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Why Does Your Yeti Cup Taste Like Metal?

Why Does Your Yeti Cup Taste Like Metal?

The metal interior of your Yeti cup serves many purposes. Namely, it keeps your beverage hot or cold––whichever you prefer. Yet, if you don’t properly care for your cup, you might find that your morning coffee tastes like morning metal.

Your Yeti cup might taste like metal if you haven’t properly cleaned the rubber gasket under the lid. It may also be a result of long-term exposure.

You have a few options for removing the taste; you can even do it with items you have lying around the house.Continue reading to learn more about why your Yeti cup tastes like metal and how you can remedy the issue.

Why Does My Yeti Cup Taste Like Metal?

There are a few reasons why your Yeti Cup may taste like metal:

The Cup Wasn’t Rinsed Out First

While Yeti’s coolers are primarily made in Wisconsin and Iowa, their cups are made in China. As you can imagine, even if Yeti’s cups were washed upon manufacture, in transit, they can get dirty. While not always hazardous, this could make your cup taste like metal.

So, for your own health and well-being, you should always wash a new Yeti cup with soap and warm water before use; this will also help remove any residue left from lingering films or the label.

Your Cup Was Exposed to Intense Heat

Your Yeti cup can withstand temperatures of up to 185 degrees. Anything higher than this could:

  • Wrap the cup’s exterior
  • Make the interior taste like metal
  • Cause chemicals to leach into your beverage

Despite this heat limitation, Yeti cups are still dishwasher-safe!

There’s Mold Under the Rubber Gasket

Although your Yeti cup is dishwasher-safe, periodically, you should hand wash it. Over time, moisture could collect under the lid and grow mold. This can give your cup a metallic or otherwise unpleasant smell.

To remove the mold:

  1. Remove the cup’s lid and its rubber seal.
  2. Pour ½ cup of distilled oil into your Yeti cup.
  3. Take a non-scratch sponge and powder it with baking soda.
  4. Dip the sponge into the vinegar to create a paste.
  5. Begin washing your device.

For those hard-to-reach places, you could get a bristle brush or a pipe cleaner. Do not use a Brillo pad, as this will damage your cup’s interior.

There’s Rust in Your Cup’s Interior

Yeti cups last for years. Very rarely, their interiors will rust. However, this is not the case for every cup, as everyone uses their cup differently. So, if you’re noticing rust, you could use stainless steel cleaner, the same that you would use for your silverware. Follow the instructions on the back of the cleaner for the best results.

After using the cleaner, be sure to thoroughly rinse and wash your Yeti cup before using it to drink.  

It’s Time for a Deep Clean

Who says too much of a good thing is a bad thing? Not Yeti, that’s for sure. In fact, all of their products come with a standard three-year warranty, which is pretty good compared to other insulated cups.

A good deep clean could fix your problem; this is a tad different than remediating mold. To give your Yeti Cup a deep clean, Yeti recommends using its deep-cleaning tablets, especially for 30-ounce cups. To use them:

  1. Fill your Yeti cup halfway with water.
  2. Drop one of the deep-cleaning tablets inside.
  3. Wait five to 15 minutes.
  4. Pour out the solution.
  5. Rinse the cup with warm water.
  6. Run it through the dishwasher.

Other Reasons Your Yeti Cup May Taste Like Metal

Of course, the reason why you may be tasting metal with your Yeti cup may not even be related to the cup at all. A few alternative reasons you could be tasting metal are:

Your Teeth Filings Could Be the Culprit

If you recently had a filling implanted, you could be tasting the metal from the filling––not from the cup. There’s not much you can do in this situation. However, try experimenting with different beverages.

For instance, try hot coffee versus cold brew, seltzer water instead of tap water. The metallic fillings in your mouth could be impeding the full benefits of your Yeti cup.

The Beverage Itself Tastes Like Metal

You went to the grocery store, bought some cold brew on sale, and without tasting it, poured it into your Yeti cup. If you’re not having this issue with any other beverages, the problem could be with your drink itself. Try pouring a fresh batch of the drink into a ceramic cup and taste it; this could provide insight into your issue.

Your Taste Buds Are Sensitive

No one’s body is a one-size-fits-all model. Your taste buds might be very different from someone close to you. This could be the reason why your Yeti cup tastes like metal. While most people don’t experience this problem, you could be one of the few that’s sensitive to the cup’s interior.

The Takeaway

There could be a lot of reasons why your Yeti cup tastes like metal. However, by using the deep clean tablets, maintaining it periodically, and being mindful of your usage, you could remedy the issue.