Fridge water is the right stuff for portable ice makers

Yes, filtered water from your refrigerator’s dispenser is fine — actually better than straight tap water for a portable ice maker.

The filter removes chlorine and sediment that can mess with taste and build up scale over time. You don’t need distilled water. Regular filtered water is the sweet spot for clear-ish ice and fewer mineral deposits.

One tip: if the fridge water comes out ice cold, that’s a bonus. Cold water helps the ice maker freeze a little faster, but it’s not a requirement.

Just be careful pouring from the dispenser. Fill slowly and stay under the max fill line. And if the door dispenser is awkward to aim at a small ice maker, a jug of that same filtered water in the fridge works just as well.