4 ways to make your water and ice taste better

In Australia, we are fortunate to have some of the safest and best-regulated drinking water in the world. In most parts of the country, tap water is perfectly good to drink and generally tastes clean and fresh. That’s why it can be surprising when a glass of water, juice or cocktail starts to taste slightly chemical or unpleasant after a couple of ice cubes have melted into it. Granny grimacing at her G&T? Not what you want.

Off-tasting ice is a common experience, and it doesn’t usually mean there’s anything wrong with your water supply. It’s got more to do with how freezing affects water, how ice absorbs flavours and aromas from its surroundings, and how impurities are released as ice melts. Understanding this helps explain why ice cubes can change the taste of your drink - and what you can do to improve the quality of both your water and your ice.

The easiest way to improve ice taste is to filter the water before it’s frozen. Jug-style water filters reduce chlorine and some contaminants that commonly contribute to unpleasant taste in both drinking water and melted ice.

Using filtered water in ice cube trays means fewer impurities will be frozen into concentrated areas. For many people, this simple benchtop appliance is sufficient to improve water purity and reduce the chances of bad tasting ice.

Best for: Renters, singles, couples, or anyone wanting an affordable, low-commitment solution.

Things to consider: Jugs need refilling and regular filter changes (see Table below), and their capacity can be limiting if you frequently make large batches of ice.

Fridges with automatic ice makers and water dispensers filter water just before it’s dispensed or frozen. This reduces chlorine, minerals, and other impurities that affect both water taste and ice quality.

Both plumbed and non-plumbed fridges can deliver good results, as long as filters are replaced as recommended. Some fridges have external ice dispensers on the door, while others have external water dispensers but internally-accessible ice makers.

Best for: Families, busy households and people who use lots of ice and cold water.

Things to consider: As with filter jugs, the filter itself must be regularly replaced. An overdue filter can contribute to stale ice or off flavours rather than preventing them. The filters in non-plumbed fridges work similarly to jug filters and have a similar lifespan before they need to be replaced (see Table below).

Standalone ice makers often produce clearer ice than traditional ice cube trays or basic freezer ice makers - and this isn’t just cosmetic.

Many ice machines freeze water in stages or circulate water during the freezing process. As ice gradually forms, most minerals and impurities are pushed out of the crystals and into a wastewater reservoir (which may be able to be manually emptied), rather than being trapped inside the ice. The result is clearer cubes with fewer concentrated pockets of minerals or contaminants, which means fewer flavour spikes when the ice melts.

Some models also include built-in filtration, further improving ice taste. Even without filtration, they tend to produce more consistent ice because of better temperature control and faster freezing cycles.

Best for: Entertainers, households that use a lot of ice, or people that are particularly sensitive to ice taste.

Things to consider: Storage space (under bench or, for compact models, benchtop), energy use, and the need for good-quality input water to get the best results.

Filter taps and integrated boiling and chilled water systems offer one of the most comprehensive approaches to improving drinking water quality. These systems typically use multi-stage carbon filtration to remove chlorine, sediment, and taste-affecting contaminants.

Because the chilled water is already filtered and served cold, many people find they use less ice overall. When ice is added, it benefits from having been made from higher-quality water, resulting in cleaner-tasting frozen and melted ice.

Best for: Larger households, people sensitive to water taste, and those wanting a long-term solution built into their kitchen.

Things to consider: Higher upfront costs and professional installation, balanced against convenience and consistent water quality.

For many Aussie households, improving ice taste doesn’t require a dramatic change. Simple filtration and better storage habits may be enough. If you’re ready to upgrade your old fridge anyway, then you might want to add the convenience of built-in filtration, and if super-pure ice or water are a priority, standalone ice machines or premium filtered taps could be the way to go.