Can You Refreeze Breastmilk? Here’s the 2026 updated answer…

✅ Quick Answer: You can refreeze breast milk — but only if it still has ice crystals and has not fully thawed. Once completely thawed, breast milk should be used within 24 hours or discarded. Read on to understand exactly why, and what the CDC recommends.

Breast milk has the potential to be safely refrozen, but it’s important to consider certain conditions first. I reviewed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to understand why refreezing is not always recommended — and I’m sharing exactly what they say below so you can make the best decision for your baby.

When is it Safe to Refreeze Breastmilk?

🍼Nutritional Quality. Each time breast milk goes through the freezing and thawing process, there is a possibility of loss in nutritional quality and immunological properties. The components of breast milk can break down during this process. It’s crucial to be aware of this potential loss in order to make informed decisions about refreezing breast milk.

🦠Bacterial Growth. Bacteria that may have multiplied during the initial thawing process can survive and continue to grow once milk is thawed again. This can lead to spoilage or contamination of the milk, posing a risk to your baby’s health

👅Taste and Texture. The milk may look and taste different after being refrozen, making it less appealing to your baby. This can potentially result in difficulties in feeding and may lead to your baby consuming less milk than needed.

When is it Safe to Refreeze Breastmilk?

Ice crystals mean the breast milk has not fully thawed and is still at a safe temperature (around 30°F / -1°C). If you can see or feel ice crystals throughout the milk, you can refreeze it without significant concern.

If the milk has completely thawed and no ice crystals remain, do not refreeze it. Use it within 24 hours or discard it.

Precautions when refreezing breastmilk with ice crystals

Even when refreezing is safe, follow these steps to protect the quality of your milk:

Use clean containers. Make sure all storage bags or containers are clean and have not been previously used for thawing. Reusing containers increases the risk of contamination.

Labeling. Date your breast milk storage bags so you always use the oldest milk first. As a reminder: breast milk can be stored in a standard freezer for up to six months, and in a deep freezer for up to 12 months.

Limit refreezing. Repeated freezing and thawing leads to loss of nutritional value and affects the taste and texture of the milk. To maintain the best quality, refreezing should happen no more than once.

The Bottom Line

While breast milk can be safely refrozen under the right conditions, always consider the potential impact on nutritional quality, bacterial safety, and taste.

The rule to remember: ice crystals = safe to refreeze. Fully thawed = use within 24 hours or toss.

Worried About Your Milk Thawing Unexpectedly?

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Save The Milk shipping kits keep your frozen breast milk at temperature for up to 48 hours, so you can transport or ship your stash without worrying about losing it to a partial thaw.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you refreeze breast milk after it has been in the fridge? No. Once breast milk has fully thawed in the fridge, it should be used within 24 hours. It should not be refrozen at that point.

Can you refreeze breast milk that still has ice crystals? Yes. If ice crystals are still visible and the milk has not fully thawed, it is generally safe to refreeze. This is the key condition the CDC references.

How many times can you refreeze breast milk? It is recommended to refreeze breast milk no more than once. Each freeze-thaw cycle can degrade nutritional quality and affect taste and texture.

What temperature does breast milk need to be to safely refreeze? Breast milk that still has ice crystals is at or below approximately 30°F (-1°C), which is considered safe for refreezing.

Can you refreeze breast milk that was left out at room temperature? No. If breast milk has been left at room temperature and fully thawed, it must be used within 2 hours or discarded. It should not be refrozen.

For more information from the CDC, click here.

Also read: How to Keep Your Breast Milk Safe During a Power Outage →