Why does the ice from my freezer taste weird?

Ice is basically a sponge for smells. Cubes sitting in the tray for days pick up odours from nearby food, and a water line that rarely runs can leave the first batch tasting stale or faintly of plastic.

The fixes are simple. Empty and refill the tray about once a week so cubes don’t sit and absorb odours, and keep strong-smelling foods sealed. If your fridge has a plumbed water line, run and throw away a batch after any long gap so you’re not drinking water that sat in the pipe.

If your model takes a carbon water filter, replacing it on schedule makes the biggest difference of all — a tired filter is the most common reason ice and water start tasting off.