When your baby is small, the extracted fresh breast milk probably can’t be consumed instantly and you’ll need to store it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use. So parents need to know how to store breast milk and how to thaw breast milk correctly to ensure the breast milk is still safe and nutritious.
In this post, we’ll cover everything from the safest methods to thaw breast milk to tips on storing breast milk to preserve its quality, and how long is thawed milk good for.
How to Thaw Frozen Breast Milk?
You have stored the pumped breast milk in the freezer for weeks or months (No longer than 6 months). Now you’re going to use the store breast milk, you may wonder: how to thaw breast milk? Just as important to store breast milk in the right way, thawing breast milk correctly is also crucial to maintain its safety and nutritional value. You don’t want to thaw breast milk mistakenly which will result in bad milk and finally cause your baby’s illness.
Thaw breast milk in the refrigerator
If you have stored the breast milk in the freezer, the best way to thaw breast milk is to put it in the refrigerator. Here’s how to thaw breast milk from frozen to fridge temperature:
– Step 1: Take the frozen breast milk storage bag or container out of the freezer.
– Step 2: Place the bag or container in the refrigerator, where it will slowly thaw for between 12 hours to 24 hours, depending on the amount of breast milk. It’s best to prepare to thaw breast milk for the next day overnight. To make the time to thaw breast milk shorter around 12 hours, it’s better to store it in small amounts using storage bags ( 6-8 ounces per bag).
– Step 3: Once the breast milk is fully thawed, make sure your baby drinks it within 24 hours.
Using this method is ideal because it allows the milk to thaw gradually, which helps retain important nutrients and reduces the risk of bacteria growth. However, it takes a really long time to gradually thaw breast milk in the refrigerator. Want to thaw breast milk in a faster way?
Thaw breast milk faster in Warm Water
Sometimes you may need to thaw the frozen breast milk in a shorter time, for instance, you forget that there is no breast milk stored in the refrigerator or the frozen breast milk is approaching to the expiration date. If that’s your case, how to thaw breast milk more efficiently and safely? – Use the warm water. Need more quickly? Use flowing warm water.
– Step 1: Fill a bowl or container with warm water at 40-45° temperature (not hot).
– Step 2: Place the sealed container or breast milk storage bag into the bowl of warm water.
– Step 3: Gently swirl the milk around as it thaws to mix in the fat that may have separated during freezing.
Using warm water to thaw breast milk is faster than the refrigerator method, but you need to ensure the water isn’t too hot, as overheating can damage the milk’s nutrients. Per our experience, thawing 180 ml (6 ounces) of frozen breast milk in this way often takes 4-5 minutes.
Sometimes your baby is very hungry after waking up at night, you may still want to speed up the warming process. Try these tips:
1. Using flowing warm water. If you’re using an instant hot and cold water dispenser, you can set the water temperature at 37-40° to thaw frozen breast milk until it’s warm. Or you can store the bottle of warm water and flow the storage bag.
2. Knead the blocked breast milk. If you find that the breast milk is frozen to be blocked, knead the blocks into small pieces to speed up the thawing process.
3. Use a bottle warmer. This device can be set up at a desired temperature for a long time and thaw the breast milk in a shorter time.
Avoid Room Temperature Thawing
One of the most important tips to remember when figuring out how to thaw breast milk is to avoid leaving frozen breast milk at room temperature. Doing so can promote the growth of harmful bacteria, putting your baby’s health at risk. Always opt for one of the safer methods mentioned above when you thaw breast milk.
Avoid hot water Thawing
Don’t thaw breast milk in hot water. High temperatures can destroy the nutritional value of breast milk. So it’s not recommended to use hot water over 70° to thaw or warm the breast milk.
How Long Can Thawed Breast Milk Be Stored?
Once you’ve mastered how to thaw breast milk, the next important question is how long you can store thawed milk. It’s essential to follow the proper guidelines for storing thawed breast milk to ensure it stays safe for your baby.
Refrigerator Storage
A refrigerator is not only the way to thaw breast milk, it’s also the best to store the thawed milk. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When storing the breast milk in the refrigerator, ensure the milk stays in a clean, sealed container or storage bag, and avoid placing it in the refrigerator door, as this area is subject to temperature fluctuations. The back of the fridge is the best place to store thawed breast milk to maintain a consistent, safe temperature.
Do Not Refreeze Thawed Breast Milk
The thawed breast milk should be used within 2 hours. Do not refreeze breast milk that has already been thawed. Refreezing and then rethawing can affect the milk’s quality and can introduce harmful bacteria that may make your baby sick. Understanding this rule is vital to safely managing breast milk storage.
Room Temperature Use After Thawing
Thawed breast milk can be left at room temperature. After you thaw breast milk, it’s okay to leave it at room temperature for up to two hours. After this time frame, the thawed milk should be discarded to avoid any potential bacterial growth.
