Safe storage tips for your expressed breastmilk - at home or on the go
Before you decide on a storage container for your expressed breastmilk, think about how you’ll be using it. Will you be freezing it, storing it in your work fridge, transporting it or using it the same day?
Storage containers for expressed breastmilk (EBM) must be food grade and BPA-free and suitable to freeze, if required. They may include:
- baby-feeding bottles
- plastic or glass containers with tight-fitting lids
- zip-lock bags
- syringes (if collecting colostrum)
If your baby is in hospital, ask the staff if the hospital supplies containers or if they have requirements about containers.
Storing breastmilk
Seal the container of EBM and clearly label it with the date. Place the container in the back of the fridge or freezer, away from the door, where it stays coldest.
To add freshly expressed milk to milk that’s already chilled or frozen, first cool it in the fridge. When it’s cold, you can add it to the existing milk and put the container straight back into the fridge or freezer.
Breastmilk storage guidelines
Breastmilk | Room temperature(26°C or lower) | Refrigerator(5°C or lower) | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshly expressed into container | 6 to 8 hours If refrigeration is available, store milk there | No more than 72 hours Store at the back, where it is coldest | 2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator (-15°C) 3 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door (-18°C) 6 to 12 months in deep freeze (-20°C)* |
| Previously frozen - thawed in refrigerator but not yet warmed | 4 hours or less (ie the next feeding) | Store in refrigerator 24 hours | Do not refreeze |
| Thawed outside refrigerator in warm water | For completion of feeding | Hold for 4 hours or until next feeding | Do not refreeze |
| Baby has begun feeding | Only for completion of feeding, then discard | Discard | Discard |
*Chest / upright manual defrost deep freezer that is opened infrequently and keeps temperature. | |||
Safety information about storing expressed breastmilk
- Don’t refreeze breastmilk after it’s been thawed or warmed. Don't reheat breastmilk more than once.
- Offer small amounts of breastmilk at a time to avoid waste, as any milk left after a feed needs to be thrown away. If your baby needs more, simply prepare another small amount.
- Always clean storage containers thoroughly before use.
- If your baby is premature or unwell, talk to your doctor or midwife about any extra steps you might need to take. For sick babies, fresh breastmilk each day is best.
Transporting breastmilk
- If you need to take EBM with you, consider the weather and how long you’ll be travelling.
- In cooler weather or for short trips, you may not need to do anything special. On warm days or for longer journeys, keep your milk cool in an insulated bag.
- If frozen milk thaws during transport, use it within 24 hours and don’t refreeze it.
© Australian Breastfeeding Association November 2025
Read more about expressing and storing
Evidence-led info and practical tips from our Breastfeeding Information Series
Breastfeeding: expressing and storing breastmilk
