GE’s nugget ice maker is nearly half off if you buy it refurbished

Sheena Vasani writes about tech news, reviews gadgets, and helps readers save money by highlighting deals and product recommendations for The Verge.If you’re looking for ways to make staying cool and hydrated easier this summer, Woot is currently selling a refurbished GE Profile Opal 2.0 Ultra Nugget Ice Maker for $264.99 through June 3rd. That’s $184 less than buying new at its full price, and comes with a 90-day warranty. If you want a brand new model, it’s also on sale for $359 ($90) at Best Buy, or $449 ($50 off) with a side tank included (Amazon, Best Buy, GE).$265If you’re unfamiliar with nugget ice, it’s the soft, chewable ice that cools drinks quickly and doesn’t melt as fast as crushed ice. In the week she spent testing it, my colleague Jennifer Pattison Tuohy said the countertop appliance quickly became her family’s “favorite kitchen gadget,” making drinks taste better and even encouraging her kids to stay hydrated. It’s simple to use and makes ice quickly, churning out up to 38 pounds of chewable nugget ice per day. Setup is relatively simple, too, as it doesn’t require plumbing. The machine also supports Wi-Fi, allowing you to schedule ice production or control it with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.While the ice maker does require a lot of maintenance, GE also added some upgrades aimed at making it slightly easier, including a scale-inhibiting water filter, a reusable air filter, and built-in alerts that let you know when it’s time to sanitize or descale. There’s also a touch display for checking status and connecting to Wi-Fi, along with a stainless steel scoop and a magnetic scoop holder.Verge ShoppingSign up to get the best deals on products we’ve found and tested sent to your inbox.Email (required)Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Sheena Vasani