A countertop ice maker is designed to make fresh ice on demand. It is not the same as a freezer, and the ice basket is not meant to keep ice frozen for long-term storage.
This is especially important for nugget ice. Nugget ice is softer and more chewable than regular hard cubes, which is part of what makes it so enjoyable in drinks. Because of that soft texture, it can naturally melt over time when sitting in the basket.
In many countertop ice makers, meltwater returns to the water system and is used again to make fresh ice. This means the machine follows a simple cycle: fresh ice is made, unused ice slowly melts, water recirculates, and new fresh ice is made again.
For the best experience, enjoy nugget ice soon after it is made. If you want to store extra ice in a freezer, spread it in a thin, single layer first when possible. This can help reduce clumping compared with storing a large pile all at once.
The key idea is simple: countertop nugget ice makers are made for fresh, chewable ice at home—not frozen storage like a freezer bin.