Can I put breastmilk back in the fridge after being warmed?

Understanding Breastmilk Storage Guidelines
Breastmilk is a precious resource for nourishing infants, and its proper handling is critical to ensure safety and maintain its nutritional quality. When it comes to the question of whether breastmilk can be put back in the fridge after being warmed, the answer is nuanced and grounded in health guidelines.
The Basics of Breastmilk Storage
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), freshly expressed breastmilk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days at a temperature of 4°C (39°F) or lower. If breastmilk has been previously frozen, it can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours after thawing.
Guidelines for Warming Breastmilk
When warming breastmilk, it is advised to use methods that maintain its quality. The best practices include:
– Warm water bath: Place the sealed container in a bowl of warm water.
– Running warm water: Hold the container under warm running water.
– Bottle warmer: Use a specialized bottle warmer.
Microwaving breastmilk is strongly discouraged due to the risk of uneven heating and potential hot spots that can burn an infant’s mouth.
Can You Refridge Warmed Breastmilk?
The critical point to consider is that once breastmilk has been warmed, it should not be refrozen or returned to the fridge if it has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours. If warmed breastmilk is not used within this time frame, it should be discarded to prevent the risk of bacterial growth.
However, if warmed breastmilk has been kept at room temperature for less than two hours, it is generally safe to refrigerate it again. The CDC suggests that this practice is acceptable as long as the milk remains at safe temperatures and is consumed within an appropriate timeframe.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can put warmed breastmilk back in the fridge if it has been kept at room temperature for under two hours, strict adherence to safety guidelines is crucial. Always ensure that breastmilk is handled properly to safeguard your baby’s health and well-being. By following these guidelines, caregivers can effectively manage breastmilk storage and usage, ensuring that every drop remains a nourishing gift for their little ones.

How long can you keep breast milk after it’s been warmed up?

Warmed breast milk will typically need to be used within two hours of warming it. Finding a reliable, plastic-free storage bottle for your breast milk is critical to safely storing your liquid gold. You can thaw frozen breast milk in the fridge under running or in warm or hot water.

Can you put breastmilk back in the fridge after warming?

You cannot refrigerate it again once it warms– it doesn’t matter the method. Increased temperature gives bacteria a chance to multiply. The time limits are generally what is thought to be of as safe levels.

Can you put heated milk back in the fridge?

If your baby does not finish a feeding, you should throw away the leftover breast milk in the bottle. Warmed breast milk CAN NOT be refrigerated again. Although it’s not well known, refrigeration can slow the growth of some bacteria. Doctors do not recommend refrigerating heated milk.

Can I rewarm breast milk twice?

When it come to heating up breast milk, it’s generally recommended that you only reheat breast milk once, maybe twice. The reasoning for this is that each time you heat and cool the milk, it can potentially degrade the quality and nutritional value.

Can I refrigerate an unfinished bottle of breastmilk?

Any remaining breast milk left in a bottle after your baby is finished with a feeding should be used within 2 hours—or, if quickly refrigerated, used for the next feeding. You can always thaw an extra container if needed.

What to do with leftover warmed breast milk?

Leftover breast milk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding. After 2 hours, leftover breast milk should be thrown away. To avoid wasting unfed milk, consider storing, thawing, and warming it in smaller amounts. See Breast Milk Storage and Preparation for more information.

Can you reheat baby milk more than once?

Always be sure to refrigerate untouched formula and never freeze it as freezing can affect the nutrients in the mix. Formula should only be reheated one time and any leftover liquid should be tossed after that! To safely reheat formula straight from the fridge, we recommend using a bottle warmer.

Can you put baby milk back in the fridge after warming?

If it’s been warmed up, just toss it. Warmed up milk cannot go back into the fridge.

Can warmed whole milk be refrigerated again?

Whatever bacteria grew while it warmed up will still be there, and will continue to grow. Refrigeration only slows down the multiplication of bacteria.

Can you reheat breast milk twice according to the CDC?

Never refreeze or reheat breast milk that’s been thawed, the CDC notes. If you’re not feeding baby immediately, keep defrosted breast milk in the fridge. If you thawed it at room temperature, the milk is good for up to two hours (after that, throw it out).