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Ice is Food: Make Sure to Keep It Safe

If we asked you to make a list of one hundred different types of foods, we guarantee you ice wouldn’t make the cut. You may not consider ice food, but the U.S. Food & Drug Administration does. In fact, packaged ice sold in the store undergoes the same type of regulations as your other foods, and just like your other food, it can get you sick if it isn’t clean.

Use these tips to keep your ice sanitary:

  • Avoid touching ice with dirty hands. You would never pick up a sandwich with dirty hands, so don’t do it to your ice either. Whenever possible, handle ice using clean utensils such as tongs or an ice scooper.

  • Wrap up your raw meat when in a cooler. If you are packing raw meat in a cooler for a picnic or barbecue, make sure to securely wrap it up in plastic. Poorly-packaged meat can leak juices into your ice, which can then contaminate your other foods and drinks.

  • Store your ice in a clean container. Whether you are keeping your ice at home in your freezer or on-the-go in a cooler, make sure your storage container is clean. Ice can pick up bacteria from the environment it’s stored in, and you don’t want that sitting in your beverages.

  • Use filtered water. Using tap water to make your ice is not necessarily dangerous, but using purified or spring water is better. This water has no minerals in it, resulting in a better tasting and cleaner ice cube.

  • If you have an ice maker, change the filter regularly. If you have the luxury of having a refrigerator with a built-in ice maker, be sure to regularly change the filter. Over time, the filter can collect gross amounts of bacteria, which can transfer onto your ice cubes.

Is your ice maker malfunctioning, or producing dirty-tasting ice? The experts at Speedy Refrigerator Service can fix it! Serving all of Long Island and New York City for more than 75 years, our licensed technicians can repair any make or model of refrigerator, freezer, or ice maker. Call us to schedule your same-day appointment at 866-782-9376.