Place
Temperature
39°F or colder
Refrigerator
0°F or colder
Freezer
Smaller
59°F
cooler with
a blue-ice
pack.
Room temp
(60°F - 85°F)
Countertop,
table
Source: Breastfeeding Made Easier at Home and Work
Breastmilk Storage Guidelines (Continued)
● Up to 72 hours is best.
● Up to 5-8 days is okay for very
clean expressed milk.
● Up to 6 months is best.
● Up to 12 months is okay.
24 hours
● Up to 3-4 hours is best.
● Up to 6-8 hours is okay for very
clean expressed milk.
Do not refreeze thawed milk. Discard any remaining thawed milk if not used within 24 hours.
How long
Things to know
Store milk in the back of the main body of
the refrigerator.
Store milk toward the back of the freezer
where temperature is most constant. Milk
stored at 0°F or colder is safe for longer
durations, but the quality of the milk might
not be as high.
Keep ice packs in contact with milk
containers at all times; limit opening
cooler.
Containers should be covered and kept
as cool as possible; covering the
container with a clean cool towel may
keep milk cooler. Throw out any leftover
milk within 1 to 2 hours after the baby is
finished feeding.
www.womenshealth.gov
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