Can you heat up and refreeze breast milk?

Understanding the Safety of Heating and Refreezing Breast Milk
When it comes to the delicate process of feeding infants, the safety and quality of breast milk are paramount. Many parents find themselves asking whether it is safe to heat up and refreeze breast milk. The answer is nuanced and hinges on several important factors.
Heating Breast Milk: Guidelines and Risks
Breast milk can be safely warmed for feeding, but there are specific guidelines to follow. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises against using a microwave to heat breast milk, as it can create hot spots that may burn a baby’s mouth and degrade the milk’s nutritional quality. Instead, parents are encouraged to warm breast milk by placing the bottle in a jug of warm water or under running warm water until it reaches body temperature.
Once breast milk has been heated, it is crucial to note that it should not be reheated multiple times. Each time breast milk is heated and cooled, there is a risk of bacterial growth, which can pose health risks to infants. If breast milk has been thawed and not consumed, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two hours, but any unused milk should be discarded after this period.
Refreezing Breast Milk: What You Need to Know
The question of whether breast milk can be refrozen after it has been thawed is a critical one. According to health guidelines, once breast milk has been thawed, it should not be refrozen. This is primarily due to the potential for bacterial growth that can occur during the thawing process. The CDC emphasizes that thawed breast milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for a limited time, but refreezing it is not recommended.
Conclusion: Best Practices for Breast Milk Handling
In summary, while it is safe to heat breast milk for feeding, it is essential to adhere to strict guidelines to ensure the milk remains safe and nutritious for your baby. Avoid reheating breast milk multiple times and never refreeze thawed milk. By following these practices, parents can help ensure that their infants receive the best possible nutrition without compromising safety.

Is it OK to heat milk twice?

Always keep your milk refrigerated. Milk that has been left out for an extended period of time will become difficult to foam as the fat content breaks down in higher temperatures. Ensure your milk jug is rinsed thoroughly after each use. Do not reheat milk.

What happens if you freeze milk twice?

Most people worry about the food safety of thawing and refreezing, but as long as it’s done right, it’s perfectly safe. The only risk you’ll take is ruining the taste and texture of the food.

Can you reheat breast milk twice according to the CDC?

Use milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator (from the time it is completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer). Use thawed milk within 2 hours of bringing to room temperature or warming. Never refreeze thawed milk.

Can you warm up frozen breast milk twice?

Do not refreeze thawed breastmilk or heat it more than once. Offer small amounts of EBM at a time to your baby to avoid wastage. Any EBM that your baby doesn’t take at that time will need to be thrown away. If your baby needs more, prepare another small amount.

How to know if breastmilk is spoiled?

It will also smell bad, much like spoiled cow’s milk. And, like spoiled cow’s milk, breast milk that’s old will taste sour. (It’s fine to taste your breast milk to check!) Always label your pumped milk with a time and date so you can tell how old it is.

Why can’t you thaw and refreeze breast milk?

Each unfreeze and refreeze provides bacteria the chance to grow and allows for new bacteria to be introduced. It also significantly decreases the nutritional value. So bacteria growth + decreased nutrition = not worth it.

Can you heat up breast milk and put it back in the fridge?

Healthcare professionals, including lactation consultants and pediatricians, generally recommend against refrigerating breast milk again once it has been warmed. This is because once breast milk is warmed to a typical feeding temperature, bacterial growth will accelerate.

Can you refreeze breast milk after heating?

You can’t freeze milk that’s been warmed and can’t refreeze once it’s been thawed.

Can I put thawed breast milk back in the fridge?

If your breast milk has completely thawed but still feels cold, put it in the refrigerator and use it within the next day or throw it away.

Can I warm thawed breast milk?

Thaw the oldest milk first. Place the frozen container in the refrigerator the night before you intend to use it. You can also gently warm the milk by placing it under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water. Don’t heat a frozen bottle in the microwave or very quickly on the stove.