Can you refreeze slushy breastmilk?

Understanding the Refreezing of Slushy Breast Milk
The question of whether you can refreeze slushy breast milk is one that many parents grapple with, especially those who rely on pumping and storing milk for their infants. The answer, while nuanced, hinges on a few critical factors regarding the state of the milk and safety guidelines.
The Basics of Breast Milk Storage
Breast milk is a precious resource, often referred to as “liquid gold” for its nutritional and immunological benefits. Proper storage is essential to maintain its quality and safety. According to guidelines from health organizations, breast milk can be stored in the freezer for up to six months, although it can last longer in a deep freezer. However, once breast milk has been thawed, its handling becomes more delicate.
Can You Refreeze Slushy Breast Milk?
The short answer is: maybe. If breast milk has been partially thawed and still contains ice crystals, it is generally considered safe to refreeze it. This is because the milk has not fully warmed to a temperature that would allow bacteria to proliferate significantly. However, if the milk has completely thawed and has been at room temperature for more than two hours, it should not be refrozen. This is due to the risk of bacterial growth, which can compromise the milk’s safety for your baby.
Why the Caution?
The primary concern with refreezing breast milk lies in the potential for bacterial contamination. When breast milk is thawed, it can reach temperatures that allow bacteria to become active. If this milk is then refrozen, the bacteria are not killed; they merely enter a dormant state. Upon thawing again, these bacteria can multiply, posing a risk to your baby’s health. Therefore, the guidelines emphasize that once breast milk has been fully thawed, it should be used within 24 hours and not refrozen.
Best Practices for Handling Breast Milk
To ensure the safety and quality of breast milk, consider the following best practices:
1. Thawing: Always thaw breast milk in the refrigerator or by placing the container in warm water. Avoid using a microwave, as it can create hot spots that may scald your baby.

2. Storage: Store breast milk in clean, sterilized containers. Label them with the date and time of pumping to keep track of freshness.
3. Monitoring Temperature: If you’re unsure about the state of your breast milk, err on the side of caution. If it appears slushy but has no ice crystals, it’s best to use it rather than refreeze.
4. Using Leftover Milk: If your baby doesn’t finish a bottle of thawed milk, it should be discarded after one feeding and not saved for later use.
In conclusion, while it is possible to refreeze slushy breast milk under certain conditions, careful attention to safety guidelines is crucial. Parents should always prioritize their baby’s health by adhering to best practices in breast milk storage and handling.

Can frozen milk be thawed and refrozen?

The CDC says that you can refreeze thawed milk if it contains ice crystals. However, given the factors mentioned above, if you have any concerns you can always strain the ice crystals and refreeze those, and use the thawed milk according to these milk storage guidelines (LINK).

How long are breast milk popsicles good for?

If you use fresh breast milk to make popsicles, you can follow the normal storage recommendations for breast milk. It’s 3-6 months in a regular freezer and 6-12 months for a deep freezer. So it will depend on how you store them when determining how long the breast milk pops are good for.

Can I refreeze a breastmilk popsicle?

No. You cannot refreeze breastmilk. 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 u…

Can breast milk be reheated 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 tell if frozen breast milk is bad?

The milk is likely to have a very distinctive sour smell and may even taste metallic, like soap or bitter. If it smells sour, it is very likely because of the lipase enzyme’s action on the fat content of breast milk.

Can you freeze breast milk multiple times?

More research is needed on whether previously frozen milk that’s been thawed can be frozen again and safely used. However, many experts recommend discarding thawed milk that isn’t used within 24 hours.

How long is breastmilk good for after defrosting from freezer?

within 24 hours
Using thawed breastmilk
Milk thawed in the refrigerator must be used within 24 hours. Milk thawed to room temperature or warmer should ideally be used in 1 to 2 hours. If your baby didn’t finish the bottle, the leftover breastmilk can still be used within 2 hours after the baby is done feeding.

Is milk still good if it freezes and unfreezes?

Freezing milk is easy, helps avoid waste, allows a backup supply, and saves money. Thawed milk will be most nutritious if people freeze it at its freshest. However, as long as freezing happens on or before the best before date, it is fine to freeze milk and thaw it for later use.

What foods Cannot be refrozen after thawing?

If food is completely thawed, warmed to room temperature or left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, throw the food out for safety’s sake. These principles apply to meat, poultry, shellfish, some vegetables and cooked foods. Do not refreeze ice cream and similar frozen desserts.

Is it okay to refreeze thawed breast milk?

Once you thaw put breastmilk, you must use it. Do not refreeze it as it can ruin the milk and you might also spoil it. That goes for anything that you have frozen and then thaw out, you must use it or loose it.