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If you have an ice maker that produces ice that tastes or smells funny, it actually could be a straightforward fix. Believe it or not, this is a question that I get regularly – why does my ice taste funny?
The answer may surprise you.
Related: Are you eating bad ice?
In this article, we are going to look at reasons why ice makers produce ice that tastes funny and the ways that you can solve the problem.
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The questions below are all of the questions that I get concerning ice makers and why they produce bad ice – I’m going to walk you through the solutions below, and then give you a way to prevent this from happening again.
Related: Dreamiracle Ice Maker Review
Okay, let’s get to it.
Funny tasting or smelling ice is normally caused by bacteria, mold, or mildew that’s growing inside your ice maker. The way to solve this problem is to clean your ice maker immediately. Until you clean your unit, you’re not going to produce fresh ice.
You must also remember to change the water filter in your ice maker. Old water filters will leak out contaminants, and this will eventually be transferred into your ice. If you are using a reverse osmosis system to feed into your ice maker or portable ice maker – then ensure that you have new filters for that system.
I always had bad tasting ice until I purchased my reverse osmosis system in my home. I purchased the iSpring RCC7AK on Amazon and loved it. Not only does the reverse osmosis help me produce clean, awesome tasting ice, but it also is great for drinking water.
If you have cleaned your ice maker and changed the water filter on the unit, then make sure that the water supply isn’t feeding bad water into your ice maker. Your ice can only be as good as the water that you use, so make sure that you are using pure water to produce ice.
Related: What Type of Water Should I Use For A Portable Ice Maker?
Rusty or old water lines can be dangerous, and I recommend that you take the time to replace these water lines right away. If you’re not comfortable doing it, then call a local plumber to help you out.
Portable ice makers do not use water lines but rely on the water you add to the water reservoir. I recommend using distilled water or water from a reverse osmosis system (Check out my pick above). Filtered water seems to produce the best tasting ice in the end, and if you are really concerned about serving the best ice available, then a water filtering system is a must.
How do I get rid of the smell in my ice maker?
There are several reasons why an ice maker would smell bad.
Stale water where bacterial is thriving is probably the number one cause. If you have left water into a portable ice maker for a long time, and then return some months later, you’re know exactly what I’m talking about. The ice maker isn’t going to small the best, and you should never use that water to produce ice.
The solution to a smelly ice maker is to drain out all of the old water and then clean the unit thoroughly. I would use a good ice maker cleaner to make sure that the ice maker is clean and producing the best ice possible. You can read my full article here about cleaning a portable ice maker; I list the best cleaning solution available for ice makers in this article. You can also use this cleaning solution for commercial ice makers – so check it out.
It’s always important to keep fresh ice available. Old, stale ice isn’t going to be the best for taste, and it can smell bad. Dump out your old ice and produce some fresh ice.
Portable ice makers recycle the water as the old ice melts. They can also produce smelly ice as the old water produces ice and then melts over and over again. It’s important to keep the water in the reservoir clean and fresh.
A clean unit and fresh ice should solve the problem. If this doesn’t make a difference, then you should probably call a technician to see if something is wrong with the unit itself.
Newer ice makers may produce ice that has a slight metallic taste. As water runs through new lines inside the ice maker, its flavors bleed into the water and ice. This will go away as the unit is used. When you first purchase a new ice maker (including a portable ice maker), it’s good to make some ice and just throw the ice way – this will allow the water to flow through the unit and wash away any flavors that may travel into your ice.
Metallic tasting ice could also be from water sitting in copper lines for too long. If you are not making ice and the water isn’t running through the system on a consistent basis, then your ice may have this slight medal taste.
I would throw away all the ice in the unit and let the water line bleed for a couple of moments. This will bring fresh water into the ice maker to produce fresh ice.
If these solutions do not work for you, then I would call a technician to check out your ice maker to ensure that everything is working properly.
How do you make freezer ice taste better?
I am not a big fan of freezer ice because the flavors of the food inside your freezer will travel to the ice. This is why ice can taste funny, and why I decided to purchase a portable ice maker for my home.
