Can I thaw breast milk and put back in the fridge?

Understanding the Thawing and Storage of Breast Milk
When it comes to the delicate process of thawing and storing breast milk, many parents have questions about safety and best practices. One common query is whether thawed breast milk can be put back in the fridge for later use. The answer is nuanced and rooted in safety guidelines.
Thawing Breast Milk: Best Practices
Breast milk can be thawed safely using several methods, with the refrigerator being the most recommended. Thawing in the fridge allows the milk to defrost gradually, preserving its nutritional quality. Typically, this process can take about 12 hours. Other methods include placing the milk under warm running water or using a bowl of warm water, but these should be used with caution to avoid overheating.
Once breast milk has been thawed, it is crucial to use it within a specific timeframe. If thawed milk reaches room temperature or is warmed, it should ideally be consumed within 1 to 2 hours. This is to prevent bacterial growth, which can occur if the milk is left out for too long.
Can You Refridge Thawed Milk?
The question of whether you can put thawed breast milk back in the fridge is particularly important for parents managing multiple feedings. According to guidelines, thawed breast milk can be refrigerated again if it has not been warmed. If the milk has been warmed, it should be used within four hours and not refrozen. This means that if your baby does not finish a bottle, you can safely store the remaining milk in the fridge for up to four hours after warming.
However, it’s essential to note that once breast milk has been thawed and then warmed, its quality can diminish over time. Therefore, while it is technically permissible to refrigerate it again, it is advisable to use it as soon as possible to ensure your baby receives the best quality nutrition.
Conclusion
In summary, thawing breast milk requires careful attention to safety and quality. While you can refrigerate thawed milk that has not been warmed, it is best to use warmed milk promptly to avoid any potential health risks. By following these guidelines, parents can ensure that their little ones receive safe and nutritious feedings.

How long can breastmilk stay out once thawed?

If you thaw breast milk in the refrigerator, use it within 24 hours. Start counting the 24 hours when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer. Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, use it within 2 hours.

Can you put baby milk back in fridge after warming?

Once a bottle is prepared or taken from the fridge for feeding, use the formula within 1 hour or throw it out. You cannot re-refrigerate formula once it has been warmed or reaches room temperature. The reason experts recommend you throw away unused formula is because bacteria can begin to grow.

Can you refrigerate breastmilk twice?

Don’t put leftover breast milk back in the fridge to use later or refreeze it. It’s important to follow safety guidelines for breast milk because bacteria can grow in it if you leave it out for too long.

Can you mix thawed and refrigerated breast milk?

CDC says “Mixing freshly expressed breast milk with already cooled or frozen milk is not advised because it can rewarm the older stored milk. It is best to cool freshly expressed milk before combining it with older, previously cooled or frozen milk.”

Can you refrigerate breast milk twice?

If, after feeding your baby, you’re left with half or a quarter of a bottle, you can reuse it, but only if you’re going to do so quite soon. The CDC advises reusing leftover breast milk within two hours of the last feeding. If it’s longer than two hours, you should throw it away. Do not freeze and reuse later.

How long can thawed breast milk sit out?

If you thaw breast milk in the refrigerator, use it within 24 hours. Start counting the 24 hours when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer. Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed, use it within 2 hours.

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 thawed breast milk go back in the fridge?

Breastmilk can only be frozen once. Once thawed, it needs to be used up. It can stay in the fridge for up to 48 hours after being thawed, then/or once it has been brought up to room temperature, it needs to be used up within 5–8 hours. It cannot be refrigerated again.

Can you put breast milk that’s been sitting out back in the fridge?

Freshly pumped milk can be out for 4 hours before needing to be refrigerated. Milk that has been refrigerated but is now out is good for 2 hours. You should never re-refrigerated milk that has been refrigerated and brought out to room temperature.

Can I put breast milk back in the fridge after warming it up?

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