Show Contents
Hide Contents
Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for infants. That is why it is much emphasized that nursing mothers ensure their babies get enough supply. However, producing breast milk can be tricky sometimes for some mothers. Some may produce too much milk that the baby needs at that time. This usually leads to wastage.
It is advised that mothers store their breastmilk for rainy days instead of throwing them away when it gets too much. That is why breast milk storage kits such as storage bags, breast milk trays, etc. are important.
Breast milk tray, unlike breast milk storage bags, is a container with compartments the same as ice cubes. However, they are not because breast milk trays are designed storing for breast milk while ice trays are not. But breast milk trays can be used to make ice as well as store other baby foods thanks to the food-grade materials used in making them.
Unlike storage bags and bottles, the build of breast milk trays helps to allow the milk stored there to freeze faster as well as defrost faster. Also, they are stackable. This helps mothers to utilize the storage space in the freezer better. The trays also come with lids that help to protect the milk from getting contaminated and well as external conditions in the freezer. The trays are reusable. All you have to do is ensure they are cleaned properly after use.
It is not easy to pump milk directly into breast milk storage trays. In most cases, you have to first pump the milk into another container, most likely a bottle. You then transfer the milk from the bottle to the storage trays. This process has to be done in the most hygienic way possible to avoid contamination.
There are different materials used in making breast milk trays. However, they have to be food grade, BPA-free, among others. There are plastic breast milk freezer trays, which are the most popular breast milk trays on the market, and silicone breast milk freezer tray. The latter is more expensive, but they do a good job of freezing and defrosting.
There are important guidelines that are meant to be followed when freezing and defrosting breast milk. These guidelines are provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the CDC. It is recommended that parents should only freeze amounts of milk that are needed for feeding at one go. But mothers can also freeze milk for long durations such as six months and above at a certain temperature of 00F or below.
Defrosting can be a bit trickier. How to defrost breast milk ice cubes is a question that bothers most mothers, and this kind of worry is valid. For a start, ensure you defrost the oldest breast milk before new ones. Never defrost your iced breast milk in a microwave or boiling water. Instead, you can defrost your breast milk using warm or lukewarm water or move it to the refrigerator overnight. After defrosting, ensure the milk is given to your baby within two hours. Do not refreeze breast milk after it has been defrosted.
The Nine Best Breast Milk Trays Are Reviewed Below
Getting the right breast milk tray is essential. Since they would be used to store food that your baby will take, it is important to make sure they are safe. Another thing to look out for is the ease of use. How easy can you remove the iced breast milk from the tray? What is the storage capacity? All these and more are important to take into account. That is why we have compiled some of the best breast milk trays on the market to ease your decision-making process.
1
Milkies Milk Trays
Milkies Milk Trays are arguably one of the most popular breast milk trays in the world. They are known for producing top-notch breast milk storage products such as bags, trays, etc.
The tray has eight compartments, all of which are 1 0z, respectively. This means that you can get 1 oz of ice cube from each compartment of the tray. Each section is designed straight like sticks, unlike the traditional cube shape, thereby earning the name milk sticks. These milk sticks are easy to remove, and thanks to their width, they fit in most bottle openings, especially baby bottles. The trays are made from food-grade plastic, which is BPA free. It is relatively easy to remove the milk sticks because the tray is flexible. It does not end there, the trays are reusable, and they can be recycled. You can use the tray to make ice cubes when you no longer need trays to store milk.
Key Features:
- Eight 1 0z compartments
- Milk sticks
- Food-grade plastic
- BPA-free, phthalates, and dye-free
- Flexible
Specification:
- Brand: Milkies
- Product: Milk Trays
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is easy to use
- The iced milk is easy to transfer into bottles
- It is BPA, phthalates, and dye-free
- It is reusable
Cons
- It is not always easy when removing the cubes from the tray.
2
Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food and Breast Milk Trays
This breast milk tray offers larger storage capacity thanks to its 12 sections designed for storing milk. Each partition can make an ice cube from half to one ounce. The trays are made for storing breast milk and other baby foods.
Not only is it a tray with twelve sections, but it also comes in doubles. That is, you get two trays in one purchase. The lids have different colors offering a nice aesthetic view.
You can remove the iced breast milk cubes by running warm water on the base of the tray for a short time while it is covered. When you removed the lid and twist the tray, the cubes will pop out easily.
The milk trays are stackable. So, you can arrange as many trays that your freezer can accommodate.
The trays are made for FDA approved food-safe materials. They are BPA, phthalate, and lead-free. The trays are dishwasher-safe; however, the lids may not do well under the dishwasher as the temperature can distort the shape of the lid.
Key Features:
- ½ to 1 0z cubic partition
- 12 partitions
- Food-grade materials
- Stackable
- Dishwasher-safe
- Two trays
Specification:
- Brand: Fresh Baby
- Product: So easy baby food and breast milk trays
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- Decent storage capacity
- It is reusable
- The trays are stackable
- It is free from harmful materials
Cons
- The lid is not dishwasher safe
3
WEESPROUT Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray with Clip-on Lid
The WEESPROUT Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray offers users a considerable storage capacity. It has ten sections where each section is designated as 1.5 oz. However, to make storage measurement easier and allow for smaller servings, each section is made to have a 1 oz mark.
