Your refrigerator does not contain any mechanical parts that will produce an odor or cause a bad taste in your food or ice cubes. Food can transfer odors and tastes to ice. Even food in the refrigerator compartment can transfer an odor or taste to the freezer to cause bad tasting ice.

If you refrigerator’s ice maker is producing ice cubes that taste bad or smell funny, here are possible causes and solutions:

Possible cause 1: Dirty water filtration system filter.

Solution: Replace it. Refrigerator water filtration system filters should be replaced at least every six months. Depending on usage, you may need to replace yours more frequently. Read your refrigerator owner’s manual for instructions specific to your model.

It’s a good idea to stock up on filters to save time and money. Enter your refrigerator’s model number here to find the manufacturer-recommended filter for your specific model.

Possible cause 2: Stale ice cubes.  

If you’re not often retrieving ice cubes, it could be that the old ice has absorbed odors from its food neighbors inside of your freezer or refrigerator. Food gases are easily transferred to water and ice. In fact, ice cubes can easily absorb odors from spoiled food inside of your refrigerator’s interior compartment.

Solution: Use ice cubes more frequently. Keep your refrigerator and freezer free of spoiled food.

Possible cause 3: Unhealthy water supply.

If your city or well-provided water is full of impurities, minerals, salt or sulfur, your water and in turn, your ice cubes, will have an unfavorable taste and odor.

Possible solutions:  Make sure you regularly replace your water filtration system’s filter.