—as a starting envelope, not the complete operating footprint. The installation section asks for at least 6 inches behind and beside the unit, and troubleshooting says to preserve more than 15 centimeters at the hot-air outlet. The page says it fits beneath kitchen cabinets, but that is not a reason to ignore ventilation or assume every shelf height works. The manual also calls for a level location away from direct heat and an accessible, grounded 110–120V outlet. After moving the unit, it says to let refrigerant settle upright for an hour before plugging it in.

Cleaning mode helps, but does not remove the work

Unlike a simple ice-only machine, the EFIC255 has a dedicated Clean control. The manual says that cycle runs for at least 20 minutes, then instructs the owner to drain water from both the evaporator and the tank beneath the drawer. It also describes cleaning the removable tank and basket, checking that the drain plugs are seated, changing reservoir water every 24 hours and fully draining the unit before long storage. So a cleaning cycle is useful, but it is not a promise of maintenance-free operation or a one-button finish.

The manual gives separate daily sanitation and monthly mineral-removal routines, with different solutions and rinse steps. Follow the exact supplied instructions for each; do not combine their recipes or skip draining and rinsing. If your essential requirement is a fast, entirely hands-off clean, this is not that machine.

Who should choose the EFIC255?

Choose the documented EFIC255 finish family if chewable nugget ice, a three-pound removable basket and a clean cycle matter more than a plumbed feed or measured daily performance. It can suit a household that will be nearby to refill, empty and clean the drawers and has counter space for the required air gaps. Compare a current Newair NIM044BSN2 if its larger 2.7-pound basket and removable tank better match your handling preferences, but obtain that exact edition’s instructions because its current manual link is not publicly readable. A bullet maker is the more sensible comparison if texture is flexible and you prefer several bullet sizes.

Before buying, match the finish code on the offer to the official page: Grey, Cream, Navy and Black have separately named manufacturer codes and images. Do not assume the White EFIC255-WHITE-CC is the same supplied configuration just because its page repeats the 44-pound headline. This review does not claim current retail stock, lab-measured output, noise, taste, energy use or long-term ice retention. It treats the 44-pound rating as an unspecified-condition ceiling, the 3-pound basket as ready-to-serve capacity and manual refilling as an essential operating task.

Sources: Curtis International’s Frigidaire EFIC255 product page and its linked EFIC255 family manual.