Storing breast milk in the refrigerator: Tips & FAQs

Pumping and storing breast milk in the refrigerator gives you more flexibility when you’re on the go, but it’s only safe to use for 3-5 days ( more than 3 days only if pumped under very clean conditions*). Follow our guidelines and tips to ensure your baby is safely fed with your breast milk.

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Storing breast milk in the correct containers

Check your refrigerator temperature

Find the coolest place in the refrigerator

FAQs about storing breast milk in the refrigerator

Storing breast milk in the correct containers

Breast milk can be stored in sterilized containers, for example, breast milk storage bottles or special storage bags. Make sure to label the breast milk container with the date it was pumped. Some storage bags, like the Medela Breast Milk Storage Bags, have a designated field for easy labelling, for other containers you can use tape and write on top with a permanent marker.

Make sure that the containers in which you store breast milk are airtight and sealed.

If you’re not planning to use freshly pumped breast milk within three days, it’s best to freeze it immediately after pumping. This helps to protect and preserve its nutritional value and quality.

Check your refrigerator temperature

Your refrigerator should be as cold as 4°C / 39°F or below. If your refrigerator thermostat doesn’t display the temperature, consider buying a separate refrigerator thermometer for monitoring the coolness.

Having a back-up can be useful in case of a power outage or mechanical issues.

Find the coolest place in the refrigerator

It's best to store the milk in a designated area in the refrigerator.

The best spot is the shelf above the vegetable drawer. Push your breast milk containers towards the back, but not against the wall, as the milk could freeze.

Note that the standard refrigerator temperature can vary from country to country. The EU energy label for example recommends 5°C / 41°F for the middle shelf, while in Germany, refrigerators are often set to 7° C / 45°F. Breast milk should be refrigerated at 4°C / 39°F. The lower shelf above the vegetable drawer is the coldest area in the refrigerator. Even with a medium refrigerator setting of 7°C / 45°F, the temperature here does not exceed 4°C / 39°F. It’s best to check the temperature with a thermometer.

Also, remember to always use the milk that has been in the fridge longest first –– first in, first out is a useful way of remembering what’s oldest and what’s freshest.

Remember the refrigerator door is not a suitable storage spot with the frequent opening and closing, the door is not cold enough.

FAQs about storing breast milk in the refrigerator

Is it okay to mix refrigerated breast milk with freshly pumped milk?

It’s not recommended to mix freshly pumped breast milk with milk that has already been cooled or frozen. You don’t want the fresh milk heating up the refrigerated milk.

To avoid this, let freshly expressed milk cool down before combining it with older, previously chilled or frozen milk.

Also, keep in mind the storage duration guidelines for breast milk.

If you’re combining milk pumped on different days, the storage time should be based on the date when the oldest milk was first stored.

If there’s a power outage, should I throw out my stored breast milk?

Whether you need to discard breast milk after a power outage depends on how long the power was out and how much the milk has warmed.

If left unopened, most refrigerators will keep food cold for approximately four hours.

To preserve the temperature as much as possible, keep the doors of the refrigerator closed during the outage.

Are communal refrigerators – say at work – ok for storing breast milk?

Breast milk is a type of food and can be stored alongside other food items in any refrigerator suitable for food storage. It should not be regarded as a biohazard by employers, coworkers, cleaning staff, family members, or childcare providers.

Keeping breast milk in a shared refrigerator or washing pump parts in communal break rooms doesn’t present health risks as long as you take the necessary steps to prevent contamination. Breast pump equipment should always be properly cleaned, dried, and stored in a hygienic environment.