How long can breast milk be stored?

Question

Accepted Answer

According to US CDC guidelines, freshly expressed breast milk lasts up to 4 hours at room temperature (≤25°C/77°F), 4 days in the fridge (≤4°C/39°F), and 6 months in the freezer (≤-18°C/0°F) for best quality (up to 12 months is acceptable but nutritional quality declines). Thawed milk must be used within 24 hours in the fridge and never refrozen. Discard if color or smell is off; use shorter windows for newborns and preemies. This calculator uses the recommended limits.