How long does expressed milk last for outside the fridge?

[Penguinandminipenguin]

We're doing a 4 hour round trip today to visit family, and we are taking a few bottle of expressed bresst milk with us. We plan to put them in a lunch bag either freezer blocks in them, so how long will they last for before they will be no good to drink?

[fusspot66]

You'd need to Google it to be sure but I recall it can be out all day at room temperature and lasts days in the fridge so your plan for cool bag and ice pack is safe for the day.

[Fluffy24]

Agree, can't remember specifics but 8 hours at room temp or 4 days in fridge springs to mind, so I'd say you're fine!

[fusspot66]

Googled for you
Nhs choices 2012 say 5 days in the fridge.
They don't commit in print to room temperature!

[eurochick]

I was told 6hrs at room temp, 6 days in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer. I would take a freezer block for a trip like you describe though.

[Penguinandminipenguin]

So it should be ok for the day then? That's good to know, thanks very much everyone!

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Nhs website used to (years ago) say 24 hrs at room temp.

[Saracen]

Hope you had a good trip!

For future reference, here is a good site for storage and handling of expressed milk: kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

Note that thawed, previously frozen, EBM goes off much faster than fresh EBM. Since you can keep fresh EBM in the fridge for many days, it is better only to freeze milk when you really have to.