Buying guide
AMD Cube vs Nugget
AMD’s 15-inch ice makers. Choose the ice you enjoy, then plan the storage and connections that make it useful.
The decision
Choose the ice first. Then plan how it gets there.
The AMD 15-inch Cube Ice Maker and Nugget Ice Maker make different kinds of ice, but the more useful comparison goes beyond texture. Think about how much ice you want on hand at the start of a gathering, how often you will draw from the bin, and whether the water, drainage and service arrangement fits the island.
AMD’s 2026 catalog lists 50 pounds of daily production and 25 pounds of storage for Cube, compared with 55 pounds and 26 pounds for the current Nugget model. The Nugget’s higher daily figure adds only one pound to the listed storage capacity. If the job is supplying a large amount at once, that distinction matters more than the larger production number.
Start with Cube if…
You want the familiar cube format for drinks and have a suitable plan for its documented gravity drainage. Its listed 25-pound bin is close to the Nugget’s 26-pound bin, so you are not giving up a large store of ready ice by choosing Cube.
Choose Nugget if…
The softer, chewable ice is something your household will actively enjoy. Choose it for that preference, then confirm the current model’s water, drainage, filtration-care and installation needs before the island is built.
The ice you enjoy
Make texture a deliberate choice.
Nugget ice is the softer, chewable format; Cube produces individual cubes. Neither format is an automatic upgrade for every drink or household. If you have a clear preference from the drinks you regularly order or make, that is a better starting point than choosing the larger daily-output number.
For the Cube model, the operating manual lists cube dimensions of approximately ⅞ inch on each side. Do not confuse those individual cubes with the much larger specialty cubes sometimes used for spirits. If a particular glass or ice style is important to you, compare the actual format before choosing the appliance.
The current Nugget model also lists an anti-microbial filtration system, a magnetic sealing gasket and a black steel body with a 304 stainless-steel door and handle. Those are its stated equipment details. The filtration label does not remove the need for the correct water supply, cleaning or any required consumable replacement.
Side by side
Daily output is not ice already in the bin.
| Decision | Cube Ice Maker | Nugget Ice Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Ice format | Cube | Nugget |
| Listed daily production | 50 lb. | 55 lb. |
| Listed bin storage | 25 lb. | 26 lb. |
| Selected appliance price | $2,999.00 | $2,999.00 |
For 30 pounds of ice at the start of a gathering, plan a reserve. Neither listed bin holds that amount: Cube stores 25 pounds and Nugget stores 26. Daily production is not the same as ice already waiting when guests arrive.
During a longer gathering, ongoing production can replenish what you take. How quickly it does so depends on the actual operating conditions. The Cube manual specifically says that daily production varies with environmental and water conditions. Do not treat either catalog figure as an hourly guarantee for a hot patio.
The five-pound difference in catalog daily-production figures is not five extra pounds of stored ice. Whether that production difference helps your own routine depends on operating conditions and how you use the appliance. We would choose the ice format you want, check the amount you need at once, and then make sure the installation can support that plan.
The Hearth Outpost view
Buy the ice you will reach for.
We would choose Nugget when its texture is a clear part of the appeal. If your family already seeks out chewable ice, that benefit will be present every time you fill a glass. If you mainly want cubes on hand for drinks and occasional hosting, the Cube model deserves equal consideration; its storage capacity is nearly the same.
We would not make this decision around a five-pound daily-output difference alone. First ask whether the appliance will cover the normal routine and what happens at the busiest gathering. A sensible reserve plan and workable plumbing can matter more than the small difference between the two published bins.
Our next question would be where the water goes. A unit that fits the front opening but cannot be drained and serviced properly is not a finished installation. Decide the ice you enjoy, then review the exact unit with the installer before the surrounding cabinetry is finalized.
What comes with it
Leave room in the budget for the connections.
AMD Cube Ice Maker
The current product information lists the appliance, ice scoop, drain hose and water-supply hose. It has a reversible door, front ventilation and a 304 stainless-steel door. It is offered as an outdoor-rated built-in design; its manual also describes installation options subject to the required water, drainage, electrical and clearance conditions.
AMD Nugget Ice Maker
The current listing identifies the appliance, anti-microbial filtration system and reversible door, with a compatible trim kit available separately. Confirm the supplied connection parts and filtration service items for the current unit. Do not assume the Cube’s accessory list is also the Nugget’s package.