You can easily transfer your milk into this tray without the fear of spilling the milk. The tray is made from food-grade silicone while the tray is made from plastic. Although there have been complaints about the silicone trays giving the milk or ice cubes stored in them an unpleasant taste, this can be corrected by boiling the trays in water for some time before using them.
The lid is easy to remove and allows for other trays to be stacked on it. Both the tray and the lid are dishwasher-safe. The tray can be used in the microwave or oven at a temperature not exceeding 425 Fahrenheit. However, you should never microwave your breast milk. The trays can be used to store other baby foods as well as make ice cubes.
The materials used in making this tray are BPA, lead, phthalate, and PVC-free. Also, the product has an excellent lifetime guarantee.
Key Features:
- Plastic lid
- Silicone tray
- Ten 1.5 oz sections
- Microwavable
Specification:
- Brand: WeeSprout
- Product: Silicone Baby Food Freezer Tray with Clip-on Lid
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is easy to use
- Reasonable storage capacity
- It is dishwasher-safe and microwavable
- It has a long guaranty
Cons
- The color of the silicone tray can leach into the food
- It does not entirely shield the milk from odor
4
Silicone Baby Food Storage Tray
This is another 1 0z breast milk ice cube tray that does its job well. It is made from food-grade plastic and silicone material. It comes as two trays with having one snap-on lid each.
This silicone breast milk freezer makes it very easy to remove iced cubes of whatever food is stored on them thanks to their silicone liner. The total number of sections is eighteen. Meaning you get ample storage space, which also means less food gets wasted. They are stackable; therefore, they allow for more storage.
The trays are dishwasher-safe, as well as microwave safe. They fit well in bottles with wide openings. The trays, along with their lids, are BPA and phthalate-free.
Key Features:
- Silicone liner
- Snap-on lids
- Eighteen sections
- 1 oz per section
Specification:
- Brand: Sprout cups
- Product: Silicone Baby Storage Tray
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is easy to use
- It is stackable
- It has ample storage capacity
- It is dishwasher and microwave safe
Cons
- The ice may be hard to pop out sometimes.
5
OXO Tot 2-Piece Baby Food Freezer Tray with Silicone Lid
OXO is a popular brand renowned for making high-quality baby products, among others, and their 2-Piece baby food freezer tray does not fall short from that standard.
The trays are made of hard plastic, while the lids are made from food-grade silicone material. The silicone lid helps to prevent the freezer odor from getting absorbed into the baby food. It also prevents freezer burn. Also, its shape makes it easy to stack more trays on it.
The shape of the ice cubes makes them easy to remove. The tray has six sections, with each section making a 1-oz cube of breast milk and other baby foods, respectively.
The tray is top-rack dishwasher-safe as well as BPA, phthalate, and PVC-free.
Also, the tray comes as a set of two. Therefore, you can make up to twelve 1-ounce cubes of baby food.
Key Features:
- Hard plastic tray
- Silicone lid
- Six sections per tray
- 1 ounce per section
Specification:
- Brand: OXO Tot
- Product: 2-Piece Baby Food Freezer Tray
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is easy to use
- The iced cubes are easy to remove
- It is dishwasher-safe
- Prevents odors
Cons
- Does not prevent freezer burn for long
6
Kiddo Feedo Baby Food Storage Container and Freezer Tray
These containers are made with food-grade silicone, both the tray and the lid. They do well in preventing bacteria, odor as well as stain from entering into the store food. They are ideal for storing breast milk and other baby foods.
The trays have nine sections, with each section having up to 2.5 oz storage capacity. Also, in each section, there is a 1 oz and 2 oz marking, which makes it easy to store breast milk at designed ounces. The shape of each section and the total design of the tray makes it easy to release the cubes.
You can use this tray to make breast milk ice cubes for your baby as they continue to grow even when they are teething. Besides breast milk and other baby foods, you can use these trays for a variety of foods such as sous vide egg bites, etc. or even store yogurt, among others.
They are dishwasher, oven, microwave, and freezer-safe. Also, they do not contain unsafe materials such as BPA, lead, nitrosamines, PVC, and Phthalates.
Key Features:
- Silicone tray and a clip-on lid
- Nine sections
- 2.5 ounce per section, with 1 0z and 2 0z markings
Specification:
- Brand: Kiddo Feedo
- Product: Baby Food Storage Container and Freezer Tray
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is very easy to use
- The cubes can be popped easily
- It can be used to store and prepare different kinds of food
- Dishwasher, oven, and microwave safe
Cons
- The odor prevention can sometimes be not what you would expect.
7
Mumi & Bubi Solids Starter kit
The Mumi & Bubi solids starter kit comes as two reusable baby food freezer storage trays. They are versatile in application and have ample storage capacity.
