Can you refrigerate breast milk twice?

Understanding the Safety of Refrigerating Breast Milk Twice
When it comes to the delicate process of storing and handling breast milk, parents often have questions about safety and best practices. One common query is whether breast milk can be refrigerated more than once. The answer is nuanced and hinges on several factors, including the state of the milk and how it has been handled.
Storage Guidelines for Breast Milk
Breast milk is a precious resource for infants, providing essential nutrients and antibodies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), freshly expressed breast milk can be safely stored in the refrigerator at around 40°F (4°C) for up to four days. To maximize its freshness, it is recommended to chill the milk immediately after expression.
Once breast milk has been warmed for feeding, the rules change significantly. If the milk has been heated, it should not be refrigerated again. This is primarily due to the risk of bacterial growth that can occur when milk is repeatedly heated and cooled. Each cycle of warming and cooling can degrade the milk’s nutritional quality and increase the potential for harmful bacteria to develop .
Reheating and Refrigeration Practices
The general consensus among experts is that breast milk should ideally be reheated only once. Reheating it multiple times can lead to nutrient loss and pose health risks to the baby. If breast milk has been warmed and not consumed, it should be discarded after one to two hours at room temperature. If it has been refrigerated after warming, it should be used within 24 hours but not returned to the refrigerator after being warmed again.
Best Practices for Parents
For parents navigating the complexities of breast milk storage, here are some best practices to consider:
1. Chill Immediately: Always refrigerate breast milk right after expressing it to maintain its quality.
2. Limit Reheating: Only reheat breast milk once. If your baby does not finish a bottle, it’s safer to discard any leftover milk rather than refrigerate it again.
3. Monitor Time: Keep track of how long the milk has been stored, whether at room temperature or in the refrigerator, to ensure it remains safe for your baby.
In conclusion, while breast milk is a vital source of nutrition for infants, handling it with care is essential. Refrigerating breast milk more than once after it has been warmed is not advisable due to safety concerns. By following proper storage guidelines, parents can ensure that their little ones receive the best possible nourishment.

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 put breastmilk back in fridge after warming it up?

Our rule is that once breast milk has been warmed, it needs to be used within the hour. Warmed breast milk should never be re-refrigerated, so if it isn’t used then it gets tossed. Freshly expressed breast milk is good at room temperature for up to 4 hrs, but then it needs to be used/refrigerated/frozen.

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.

Can I refrigerate thawed breastmilk?

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.

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 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).

Can I add to breast milk that’s already refrigerated?

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.

How many times can you warm up breast milk?

Breast milk that has been refrigerated or frozen can only be heated once. Never reheat breast milk as this accumulates bacteria the more it is exposed to warmer temperatures. Breast milk that has been heated or brought to room temperature needs to be consumed within 2 hours.

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.

How long is breastmilk good once out of the fridge?

4 hours
Freshly expressed or pumped milk can be stored: At room temperature (77°F or colder) for up to 4 hours. In the refrigerator for up to 4 days. In the freezer for about 6 months is best; up to 12 months is acceptable.