ShelfLife
How long does prepared baby formula last?
A bottle of formula prepared from powder should be used within 1 hour at room temperature, or stored in the fridge and used within 1 day. An opened container of liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula keeps 2 days in the fridge. Throw out what's left in a bottle after a feed. Your pediatrician's or the manufacturer's advice comes first.
| Food | Fridge | Pantry |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared formula from powderAt room temperature, use within 1 hour. | —Opened: 1 day | —Opened: 1 hour |
| Liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed formula, opened | —Opened: 2 days | — |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
When to throw out baby formula
- Formula left in the bottle after a feed: throw it out, as saliva brings in bacteria.
- A prepared bottle that has been at room temperature for more than 1 hour, or in the fridge for more than 1 day.
- Powder that's clumped, discolored or past its use-by date, or a can that's dented, swollen or leaking.
How to store baby formula
- Prepare formula exactly as the label says, with clean hands, bottles and water as recommended.
- If you prepare bottles ahead, refrigerate them straight away and use them within a day.
- Keep powder tightly closed in a cool, dry place, not in the fridge, and use it within the time on the can once opened, usually about a month.
- Write the opening date on the lid.
Can you freeze baby formula?
Manufacturers advise against freezing formula: the fats and proteins separate and its texture changes. Store it as the label says.
Questions
Can you reuse leftover formula from a feed?
No. Once the baby has drunk from the bottle, throw out what's left at the end of the feed.
How long can a prepared bottle sit out?
FoodKeeper gives 1 hour at room temperature. Health agencies also advise using a bottle within 1 hour of starting a feed.
How long does an opened can of powdered formula last?
Follow the label: most manufacturers say about 1 month after opening.
Add formula to ShelfLife with the date you opened the can.
Related foods
- Baby foodFridge (opened): 3 days
- MilkFridge: until the use-by date
- Bottled waterPantry: indefinitely
Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.