Storing some breast milk in the freezer can be really useful. But if you're new to expressing and storing breast milk you may be wondering how best to defrost it, and you're not alone. This is one of many questions that new parents have about feeding their baby.
To help you out, we're going to run through how to safely thaw frozen breast milk and cover some top breast milk storage tips to save you both time and effort.
Different methods for defrosting breast milk
In the refrigerator
You can gradually defrost frozen breast milk in the refrigerator.
In a bowl of warm water
You can defrost frozen breast milk that's in a sealed container by putting it in a jug of warm water.
Under running warm water
Alternatively, you can run warm water at a maximum temperature of 98.6°F over a bottle or bag of frozen breast milk.
How long to defrost breast milk
The amount of time that breast milk takes to defrost depends on which method you choose:
- In the refrigerator: This is the best method, but it can take breast milk up to 12 hours to defrost in the fridge. So, it's recommended you get out what you need for the next day the night before to give it time to thaw overnight.
- In a bowl of warm water: This breast milk thawing method should take around 20 minutes.
- Under warm running water: This method takes around five to 10 minutes, but it's not the most eco- or wallet-friendly option.
How long does defrosted breast milk last?
Once fully thawed, defrosted breast milk that was previously frozen can be kept at room temperature for up to two hours or stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Safety advice for thawed breast milk
- You should never defrost or warm breast milk in the microwave. This can heat it unevenly, potentially leading to burns. It can also destroy the nutrients in your milk.
- Throw away any leftover thawed milk after 24 hours.
- You should never leave frozen breast milk to defrost at room temperature.
- Never re-freeze defrosted breast milk.
Tips for using frozen breast milk with minimal waste
We know that pumping, freezing, and defrosting breast milk is a lot to think about! The following tips may help simplify the process and reduce the risk of any of your precious breast milk being wasted.
Start with the oldest milk
When getting milk out of storage to feed your baby, use a first-in, first-out approach. It can help to label your expressed milk with the date it was pumped before you store it in the freezer. That way, you know you're always using the oldest milk first.
Use storage bags
Our pre-sterilized breast milk storage bags are made for breast milk, and help it thaw faster.
Freeze milk in ice cube trays
Most ice cube trays have individual sections that hold around 1oz each. These can be handy for measuring out the right amount of breast milk needed for each feed.
