Freezer burn occurs when water molecules in food gather in a colder location in your freezer—whether that be the sides of your freezer or even other foods.
Tips to prevent freezer burn:
- Don't put hot food directly into your freezer, let it cool first
- Put your food in air-tight containers
- The longer food is in the freezer the greater your chance of freezer burn
I'm going to go out on a limb though and guess that—at least with your ice cubes may just be acquiring a "freezer smell" from the other foods in your freezer. If I don't use the cubes in my freezer fast enough they end up tasting really unpleasant. Give your freezer a good cleaning, stick a box of baking soda in there, and cover your ice cubes with saran wrap and this should help stop the funny smells/tastes.