They can be used to store breast milk and other baby food without the worry of freezer burn. Also, the snug fit lids help to prevent food spills. The trays and the lids are easy to clean and are top-rack dishwasher-safe. Each of the Mumi & Bubi trays has 21 sections, and they are designed to hold 1 0z, respectively. The combination of the two trays gives an impressive number of 42 storage sections. This is good news, especially for parents that have quite a lot to store.
The cubes are relatively easy to remove from the trays. All you have to do is push the cube from one end, and it will slide out from the other end.
Both the tray and the lid are made from food-grade plastic. They are BPA and PVC free.
Also, the trays come with a 27 recipe E-book.
Key Features:
- Plastic tray and lid
- 21 sections per tray
- 1 oz per section
Specification:
- Brand: Mumi |& Bubi
- Product: Solids Starter Kit, Two Reusable Baby Food Freezer Storage Trays
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- They are easy to use
- It is easy to remove the iced food cube
- The trays have large storage capacities
- They are dishwasher safe
- BPA and PVC free
Cons
- They are a bit pricey.
8
Samuelworld Baby Food Storage Container
This baby food tray can be used to store breast milk, vegetable, fruit purees, and other baby foods. The tray is made of silicone while the clip-on lid is made of FDA approved hard plastic, which is odor as well as bacteria resistant. Both the tray and lid are BPA-free.
The Samuelworld baby, food storage tray, has sufficient storage capacity. It has twelve sections, all of which have a 2.5 oz capacity. This allows parents to store more baby food in this compact tray. The lid design is also making it easy to stack other trays on it.
Apart from breast milk storage, you can use the tray to make other non-baby food. It can be used in the microwave and the oven. The tray is dishwasher-safe
Key Features:
- Silicone lid
- Hard plastic lid
- 12 sections
- 2.5 oz per section
Specification:
- Brand: Samuelworld
- Product: Baby Food Storage Container
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- It is easy to use
- Its application is versatile
- It is dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe
- It is BPA-free
Cons
- The lid is not tight enough.
9
Smeeny Silicone Baby Food Freezer Trays
Smeeny Silicone baby food freezer trays serve as breast milk trays. They can also be used to store other baby foods as well as make non-baby foods.
The trays come in a pack of three. They have four sections, each with each section having a storage capacity of 2.5 0z.
The trays are made from food-grade silicone, and they are also BPA-free. Also, they come as a set of three. This allows you to have more storage space. They are stackable. The Smeeny trays can be used in the oven and microwave. However, this feature does not apply to breast milk. They are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean. It is easy to release the iced cubes from these trays.
Key Features:
- Three silicone trays
- Four sections
- 2.5oz per section
Specification:
- Brand: Smeeny
- Product: Silicone baby food freezer trays
- Breast milk storage
Pros
- They are easy to use
- BPA-free
- Dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe
- They are versatile
Cons
- The lid is not well secure.
Buying Guide Questions
Here are answers to popular questions parents ask regarding breastmilk storage trays as well as storage in general.
Can you freeze breast milk in ice cube trays?
The answer to this question is no. Ice cube trays are not designed to store breast milk. Although you may be tempted to try them, they are ideal for your breast milk and your baby in the long run. If you are looking for a more long-term solution that is comprehensive and is better suite for much larger volumes of milk, then freezer grade storage bags for breast milk would work best.
How do you keep ice cubes with breast milk from sticking to the tray?
Getting a good breast milk tray is important. A normal ice cube would most likely stick to breast milk. Trays designed for breast milk make it easier to remove the ice cubes from them. If the material is the right one, you should have no issues related to breast milk sticking to trays. Also, ensure that the lid of the trays is tight and well fitted. You should not wipe olive oil on the inside of each hole in the tray, unlike what some mothers will say!
Insider Tip: check out these Spectra breast pumps as they just renewed their entire series
Can I freeze breast milk into ice cube trays immediately after pumping?
As highlighted in answer to the first question, breast milk is not meant to be stored on ice cube trays. Rather, you can store your breast milk in breast milk storage trays. After pumping and transferring your milk into the trays, you can store them immediately inside the freezer. It is recommended that you freeze your milk immediately if you won’t be needing them very soon.
What containers can I use to store breast milk?
There are designated containers that you can use to store breast milk. These containers are breast milk storage bottles, bags, and trays. They are made from food-grade materials accompanied by tight-fitting lids, and they are BPA-free. So, when searching for containers that you can use to store breast milk, consider these conditions.
How do you use a breast milk tray in the freezer?
The first thing to do is to remove the breast milk from the freezer. Ensure that your hands are properly washed and sanitized before you do this. After removing the iced breast milk the freezer, you can place them into a container containing warm or lukewarm water. You can also place it under running lukewarm water.
After melting the ice, you can slowly turn the bottle to allow the milk mix properly. Do not mix the milk vigorously as this will lead to the loss of certain nutrients, which is bad for your baby. After going through this process, you can administer breast milk to your baby.
Conclusion
Finally, the storage of baby food helps to serve one on rainy days or even wild snowy days if you are not up to taking them outside. That is why it is important to store. In doing so, ensure that you store your breast milk and other baby foods in a clean environment while using safe containers.
