Can You Consume Ice From A New Refrigerator?

Getting to know the larger appliances in your kitchen can feel like an endless task. Have you recently purchased a refrigerator and don't know if it's safe to eat ice from it yet? Well, we've done plenty of digging and have the answer waiting here for you. Let's check it out.

If your refrigerator is new, try to avoid eating its first two batches of ice. Considering that most manufacturers recommend throwing away a new refrigerator's first two buckets of ice, you don't want to consume those initial batches.

That said, once at least two buckets of ice have been tossed, you should be safe to enjoy the ice from your appliance.

As we begin, we will cover all things new refrigerators and discuss when it's safe to consume their ice. Whether you've never bought a new fridge or can't wait to make an iced drink, we're here to offer plenty of help. With that said, let's dive right into this post!

Can You Use Ice From A New Fridge?

Although it can be tempting, you want to wait to use the ice from a new fridge. Many manufacturers recommend throwing away a new refrigerator's first two buckets of ice.

Doing this should filter out any leftover debris/chemicals from the warehouse your appliance came from. However, you may still notice a weird taste to the ice in a new fridge for a few batches, so this varies.

For example, Samsung tells customers to throw the first three batches of ice away from their refrigerator, so two may not always be enough.

How Long Does It Take To Make Ice In A New Refrigerator?

In general, it should take between six and 12 hours for a new refrigerator to make ice. Typically, this will vary depending on the size of your fridge and the brand, so everyone will be different.

According to Lake Appliance Repair, a high-quality fridge should be able to produce 8-10 cubes every 90 minutes once turned on, so that's what you can typically expect from your appliance.

That said, some new refrigerators will take longer to cool down, so it's possible you won't see any ice for up to 24 hours.

Why Is My New Fridge Not Making Ice?

For those with a new fridge that isn't making ice, this is usually because of a clog. Most times, a clog in a new refrigerator's water line will cause it not to produce ice.

Your new appliance could also have a frozen water line, so its water source is usually to blame.

GE states that a new fridge may even "purge" any air found in the water line before making fresh ice, so there are many reasons for this.

Again, this will usually work itself out, but you might need to call a professional if issues persist.

Will Unplugging My New Refrigerator Reset The Ice Maker?

If you don't see any ice after 24 hours, it may be time to reset. Although some appliances will have an ice maker reset button, the best way to do this is to unplug your fridge.

To do this, remove your refrigerator's plug from the wall. Wait between five and ten minutes, and then replug it in.

This should get your ice maker working unless something more serious is going on with your new appliance. In that case, you want to contact the manufacturer and ask for a replacement/repair.

How Much Ice Do I Need To Throw Away With A New Fridge?

Depending on your refrigerator's ice bucket size, this number can vary. Typically, you'll want to throw away the first two to three batches of ice from a new fridge.

Considering that a batch of ice usually consists of about ten cubes, you might only need to cycle through about 30 before it's safe to consume your ice.

However, some manufacturers prefer you throw away 2-3 entire buckets of ice from a new appliance, so this can be different for everybody.

Regardless, if the ice from your fridge tastes funny, throw it away. You don't want to eat unclean ice, as it can make you sick, so it's better to wait.

What Happens If You Eat The Ice From A New Refrigerator?

Although you shouldn't have any major health issues from eating ice from a new fridge, we don't recommend it. Like we said earlier, the first few batches of ice from a new refrigerator will often contain chemicals and debris from the manufacturing process.

On top of that, new refrigerator ice makers may contain bacteria. According to NewAir, it's even possible for a dirty ice maker to have mold, which you never want to ingest.

Can The Ice In A Refrigerator Make You Sick?

Unfortunately, the ice in a new refrigerator can make you sick. As we covered, it's likely for the first few batches of ice in a new fridge to contain bacteria and debris.

Consuming these can cause you to have stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea, and even require a trip to the doctor. Think of this as food poisoning.

Like any place in the kitchen, it's essential to only eat things from clean, safe surfaces, including the ice bin. Luckily, any dirty water should filter out after 2-3 batches of ice, hence why waiting is important.

Can You Drink Water From A New Fridge Right Away?

Like the ice from a new fridge, you also want to hold off on drinking the water. Typically, carbon particles will come loose during the shipping process, ultimately making their way into the waterline of your new refrigerator.

This can cause the first few cups of water from your appliance to appear cloudy. Ideally, you want to run the water through a fridge a few times before consuming it to filter out anything harmful.

Furthermore, water (and ice) from a new refrigerator will typically have a funky taste, so if anything, that should deter you from ingesting it.

How Long Should You Run Water Through A New Refrigerator?

Generally, you want to run water through a new fridge for about 24 hours. Doing this will give your refrigerator enough time to cool and filter out the water.

Whirlpool recommends dispensing enough water through your fridge per week to ensure it maintains a fresh supply.

Again, you shouldn't need to go crazy with this, so we think 3-5 cups of water is sufficient.

Is It Normal For A New Fridge's Ice To Taste Bad?

Yes, it is common for the ice/water in a new refrigerator to taste bad. Considering it may be contaminated with shipping debris and other bacteria, it's not unordinary for the ice in a new fridge to be sour or plastic tasting.

With that said, if you have already cycled through a few batches of ice and there is still an unusual taste in your ice and water, there could be something wrong with the waterline.

As we said, all of the water to your refrigerator will run through this line, so if there's mold or something else present, you're likely to taste it.

Why Does My New Fridge Water Taste Like Chemicals?

Most commonly, the chemical taste in a new fridge's water is due to issues with the water supply, plumbing, mold, or bacteria.

As we mentioned earlier, a new refrigerator has to travel between warehouses and through various cities, states, and countries, so there's bound to be something trapped inside your appliance by the time it arrives.

Of course, you should be able to flush this chemical taste through your fridge by running a few cycles, so it's not permanent.

Why Is My New Fridge Making Black Ice?

For those with a new fridge making black ice, this means your ice maker is dirty. Especially in new appliances, it's not uncommon for black ice to happen.

This is due to particles and debris in your water line and ice machine, ultimately creating grey/black-looking ice.

Depending on your water filter, there may also be tiny particles of carbon making their way into your ice, which in that case means you need to replace the filter.

Should You Clean The Ice Bucket In A New Fridge?

Yes! It's always a good idea to give your new refrigerator a deep clean. Although it may seem pointless, cleaning the inside of a new fridge, specifically the ice bucket can prevent things like black ice from happening.

Furthermore, the ice bucket in a fridge, new or not, tends to breed bacteria, so we recommend wiping it down monthly. Even though something is brand new, that doesn't mean it's always 100% clean.

To Wrap It Up

Whether you recently purchased a refrigerator or want to upgrade, knowing when to consume its ice is essential. From what we found, you want to throw away the first few batches of ice from a new fridge.

Doing this filters out the bacteria, chemicals, and debris inside your appliance's waterline, making the ice safe to eat. Many manufacturers recommend waiting until three buckets of ice have been thrown out before using it for your drinks, so that's a good guideline to follow.

Regardless, it's always a good idea to give your new fridge a thorough cleaning and keep an eye out for particles in your ice/water.

Made it to the end? Check out these helpful related kitchen posts below!

Can A Refrigerator Be Transported On Its Side Or Back?

Does The Refrigerator Water Filter Affect The Ice Maker?

Does A KitchenAid Refrigerator Have A Reset Button?