Can I Thaw Breast Milk in the Microwave?
A common question many moms have when learning how to thaw breast milk is whether it’s okay to use the microwave for thawing. The simple answer is no. You should never thaw breast milk in the microwave, and here’s why:
– Hot Spots: Microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots in the milk that can burn your baby’s mouth or throat.
– Nutrient Loss: Microwaving breast milk can damage the nutrients and antibodies that are crucial for your baby’s immune system.
– Overheating: The high temperatures in a microwave can denature proteins and reduce the overall quality of the breast milk.
Instead of microwaving, stick to the refrigerator or warm water methods to ensure you’re thawing breast milk properly and safely.
Does Thawed Breast Milk Smell or Look Different?
When you thaw breast milk, you might notice that it looks or smells a little different than freshly expressed milk. Don’t worry—this is completely normal. During the freezing and thawing process, the fat in the breast milk separates from the water, causing the milk to have a slightly different consistency.
To fix this, gently swirl the container or storage bag after you thaw breast milk. This will help mix the fat back into the liquid, giving it a more uniform appearance. Avoid shaking the milk vigorously, as this can break down some of the delicate proteins in the milk.
In terms of smell, frozen milk may have a slightly soapy or metallic odor after thawing. This is due to the breakdown of fats in the milk over time. As long as the milk has been stored properly, it’s still safe for your baby to consume, even if it smells different.
Storing and Freezing Breast Milk
Knowing how to thaw breast milk is just one part of the process. Proper storage is also an important part of ensuring your baby gets the safest, most nutritious milk. Here are some key guidelines for storing and freezing breast milk.
How Long Can I Store Fresh Breast Milk?
Before freezing or learning how to thaw breast milk, it’s important to understand the different timeframes for storing fresh breast milk.
– Room Temperature: Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored at room temperature (up to 77°F or 25°C) for up to 4 hours.
– Refrigerator: You can store breast milk in the refrigerator (at 40°F or 4°C) for up to 4 days.
– Freezer: For long-term storage, breast milk can be frozen for up to 6 months in a regular freezer, and up to 12 months in a deep freezer (-4°F or -20°C). However, for best quality, try to use frozen breast milk within 6 months.
Always remember to store and thaw breast milk according to safe guidelines to ensure that the milk retains its full nutritional value.
How Should I Store Breast Milk?
When storing breast milk, always use clean, food-grade containers or bags designed for freezing breast milk. Here are some tips:
– BPA-Free Bottles: BPA-free plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids can also be used for storing breast milk. Avoid using regular plastic bags, as they may leak or burst when frozen.
– Breast Milk Storage Bags: These are designed to be space-efficient and leak-proof for storing, freezing, and thawing breast milk. Storage bags are also good for storing breast milk in small amounts. Most storage bags can store 250 ml, making them the most convenient and best way for breast milk storage.
Always label your containers or storage bags with the date and time the milk was expressed. This will help you keep track of how long each batch has been stored and use the oldest milk first.
Can I Add Fresh Breast Milk to Stored Milk?
Yes, you can combine freshly expressed milk with already stored milk, but there are important precautions to take. If you’re adding fresh milk to previously refrigerated or frozen milk, ensure that the freshly expressed milk has been properly cooled first. Here’s how to safely do it:
– Cool the Fresh Milk: Place the freshly expressed milk in the refrigerator to cool for about 30 minutes before adding it to the stored milk.
– Match Quantities: When combining the milk, make sure the amount of cooled fresh milk is smaller than the stored milk to maintain the proper temperature balance. In this way, the mixed breast milk won’t go up to high temperature, avoiding destroying the whole milk in the same storage bag or container.
Never add warm breast milk directly to frozen milk, as this can partially thaw the frozen portion and potentially cause bacterial growth.
Tips for Safely Thawing, Storing, and Freezing Breast Milk
By now, you’ve learned how to thaw breast milk and the best ways to store it. Let’s wrap up with a few essential tips to keep in mind:
– Label Your Containers: Always label your storage bags or containers with the date and time the milk was expressed so you can use the oldest milk first.
– Portion Your Milk: Store breast milk in small portions (2-4 ounces) to avoid wasting milk after thawing. This is especially useful for those first few months when your baby may drink smaller amounts.
– Do Not Refreeze Thawed Breast Milk: Once you thaw breast milk, use it within the appropriate time frame, and do not refreeze it.
– Store Milk at the Back of the Freezer: When freezing breast milk, place it in the back of the freezer where the temperature is most consistent. This helps maintain the milk’s quality over time.
– Thaw Breast Milk Gently:
Whether you use the refrigerator or warm water method, thaw your breast milk gradually to retain its nutrients.
