Breastmilk can be kept at room temperature, in the refrigerator, or the freezer depending on the need.
Guide to storing expressed milk1 2
| Location of Storage | Temperature | Recommended Storage Times | Notes |
| Room temperature | 16-29ºC (60-85ºF) | 3-4 hours optimal 6-8 hours acceptable under very clean conditions18 | Covered containers |
| Insulated cooler bag | 15ºC (59ºF) | 24 hours | Keep ice packs in contact with milk containers |
| Refrigerator | ≤4ºC (39ºF) | 72 hours optimal 5-8 days acceptable under very clean conditions | Store milk in the back of the main body of the refrigerator |
| Freezer compartment inside refrigerator | -15ºC (5ºF) | 2 weeks | |
| Separate freezer | ≤-18ºC (0ºF) | 6 to 12 months | Store milk toward the back of the freezer These recommendations are for quality only. Foods are kept safe almost indefinitely in the freezer.19 20 |
Some things to consider when navigating optimal versus acceptable storage times:
- The temperature of the room matters. If the surrounding temperature is on the higher end, consider the lower length of the referenced time. If the surrounding temperature is low, consider the higher length of the suggested storage time.
- When storing in a refrigerator, placing items in the door versus the back, and whether a refrigerator is opened often or not also matter when it comes to consistency of temperature.
- These temperatures are for freshly expressed and refrigerated milk. Previously frozen milk spoils faster since it lacks some of the properties of fresh or refrigerated milk.
Next: How can human milk be shipped or transported?
_______________
