Can you put thawed breast milk back in the fridge?

Understanding the Guidelines for Thawed Breast Milk
When it comes to the safe handling of breast milk, particularly after it has been thawed, parents often have questions about storage practices. One common query is whether thawed breast milk can be returned to the refrigerator after being warmed or partially used.
The Basics of Thawed Breast Milk Storage
According to health guidelines, thawed breast milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours after it has been thawed. However, once breast milk has been warmed, the rules change slightly. If the milk has been warmed but not consumed, it can be placed back in the fridge, but it must be used within four hours. This is crucial for ensuring the milk remains safe for your baby.
Risks of Contamination
It’s important to note that once breast milk has been in contact with your baby—such as during feeding—it is considered contaminated. In this case, the recommendation is to discard any leftover milk rather than returning it to the fridge. This is due to the potential for bacterial growth, which can occur when milk is exposed to the environment, including your hands and surfaces.
Best Practices for Handling Thawed Milk
To maximize safety and quality, here are some best practices for handling thawed breast milk:
– Thawing: Always thaw breast milk in the refrigerator or by placing it under warm running water. Avoid thawing at room temperature to minimize the risk of bacterial growth.
– Storage: Store thawed milk in the back of the refrigerator, where temperatures are more stable, rather than in the door.
– Warming: If you warm breast milk, do so gently. Avoid using a microwave, as it can create hot spots that may scald your baby.
Conclusion
In summary, while you can return thawed breast milk to the fridge after warming it, it is essential to adhere to the four-hour rule for safety. If the milk has been consumed from a bottle, it should be discarded to prevent any risk of contamination. By following these guidelines, parents can ensure that their baby’s nutrition remains safe and healthy.

How long is thawed breast milk good for after warmed up?

The CDC has some useful guidelines on this. If you thaw breast milk in the fridge, you can use it within the next 24 hours. Once it is warmed or brought up to room temperature (no matter the method), you should use it within 2 hours. I hope that helps!

Can you add thawed breast milk to refrigerated milk?

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. Also consider storage duration guidelines for breast milk.

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

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 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 baby milk back in the 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 put milk back in the fridge after drinking?

And this is milk you worked hard to save, so of course it will be tempting to put the bottle back in the fridge! But here’s the problem – while putting the bottle in the fridge will slow down the growth of bacteria, it will not reverse any bacterial growth that happened while the milk was warm.

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 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 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.