How long breast milk lasts on the counter, in the fridge, and frozen
Quick answer
-
Room temperature
Keeps for up to 4 hours
Keep freshly expressed milk at 77°F (25°C) or colder.
Watch out Thawed milk gets only 1 to 2 hours on the counter.
-
Fridge
Keeps for up to 4 days
Store freshly expressed milk at 40°F (4°C), using clean expression technique.
Watch out Thawed milk keeps only up to 1 day in the fridge.
-
Freezer
Keeps for 6 months (up to 12)
Freeze it at 0°F (-18°C) or colder, dated, in the back of the freezer rather than the door.
Watch out Never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.
Fresh breast milk lasts up to 4 hours on the counter and up to 4 days in the fridge. In the freezer, using it within 6 months is best, and up to 12 months is acceptable. Thawed milk lasts 1 to 2 hours on the counter or up to 1 day in the fridge, and you should never refreeze it. Use leftovers from a feeding within 2 hours.
Buying breast milk this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
- A note like “fridge, use within a week”
- One list shared with everyone at home
Fresh breast milk lasts up to 4 hours on the counter and up to 4 days in the fridge. In the freezer, it’s best used within 6 months. Thawed milk and leftovers from a feeding run on shorter clocks, and every time in this guide comes from the FDA’s food safety guidance for after your baby arrives.
Below, you’ll find the times in one table, plus how to freeze breast milk, warm it, and handle leftovers.
How long is breast milk good for?
Freshly expressed breast milk is good for up to 4 hours on the counter and up to 4 days in the fridge. In the freezer, using it within 6 months is best, and up to 12 months is acceptable. Thawed milk has shorter times, and the table shows both.
| Where | Freshly expressed milk | Thawed milk |
|---|---|---|
| Counter at 77°F (25°C) or colder | Up to 4 hours | 1 to 2 hours |
| Fridge at 40°F (4°C) | Up to 4 days | Up to 1 day (24 hours) |
| Freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or colder | 6 months is best, up to 12 months is acceptable | Never refreeze |
How long can breast milk stay out?
Freshly expressed breast milk can stay out for up to 4 hours, as long as the room is 77°F (25°C) or colder. That’s the FDA’s countertop time for milk at room temperature.
Thawed milk that was frozen before gets less time. It can stay on the counter for 1 to 2 hours.
How long does breast milk last in the fridge?
Freshly expressed breast milk lasts up to 4 days in the fridge at 40°F (4°C). The FDA’s 4 days assumes clean expression technique. Once milk has thawed, it lasts up to 1 day (24 hours) in the fridge.
How to express milk cleanly
Wash your hands with soap and water before you express milk. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Make sure the area where you express, your pump parts, and your bottles are clean. Your breasts and nipples don’t need washing before pumping.
How long does breast milk last in the freezer?
Breast milk lasts best within 6 months in a freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or colder. The FDA says up to 12 months is acceptable.
How to freeze breast milk
Date the milk when you freeze it, so you can tell which milk to use first. Store it in the back of the freezer, not in the door. The door is the warmest spot in the freezer, and the back helps keep the milk from defrosting when the door opens and closes often.
How long is thawed breast milk good for?
Thawed breast milk that was frozen before lasts up to 1 day (24 hours) in the fridge. On the counter, it lasts 1 to 2 hours. Never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed.
How do you warm breast milk?
Warm breast milk in hot tap water or in a pan of hot water that’s off the heat. Both methods work for bottles with disposable inserts and for hard plastic and glass bottles. Don’t use the microwave.
In hot tap water
Hold the bottle under hot, running tap water until the milk reaches the temperature you want. This takes 1 to 2 minutes.
On the stove
Heat water in a pan, then take the pan off the heat. Set the bottle in the water until the milk is warm.
Check the temperature before feeding
Shake the bottle to even out the temperature, then test the milk on top of your hand, not your wrist. Milk that’s baby-ready should feel lukewarm.
Why you shouldn’t use the microwave
The FDA doesn’t recommend heating breast milk in the microwave. A microwave heats milk unevenly and creates hot spots that can scald a baby’s mouth and throat.
How long is breast milk good after a feeding?
Use leftover breast milk within 2 hours after your baby has been offered the bottle, or throw it out. That’s the FDA’s rule for milk your baby didn’t finish.
Frequently asked questions
Can you refreeze breast milk?
You should never refreeze breast milk after it has thawed. Thawed milk can sit in the fridge for up to 1 day or on the counter for 1 to 2 hours.
Do you need to wash your breasts before pumping?
No. The FDA says breasts and nipples don't need to be washed before pumping. Do wash your hands with soap and water first.
Can you freeze breast milk right after pumping?
Yes. The FDA lists the freezer for freshly expressed milk, at 0°F (-18°C) or colder, where using it within 6 months is best.
How do you know when warmed breast milk is ready?
Baby-ready milk should feel lukewarm. Shake the bottle to even out the temperature, then test it on top of your hand, not your wrist.
What temperature should the fridge and freezer be for breast milk?
The FDA's times assume 40°F (4°C) in the fridge and 0°F (-18°C) or colder in the freezer. On the counter, the room should be 77°F (25°C) or colder.
How long is breast milk good after warming or reheating?
Once your baby has been offered the bottle, use the milk within 2 hours or throw it out. The FDA chart gives no separate time that starts when you warm or reheat the milk.
