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STORAGE GUIDELINES FOR THAWED BREAST MILK
1
Room Temperature (60°F to 85°F)
Refrigerator (39°F or colder)
Freezer
Up to 1-2 hours is best. Up to 3-4 hours is ok.
24 hours
Do not refreeze thawed breast milk.
GUIDELINES FOR STORING BREAST MILK
1
Location
Temperature
Duration
Comments
Countertop, table
Room temperature
(up to 77°F or 25°C) 6–8 hours
Containers should be covered and kept as cool
as possible; covering the container with a cool
towel may keep milk cooler.
Insulated cooler bag
5 - 39°F or
-15 - 4°C
24 hours
Keep ice packs in contact with milk containers
at all times, limit opening cooler bag.
Refrigerator
39°F or 4°C
5 days
Store milk in the back of the main body of the
refrigerator.
Freezer
Store milk toward the back of the freezer, where
temperature is most constant. Milk stored for
longer durations in the ranges listed is safe,
but some of the lipids in the milk undergo
degradation resulting in lower quality.
Freezer compartment of
a refrigerator
5°F or -15°C
2 weeks
Freezer compartment of
refrigerator with separate doors
0°F or -18°C
3–6 months
Chest or upright deep freezer
-4°F or -20°C
6–12 months
Follow the below guidelines for safe storage of breast milk to ensure freshness.
1
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/breastfeeding-guide/BreastfeedingGuide-General-English.pdf.
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