Why Is Thawed Breast Milk Only Good For 24 Hours?
If you thaw breast milk in the fridge from the freezer, breast milk storage guidelines say you have to use it within 24 hours.
But hey, why the rush?
Let's put on our lab coats to uncover the scientific secrets behind this 24-hour rule.
(this post may contain affiliate links)
First things first, you need to know that the 24 hour clock only starts when the breast milk is completely thawed, not from the time you took it out of the freezer.
Why is thawed breast milk only good for 24 hours?
Well, the freezer is to blame.
Freezing damages the live cells in breast milk which helps protect the magical liquid from spoiling. When those cells are damaged, the milk spoils much faster. Bummer, right? 🥴✨
When in doubt, smell it out. Does it smell spoiled? If so, definitely don’t use it.
PRO-TIP:
A great way to avoid wasting precious breast milk is to freeze your breast milk in smaller quantities.
That way you can thaw just enough at a time and no liquid gold spoils.
We love these awesome small containers that are perfect for freezing breast milk. (bonus - they contain no plastic!)
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