Earlier this year, I went on a surprisingly deep dive into ice cube trays after noticing something strange: my water suddenly tasted horrible.
At first I assumed the issue was my water bottle (which was devastating as I love my Sho Newt Bottle and Ello Pop & Fill), so I deep cleaned it thoroughly. When that didn’t fix the problem, I switched to another bottle, but the unpleasant taste was still there.
I then tried drinking water from a glass instead, thinking maybe the bottle itself was causing the issue. But the water still tasted bad.
That’s when I realised the problem wasn’t the bottle at all, it was the ice.
After some research, I realised that ice cube trays can genuinely affect the taste and smell of water far more than most people realise, especially if trays absorb freezer odours over time.
So I tested three different types of ice cube trays to see which actually worked best in real everyday use. These include:
- silicone
- stainless steel / metal
- plastic
Here’s what I found.
Why Does Ice Sometimes Taste Bad?
If your water suddenly tastes strange, stale, plasticky or “freezer-like,” the issue might actually be your ice cube tray rather than your bottle or your water itself.
A quick way to test this is:
- try water without ice
- then try water with ice from your freezer in a plain glass
If the water only tastes strange once the ice is added, your tray may be absorbing freezer smells or affecting the taste of the ice.
This is especially common with certain materials, particularly silicone.
I also found this to be particularly the case with ice in my insulated water bottles. I have a few larger capacity bottles for home use and so ice sits in there for a fair amount of time infusing the water with freezer smells. If you’ve noticed your water has started tasting slightly off in your insulated water bottle, I recommend testing to see if the ice is causing the issue.
Silicone Ice Cube Trays: Convenient, But They Can Absorb Freezer Smells
Silicone trays are probably the most common option now. They’re flexible, affordable and easy to find online or in supermarkets. They also tend to come in fun shapes like hearts, spheres or novelty moulds.
Pros of silicone ice cube trays
- Cheap and widely available
- Flexible material makes ice very easy to remove
- Great for cute or decorative ice shapes
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons of silicone ice cube trays
- Can absorb freezer odours over time
- Ice may start tasting or smelling slightly like the freezer
- Smells can be difficult to remove once absorbed
One thing I found frustrating is that the common advice for removing silicone smells such as baking or microwaving the trays, didn’t really work for me. It mostly just made my kitchen smell like the freezer while the trays themselves retained the odour afterwards.
Because of this, I’d personally only recommend silicone trays for:
- occasional use
- novelty ice shapes
- or shorter-term use rather than everyday drinking water.
Stainless Steel Ice Cube Trays: Best Taste, Least Practical
I was very curious about stainless steel trays because they’re often recommended as the cleanest and purest option for ice.
And to be fair, the ice quality is excellent. They also look very classic and have an almost vintage feel.
Pros of stainless steel ice cube trays
- Doesn’t absorb freezer smells
- Produces very neutral-tasting ice
- Extremely durable and long-lasting
- Good option for people trying to reduce plastic use
Cons of stainless steel ice cube trays
- Much more expensive than plastic trays
- Ice is difficult to remove without partially thawing first
- Lever mechanism releases all cubes at once
- Less practical if you only want a few cubes at a time
The biggest issue for me was convenience. Because the tray releases all the ice together, you have to use all the ice cubes, dispose of the ones you don’t need or put them back in the freezer in a separate bag or storage system. It’s difficult to put the ice cubes you don’t need back into the tray because you have to place them precisely in their original position.
I also found the tray surprisingly awkward to handle. The metal edges are quite sharp because the lever mechanism cuts through the ice, and I accidentally cut my thumb on it while trying to release the cubes the other day.
That was the moment I realised I’d started avoiding using it altogether, despite how good the ice tasted. It feels quite impractical for every day use considering the time it takes to release the ice cubes.
Plastic Ice Cube Trays: The Best Everyday Option
Plastic trays seemed like the least exciting concept in theory, but the plastic tray ended up being the one I consistently preferred in real life.
Pros of plastic ice cube trays
- Affordable and easy to find
- Less porous than silicone, so they absorb fewer freezer smells
- Easier to use daily than metal trays
- You can remove only the cubes you need
- Practical for everyday water, iced coffee and cold drinks
Cons of plastic ice cube trays
- More rigid than silicone, so ice can take a little more effort to release (although there is a very low risk of injury vs the stainless steel option)
- Not as durable as stainless steel long term
- May not suit people trying to avoid plastic products entirely
The Fridge-Odour Fix: The Freezer Bag Method
One thing I found helpful was storing plastic trays inside freezer bags, which helped keep the ice tasting clean and reduced exposure to freezer odours even further.
Which Ice Cube Tray Is Best?
After testing all three, BPA-free plastic trays are what I’d personally recommend for most people.
They strike the best balance between:
- taste
- convenience
- affordability
- and everyday practicality
While stainless steel produced the cleanest tasting ice overall, the inconvenience eventually outweighed the benefits for me.
And while silicone trays are easy to use, I found the freezer smell issue too noticeable over time.
Plastic trays ended up being the option I actually reached for most consistently – which, honestly, matters more than theoretical perfection.
Final Thoughts
This whole experience made me realise that something as small as an ice cube tray can genuinely affect the taste of your drinks.
It also reminded me that the “best” product on paper isn’t always the one that works best in real everyday life.
Sometimes the most practical option ends up being the best overall – even if it’s the least expensive or least aesthetic choice.
