Breast milk is an optimal source of nutrition for your baby. Freezing it to build up a stash is a great idea, but it requires some precautions when it's time to thaw. 🥶
How should you thaw breast milk properly and preserve its nutritional properties? In fact, several options are available to you…
Whether you choose to take the frozen milk out of the freezer and immerse it in a container of cold or lukewarm water, or to gently warm it in a water bath, ensuring the milk is safe to consume and of good quality is a mission to take seriously.
Summary
Option 1: Transfer frozen milk to the refrigerator
Option 2: Place the container of frozen milk in a bowl of lukewarm or cold water
Option 3: Gently warm the milk in a water bath
Can you thaw breast milk in the microwave?
Can you refreeze thawed breast milk?
Option 1: Transfer frozen milk to the refrigerator
For this method, remove the frozen milk from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Of course, having clean hands for this action is just common sense.
This thawing method is the slowest, but it also best preserves the milk’s nutritional properties.
To ensure the milk is completely thawed, it is best to wait at least 12 hours.
For a morning bottle, it is recommended to take the milk out the night before, and vice versa.
Once the milk is thawed, you can use it within 12 hours after complete thawing (which means a 24-hour cycle outside the freezer). You may warm the bottle by running it under warm tap water, in a water bath, or using a bottle warmer before feeding your baby.
Option 2: Place the container of frozen milk in a bowl of lukewarm or cold water
This method, which is faster than the previous one, requires placing the sealed jar or pouch of milk in a basin of water. The seal of the container is crucial; water should not enter in contact with the milk, as this could contaminate it with potential pathogens.
Using lukewarm water will help speed up the thawing process.
The thawing time depends on the amount of milk you wish to thaw. Allow between 1 and 3 hours for the process to be complete.
The main risk of this method is forgetting the milk in its container. Once the thawing process is finished, it is imperative to place the container in the refrigerator to keep it cold.
Elhée Tip:
Don’t hesitate to set an alarm on your phone about 2 hours after taking the milk out of the freezer if you tend to be forgetful. 😉 This will allow you to check the milk’s appearance.
Option 3: Gently warm the milk in a water bath
If you need the milk more quickly than with the previous methods, you can opt for the water bath method. The milk will be ready in less than 10 minutes! However, be aware that if breast milk is kept in a plastic container, the risk of microplastics migrating into the milk is higher when the plastic is heated.
- Fill a saucepan with hot, but not boiling water and place the container of frozen milk in it.
- Gently swirl the milk as it warms.
- Avoid pouring the milk directly into a saucepan or microwaving it, as this tends to destroy its nutritional properties.
- To ensure the milk does not become too hot, as this can happen quickly, we recommend using a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature (a temperature of 98°F is ideal!). You can also test this by placing a drop of milk on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot or too cold.
- Once the milk is ready, you can pour it into a bottle and offer it to your baby.
Can you thaw breast milk in the microwave?
It is not recommended to thaw breast milk in the microwave, even though it is technically possible.
- Indeed, this may destroy some of the precious nutrients present; excessive heat can diminish the quality of proteins, antibodies, enzymes, vitamins, and essential minerals vital to your baby’s development.
- Furthermore, due to how it works, a microwave heats milk unevenly, creating hotter spots than others and potentially burning your baby’s mouth.
- If the container used to heat breast milk in the microwave is plastic, there is a risk that microparticles of plastic may migrate into the milk due to the heat.
Can you refreeze thawed breast milk?
It is recommended to never refreeze thawed breast milk. Once the milk has been thawed, it should be used within 24 hours (if stored in the refrigerator) or 1 hour at room temperature to maintain its nutritional quality. If you do not use all of the thawed milk within this time frame, avoid refreezing it and discard it in the sink.
In conclusion
Thawing breast milk is an operation that should be handled with care.
- Whether you choose to take your time by placing the milk in the refrigerator,
- opt for the water bath for a faster thawing process,
- or immerse the milk in cold or lukewarm water, following the right guidelines is essential to preserve the milk’s quality and safety for consumption.
It is important to note the date of each pumping session on the container using a washable, erasable marker, or a self-adhesive label, and to respect the storage limits depending on the type of freezer you are using. As a safety measure, it’s best to avoid thawing breast milk in the microwave.
