If your milk tastes fine, your baby might be rejecting the bottle for other reasons. Try different bottles, different nipple shapes, and different settings/caregivers; don’t give up.

Use suitable storage containers: glass or food-grade polypropylene or polybutylene plastic are best. Generally, bottles and breast milk bags marketed specifically for breast milk storage are a safe bet. [5] X Research source However, you may want to try different brands, just to make sure some don’t leave your milk tasting worse than others. Make sure you’re within safe storage timelines. Milk can be kept in the fridge for up to five days fairly safely. [6] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source In some cases, you might even go up to eight days. [7] X Research source If you don’t plan to use the milk by then, freeze it as soon as possible. Frozen milk can typically be stored for up to a year, although using it within six months is preferable. [8] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Troubleshoot your storage situation. Make sure you put milk in the back of the freezer, not near the door, and make sure it’s cold enough (if your ice isn’t frozen solid, you need a colder setting). Also close any other food containers nearby to prevent the milk from absorbing smells of other frozen items. [9] X Research source

Express an ounce or two of milk and keep it on the side at room temperature. Taste it every hour after you pumped it, and take note of when it starts to taste bad. [10] X Research source Unfortunately, some women will have to scald their milk right away after pumping, because it goes bad within an hour or two. Others have it a little luckier and can scald their milk in a larger batch every evening or even every day or two, if it tastes fine until that point.

Many mothers may find that it takes a day or more for their milk to taste bad enough for their baby to reject it. If this is the case for you, plan to pump each day what you will feed the baby the next day. You’ll only need to scald any excess milk that you plan to store for longer.

The models on the market vary, but if you’re buying a warmer online from a site with a Q&A section, you can often read existing answers, or ask a new question, to determine if the bottle warmer will be suitable for scalding.

Prepare this ice bath before you heat the milk, so that you can cool it quickly once it gets to the right temperature.

Depending on your bottle warmer, you may need to experiment with settings. Start with 5 minutes and go up or down from there as needed. [17] X Research source Once you know how long it takes with your typical quantity of milk in your warmer, you’ll be able to set the timer to match those needs every time.

Follow regular freezing and thawing procedures, and the milk should be ready for your babe when they need it.

If you only use it for scalding, you’ll also know it’s not contaminated by other food products.

Putting hot glass into an ice bath may cause it to shatter. Some women also fear heating up plastic. If you’re worried about this, opt for a stainless steel baby bottle or stainless steel water bottle. [23] X Research source A glass measuring jug will fit most baby or breast milk storage bottles, so it makes a good ice bath container. If you’re scalding a big batch and using a bigger bottle, try an ice bucket. Prepare this ice bath before you heat the milk, so that you can cool it quickly once it gets to the right temperature.

Once the milk has cooled a little, you can put a cap on your bottle and move the ice bath to the fridge. Let it cool the rest of the way before transferring to other bottles or bags as needed for storage.

Follow proper freezing and thawing procedures, and milk should be ready and tasty for your baby when they need it.