How long can expressed or pumped breast milk be safely stored? Here are some guidelines.
| Room Temperature | |
| Fresh milk | 4-8 hours |
| Thawed milk | 1-4 hours |
| Refrigerator | |
| Fresh milk | 3-5 days |
| Thawed milk | 24 hours |
| Freezer | |
| Upright freezer (attached to refrigerator) | 3-6 months |
| Chest or deep freezer | 6-12 months |
General guidelines
- Milk should be stored in 1-4 ounce portions.
- Several expressions or pumpings in one day may be combined.
- Date each bag of milk before storing.
- Do not store on door of refrigerator or freezer. Store inside towards the back.
- Do not refreeze thawed milk.
- Milk will separate into liquid and cream. Do not be surprised or alarmed!
- Milk will often appear bluish or other tints of color. It is not bad or spoiled unless it smells or tastes sour.
- Milk not finished at one feeding can be saved for the next feeding only, then should be discarded.
Thawing milk
- Milk can be thawed in the refrigerator; it takes about 12 hours.
- Milk can be thawed faster by placing it in or under warm water or by using a bottle warmer.
- Milk should not be left at room temperature to thaw.
- Milk should not be thawed in a microwave or on the stove. This destroys some chemicals in the milk and can overheat the milk as well.
- Milk can be swirled or very gently shaken if it has separated.
- Always check the temperature before feeding to the baby.
