Can you freeze breast milk?

Human milk freezes safely and is routinely stored that way. FDA and CDC guidance is that it keeps best in the back of the freezer, not the door, where the temperature is stable, and that six months is the quality target with twelve months the outer limit. Fat separates on thawing, which is normal — swirl, do not shake hard. Thawed milk goes in the fridge for up to 24 hours and must not be refrozen, and any milk left over after a feed should be used within two hours.

How to do it properly

1. Use bags or containers made for breast milk, and leave room for expansion
2. Freeze in the amounts a single feed uses, so nothing is wasted
3. Label with the date expressed and store at the back of the freezer
4. Thaw in the fridge overnight or in a bowl of warm water, never in a microwave
5. Swirl to remix the fat, and use within 24 hours of thawing

What goes wrong

• Milk stored in the freezer door goes through temperature swings
• Thawed milk must not be refrozen
• Milk left over from a feed keeps only about two hours

Other "can you freeze" questions

• Can you freeze cheese? It depends — Yes, and it stays safe indefinitely — but hard cheese comes out crumbly and soft cheese comes out wet.
• Can you freeze milk? Yes — Yes — leave headspace for expansion and shake it hard after thawing.
• Can you freeze eggs? It depends — Not in the shell. Beat them first, or freeze whites on their own.
• Can you freeze bread? Yes — Yes — freezing is the best way to store bread, far better than the fridge.
• Can you freeze bananas? Yes — Yes — peel and slice them first, because the peel turns black and welds itself on.
• Can you freeze cooked rice? Yes — Yes, and freezing quickly is the safest way to keep leftover rice.
• Can you freeze raw chicken twice? It depends — Only if it thawed in the fridge and never got above 4 °C (40 °F).
• Can you freeze avocado? It depends — Yes, but only as a purée — frozen slices go grey and watery.
• Can you freeze soup? It depends — Yes for most soups; cream, milk and potato-based ones separate or go grainy.
• Can you freeze butter? Yes — Yes — butter freezes better than almost anything else in the fridge.
• Can you freeze cooked pasta? Yes — Yes — undercook it slightly and toss it in oil first, or it thaws into a solid block.
• Can you freeze mashed potatoes? Yes — Yes — mash with plenty of butter or cream, which protects the texture through freezing.