Breast milk is an optimal source of nutrition for your baby. Freezing it to build up a supply is a brilliant idea, but it does require some precautions once it's thawed. 🥶
How do you properly thaw breast milk and preserve its nutritional properties? Actually, several options are available…
Whether you choose to take frozen milk out of the freezer and plunge it into a container of cold or lukewarm water, or to gently warm it in a bain-marie, ensuring the milk's consumability and quality is a mission to be taken seriously.
Summary
Option 1: Transfer the frozen milk to the refrigerator
Option 2: Submerge the container of frozen milk in a container of lukewarm or cold water
Option 3: Gently warm the milk in a bain-marie
Can breast milk be defrosted in the microwave?
Can thawed breast milk be refrozen?
Option 1: Transfer the frozen milk to the refrigerator
For this method, remove the frozen milk from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Having clean hands to perform this action is, of course, common sense.
This defrosting method is the slowest, but also the one that best preserves the nutritional properties of the milk.
For the milk to be completely thawed, it is best to wait at least 12 hours.
For a bottle taken in the morning, it is advisable to take the milk out the night before and vice versa.
Once the milk has thawed, you can use it within 12 hours of complete thawing (i.e., a 24-hour period outside the freezer). You can warm the bottle by running it under warm tap water, in a bain-marie, or using a bottle warmer before giving it to your baby.
Option 2: Submerge the container of frozen milk in a container of lukewarm or cold water
This method, faster than the previous one, requires leaving the small, airtight container or bag of milk to soak in a basin of water. The container must be completely sealed; the water must not come into contact with the milk, as this could contaminate it with potential pathogens.
Warm water will help speed up the defrosting process.
The defrosting time varies depending on the amount of milk you wish to defrost. Allow between 1 and 3 hours for this process to complete.
The main risk with this method is forgetting the milk in its container. Once the defrosting process is complete, it is essential to place the container in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
Elhée's tip:
Don't hesitate to set an alert on your phone about two hours after taking the milk out of the freezer if you're the forgetful type. 😉 This will give you time to check the milk's condition.
Option 3: Gently warm the milk in a bain-marie
If you need the milk more quickly than with the methods mentioned previously, you can use a bain-marie (double boiler). The milk will be ready in less than 10 minutes ! However, be aware that if the breast milk is stored 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.
- Stir the milk gently while it heats up.
- Avoid pouring milk directly into a saucepan or microwave, as this tends to destroy its nutritional properties.
- To prevent the milk from getting too hot, which can happen quickly, we recommend using a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature (36.5°C is ideal!). You can also test the temperature by pouring a drop of milk onto the inside of your wrist to make sure it's neither too hot nor too cold.
- Once the milk is ready, you can transfer it into a bottle and then offer it to your baby.
Can breast milk be defrosted in the microwave?
It is not recommended to defrost breast milk in the microwave, even if it can technically work.
- Indeed, this can destroy some of the precious nutrients present; excessive heat can alter the quality of proteins, antibodies, enzymes, vitamins and minerals essential for the baby's development.
- Furthermore, by its very action, the microwave heats the milk unevenly, creating areas that are hotter than others and can burn your baby's mouth.
- If the container used to heat breast milk in the microwave is made of plastic, there is a risk that microparticles of plastic may migrate into the milk due to the heat.
Can thawed breast milk be refrozen?
It is recommended never to refreeze thawed breast milk. Once thawed, the milk should be used within 24 hours (if refrigerated) or 1 hour at room temperature to maintain its nutritional quality. If you do not use all the thawed milk within this time, do not refreeze it and dispose of it down the sink.
To conclude
Thawing breast milk is an operation that must be carried out with caution.
- Whether you choose to take your time by placing the milk in the refrigerator ,
- to opt for a bain-marie for faster defrosting,
- or immersing the milk in cold or lukewarm water , following good practices is essential to preserve the quality of the milk and its consumability.
It is advisable to note the date of each expression on the container using a erasable marker or a sticker, and to respect the storage limits according to the type of freezer you use. As a precaution, avoid thawing breast milk in the microwave.
