Jun 23 2006
How to Store EBM
Someone asked me how do I store my ebm. I use 3 types of containers to store them.
It depends on whether I am expressing for freezing or for chilling - those that I intend to use for next day will be chilled, and to be kept longer will be frozen. It also depends on whether I express in the KL office/ at home, or when travelling.
For those that I express for next day consumption, I usually keep them in milk bottles. MIL can just warm them up and use straight away.
For those that I express for future usage as well as those that I express when traveling, I prefer to keep them in plastic bags, coz I cannot afford to buy hundreds of bottles. Also, bottles are heavier to be carried when traveling.
There are 2 types of plastic bags I use, depends on the amount that I’m storing. For 3-5oz, I’d keep them in the 8oz Playtex Disposable Bottle Liners. It used to cost me only RM27 for a box of 80 pcs 2 years ago, but now the price has increased to around RM45+. I asked my colleague in US to bring me 2 boxes, which cost me only USD13! Each bag can store 4-5 oz max, though they are 8oz bags - coz I need to leave some space to allow liquid to expand when frozen, and to allow me to seal them.
Oh, I seal them with the sealing clips that can be bought in IKEA - I only use the small ones, and the big ones —> I just didn’t know what to do with them, and I gave them all out to relatives. 
If I am storing 1oz or 2oz, then using the bottle liner is too expensive or not worthy. Then, I’d use the Ice-Cream Batang bag - those that we use to make homemade ice tube. The challenge is usually how to pour the ebm into the tube without any ‘accident’. In the begining when I haven’t mastered the skill, I accidentally poured out on the table, or even dropped the whole bag of 2oz on the floor. 
As to how do I warm up the EBM? For the frozen ones, thaw them in running water for 5 min first. Pour the ebm in the feeding bottle and soak in hot water for 5 min. I found this more effective and easier to handle than the Bottle Warmer that I bought - money wasted. 
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wah! can open store liao
Err.. why don’t you store them in the plastic “sauce” container? The bigger ones can store up to 3.5 ounces and a whole pack of 100 containers + lid costs only around RM6, depending where you buy them from…
sue: my previous experience with the container is, when thaw, easy to leak wor… any tips to prevent that?
I used the Avent disposable liners. I asked my fren to buy for me fr US. Only US$4 per box of 100 liner each. I asked her to buy 4 boxes for me. Each liner can hold max 8 ounce, but i only keep max 4 ounce each. Maybe can consider that next time. Cheaper than Playtex, if buy fr US la.
shooi: thanks for the tips. I’m going to US again this Sep, will look out for that.