Milk storage
Freshly expressed breast milk keeps for up to 4 hours at room temperature, 24 hours in a cooler, 4 days in the fridge, and 6 months in a freezer. Milk already thawed from frozen keeps for only 24 hours in the fridge and must never be re-frozen.
When storing milk, remember to properly label and date storage containers in order to use the oldest milk first. Frozen milk should be defrosted in the fridge or in a bowl of warm water (never the microwave). Leftover milk — any milk that baby didn't finish at a feed — should be used or discarded within 2 hours. Guidelines vary depending on country, health organisation and area. The below is guidance for home use only.
The essentials
- Room temp
- At 25 degrees or colder: freshly expressed milk keeps for up to 4 hours, and milk thawed from frozen keeps for up to 4 hours.
- Cooler
- At 5 degrees or colder: freshly expressed milk keeps for up to 24 hours, and milk thawed from frozen keeps for up to 24 hours.
- Refrigerator
- At 4 degrees or colder: freshly expressed milk keeps for up to 4 days, and milk thawed from frozen keeps for up to 24 hours.
- Freezer
- At -18 degrees or colder: freshly expressed milk keeps for up to 6 months. Never re-freeze thawed milk.
- Deep freezer
- At -21 degrees or colder: freshly expressed milk keeps for up to 12 months. Never re-freeze thawed milk.
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This guide is informed by current evidence and clinical practice. Individual circumstances vary — it isn’t a substitute for advice from your own midwife, doctor or lactation consultant.