The appliance price is only one part of the installed budget. Allow for suitable water and drainage connections, electrical work, any required water treatment, optional trim and the access needed for future maintenance. Include those items when comparing the installed cost.
Plan the connections
Start with the drain route.
The Cube model is specified with gravity drainage. Its manual requires the drain to be connected before use, warns against loops above the floor of the storage bin, and calls for horizontal drain runs to fall ¼ inch per foot. Have the installer check the route, local plumbing requirements and the appropriate waste connection before committing to the location.
If gravity drainage cannot work at your planned location, the Cube manual discusses using a condensate pump. That is not a promise that a pump is included, or that any pump is suitable. Have the installer confirm the correct equipment and full arrangement. The Cube manual also states that the appliance is not a freezer; the drainage system is part of how it manages ice and meltwater.
For the current Nugget model, confirm the exact drainage arrangement, any pump needs, water connection, filtration service and electrical requirements for the unit being supplied. Do not carry those specifications across from Cube or an earlier nugget generation. Get those details agreed with the installer before closing up the island.
The dimension sheet for the current Nugget model gives a recommended opening of 15⅝ inches wide × 22⅛ inches deep × 34⅜ inches high. Use the complete drawing and the selected trim arrangement before construction. That opening is not a replacement drawing for Cube, and door movement, connections and service access still need checking.
Keep the front ventilation clear, choose a location appropriate to the exact appliance’s ambient requirements and leave a practical way to service it. For Cube, the manual calls for a continuous cold-water supply, a suitable grounded electrical connection and protection from heat-producing appliances. Have a qualified installer confirm the current unit’s connections and applicable codes.
Both appliances need a care plan. For Cube, the manual distinguishes interior, condenser, water-distribution and ice-making-system cleaning, plus preparation for extended storage. For Nugget, confirm the current cleaning and filtration schedule and the specified supplies. Leave access for that routine after installation.
Shop the ranges
Continue with the exact configuration.
Compare the two exact ice makers, then confirm the complete connection, care and installation scope.
AMD
AMD 15-inch Outdoor Rated Cube Ice Maker
$2,999.00
15-inch Cube Ice Maker. Listed 50 lb. daily production and 25 lb. storage; actual output varies with conditions. Connections and installation are separate.
AMD
AMD 15-inch Outdoor Rated Nugget Ice Maker
$2,999.00
Current 15-inch Nugget Ice Maker. Listed 55 lb. daily production and 26 lb. storage. Confirm current connection and care requirements before installation.
Ownership support
Warranty and support.
Before ordering, have us confirm the written ice-maker coverage for the exact unit: the covered components, term, remedy and any labor or service charges. AMD’s broader catalog covers several appliance categories; a lifetime term for a grill or ice chest should not be treated as a warranty on the whole ice maker.
Keep the receipt, model and serial number, registration information and maintenance records together. Those details make a support request much easier to handle. Read the installation, care and warranty conditions before the appliance is built in, including the requirements for the original purchaser and site.
Before ordering
Plan for your busiest gathering.
Let’s choose the ice maker that fits the job.
Tell us what you like to serve, how much ice you want ready and where the appliance will go. We can help compare these AMD models and identify the connection and ownership details to confirm before ordering.
Speak to an Expert
Good questions
Before choosing by the daily number.
Does 55 pounds per day mean 55 pounds are stored inside?
No. AMD lists 55 pounds of daily production and 26 pounds of storage for the current Nugget model. Cube is listed at 50 pounds daily and 25 pounds stored.
Which is better for a gathering that needs 30 pounds at once?
Neither listed bin holds 30 pounds. Choose the ice you prefer and plan an appropriate separate reserve for that amount; daily production is not the same as ice already stored.
Does the Cube model need a drain?
Yes. It is specified with gravity drainage and the manual requires the drain line to be connected before use. Have the installer verify the actual route and any additional equipment.
Can I use the Cube instructions to install Nugget?
No. Confirm the current Nugget unit’s water, drainage, electrical and care requirements separately. A shared nominal width does not establish identical installation needs.
Does the anti-microbial filtration system eliminate cleaning?
No. Confirm the current Nugget cleaning and filtration-service instructions and follow the specified routine. Keep the care routine and any required replacements in your ownership plan.