10 Tips & Hacks for Freezing Breast Milk and Managing Your Stash

Tip 1 :: Don’t let your milk sit in the fridge for too long before you freeze it.

Breast milk can be safely stored in the fridge for 4 days. But if you don’t think you’ll use the milk within those 4 days, it’s best to freeze it right away to preserve the quality. Freeze it as soon as possible, ideally within the first day or two, as certain nutrients and properties will begin to significantly decline after that time.

Tip 2 :: Avoid putting a lot of milk in each bag.

It might sound like a good idea at first because using less bags means you’re creating less waste. BUT you may end up wasting your breast milk. 

It’s best to freeze milk in 2-5 oz portions, just enough for a feeding, because thawed milk doesn’t last as long as fresh milk.

Once thawed, breast milk is good for 24 hours in the fridge, or 2 hours once warmed to room temperature. So if you thaw more than your baby eats, that extra milk will go to waste.

Another benefit of freezing in smaller portions is that it also helps the milk thaw faster, so you’re not waiting around so long!

Tip 3 :: Be sure to label each bag with the date it was expressed.

This is especially important if you are storing more than just a few bags. This allows you to keep track and make sure you are using the oldest milk first before it expires.

Bonus Tip: If your freezer stash grows, you might find it helpful to group bags into “bricks”. This is where you take bags with the same date or similar dates and store them in a larger gallon bag.

Tip 4 :: Allow an inch of room for expansion.

If you’re freezing in small 2-5oz portions, this shouldn’t be an issue. But if you decide to freeze larger quantities of milk, make sure you leave at least an inch of space at the top. The milk will expand as it freezes and if you put too much in, the bag can burst.

Tip 5 :: Remove air bubbles by using the countertop.

Seal the bag most of the way, leaving it partially open. Line up the top of the milk with the edge of the counter and check to see if there are any air bubbles. Then slide the bag down to push any extra air out. Seal it when you get to the edge.

Check out this video that shows you how to do it.

Tip 6 :: Never freeze your bags standing up.

It’ll take up WAY too much space! Instead, lay them down so they freeze flat. 

To save even more space, you can freeze the bags between 2 cookie sheets. This makes the bags evenly flat on both sides, so they stack together nicely and fit a little better into a gallon ziplock bag. To do this..

1. Make sure you put the same amount of milk in each bag.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Lay your bags out on a cookie sheet, alternating the zipper direction.
3. Then lay the second cookie sheet on top.

Tip 7: Try freezing breast milk in ice cube trays as a low-waste option.

If you want to avoid using plastic ((and maybe save a little money in the long run!)) you can store breast milk in a silicone ice cube tray.

The Ceres Chill Milkstache freezes in ½-ounce cubes, to make it super easy to measure out the exact amount you need to thaw for a feeding.

Tip 8: Create a storage system out of soda can boxes.

Cut the top off of an empty soda can box, and line up your bags inside with the oldest milk in front and the freshest in the back. This is an easy way to save space and stay organized. 

Tip 9: Thaw breast milk bags in a bowl to catch leaks.

Sometimes storage bags can get small tears or holes in them and you might not realize it until it’s too late. To be on the safe side, you can put your bag in a bowl in the fridge to thaw. 

You could also use a large Pyrex measuring cup. That way, if it does leak, it will be easy to pour the milk into a bottle.

NOTE: Make sure the bowl or measuring cup is BPA-free, food grade quality, and properly cleaned before you use it. 

Tip 10: Try the Slushy Method to thaw breast milk and prep bottles for feedings.

This genius advice comes from Kristen @bemybreastfriend. To do the Slushy Method..

1. Fill a bowl with warm water.
2. Place the frozen breast milk bags in the bowl for about 10 minutes, until partially thawed enough so that you are able to easily break them up. 
3. Break up into small chunks.
4. Pour chunks into the bottles.
5. Put the bottles in the fridge to finish thawing.

The Slushy Method helps to..

• Prevent leaks when thawing. Since you’re only thawing the milk partially, if there is a hole in the bag, it doesn’t matter too much. You may get some drops depending on where the hole is, but most of the milk will still be frozen, and you put the frozen chunks right into the bottles.
• Save time. You can do this the night before to prep bottles for the next day.
• Extend shelf life. Milk stays safe in the fridge for 24 hours from the time it is FULLY thawed, so this ensures that your milk will be safe to use the next day.

Did you find these tips helpful? What are some of your favorite tips for managing your freezer stash? Leave a comment below!