Breastmilk Storage Guidelines (Continued)
Place
Temperature
How long
Things to know
Refrigerator
39°F or colder
● Up to 72 hours is best.
● Up to 5-8 days is okay for very
clean expressed milk.
Store milk in the back of the main body of
the refrigerator.
Freezer
0°F or colder
● Up to 6 months is best.
● Up to 12 months is okay.
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.
Smaller
cooler with
a blue-ice
pack.
59°F
24 hours
Keep ice packs in contact with milk
containers at all times; limit opening
cooler.
Countertop,
table
Room temp
(60°F - 85°F)
● Up to 3-4 hours is best.
● Up to 6-8 hours is okay for very
clean expressed milk.
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.
Source: Breastfeeding Made Easier at Home and Work
www.womenshealth.gov
Do not refreeze thawed milk. Discard any remaining thawed milk if not used within 24 hours.
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