There are several ways that you can make freezer ice taste better.
First, you can seal the ice in a container or a freezer bag. This keeps the flavors from entering into your ice, and maintains its freshness. Some people will cover the ice with a piece of plastic wrap.
You’ll also want to throw out old food from inside the freezer. Old food is probably why your freezer smells and that smell and taste is going to travel to your ice.
Thirdly, keep your freezer clean. It’s incredible how dirty freezers will get overtime. A dirty freezer, in my opinion, is going to produce dirty ice. Use a disinfect and wash down the walls of your freezer every 3 months. Allowing mold or mildew to grow inside your freezer is just asking for trouble.
It’s good to add a freezer deodorizer as well that will trap and carry away smells from the freezer that would normally end up in your ice.
It’s also good to know that old freezers maintain bad smells more than new ones. Old freezers hold on to smells and sometimes it’s easier to purchase a new freezer than spending all of the time trying to get rid of that nasty smell.
I mean, if your freezer needs to be replaced anyway, then now maybe a good time.
Why do ice cube trays smell?
Like every kitchen gadget or utensil they need to be cleaned.
Make sure that every week you take the time to wash with soap, and warm water your ice cube trays. If you’ve had your ice cube trays for a very long time, then it may be a good time to replace them.
Related: What If You Don’t Have Ice Cube Trays, But You Need Ice?
I’ve used the silicone ice cube trays and found them very effective. I also love how you can produce different ice shapes that the whole family will enjoy.
Also, the problem may not be the ice cube trays. It may be the water or the freezer itself. Using clean water and making sure that the freezer is clean is a big part of producing ice cubes that taste great and are safe to eat.
Conclusion
I hope that this article has helped.
I love ice, but smelly or bad tasting ice isn’t good at all.
Take some time to properly diagnose the issue with your ice maker or freezer, and then use the suggestions to make it right.
I'm an avid enthusiast with a deep understanding of ice makers, particularly in troubleshooting issues related to taste and odor. My extensive hands-on experience in dealing with various ice maker models, coupled with a thorough knowledge of water filtration systems, has equipped me with the expertise to address common problems users encounter.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Funny Tasting or Smelling Ice:
- The primary causes are bacteria, mold, or mildew inside the ice maker.
- Solution: Immediate cleaning of the ice maker and changing the water filter to ensure fresh ice production.
- Importance of using pure water, especially with a reverse osmosis system, and replacing filters.
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Water Supply Quality:
- Emphasis on the quality of water supply affecting ice taste.
- Recommendation to replace rusty or old water lines promptly.
- Use of distilled or filtered water for better-tasting ice.
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Smelly Ice Maker:
- Stale water promoting bacterial growth is a major cause.
- Solution involves draining old water, thorough cleaning, and using a quality ice maker cleaner.
- Importance of keeping the water reservoir clean, especially in portable ice makers.
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Metallic Taste in New Ice Makers:
- Explanation of the metallic taste in new ice makers due to flavors bleeding from new lines.
- Advises making and discarding initial ice batches to eliminate unwanted flavors.
- Mention of a slight metallic taste from water sitting in copper lines for too long.
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Freezer Ice Taste Improvement:
- Sealing ice in containers or bags to prevent flavors from food in the freezer.
- Discarding old food to avoid affecting ice taste.
- Regular cleaning of the freezer to prevent mold and maintain freshness.
- Use of freezer deodorizer to trap and eliminate smells.
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Ice Cube Trays:
- Emphasizes the need to clean ice cube trays regularly.
- Suggestion to replace old trays and the effectiveness of silicone trays.
- Acknowledgment that water quality and freezer cleanliness impact ice taste.
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Conclusion:
- Summarizes the importance of diagnosing and addressing issues for better-tasting ice.
- Encourages users to follow the provided suggestions to rectify ice maker or freezer problems.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide on addressing taste and odor issues related to ice makers, combining practical advice with the importance of maintenance and water quality.
