As mothers, we know that every single drop of breast milk is liquid gold — the result of hours of pumping, nurturing, and showing up for our little ones around the clock. But what happens when life changes — when maternity leave ends, when travel calls, when your freezer starts to overflow, or you just want a little more breathing room in your routine?

That’s where freeze-drying comes in. And no — it’s not just for astronauts or strawberries anymore.

At The Milk Fairy, we use advanced freeze-drying technology to preserve your breast milk in its most potent, shelf-stable form — without compromising its nutritional value. But how does freeze-drying actually work? And why is it a safe, science-backed method for storing breast milk long term?

Let’s walk you through the magic — science first, fairy dust second ✨

What Is Freeze-Drying?

Freeze-drying, or lyophilisation, is a preservation process that removes water from a substance without using heat — keeping its structure, nutrients, and bioactivity intact.

It’s a three-phase process:

1. Freezing

First, we freeze your breast milk to a temperature well below zero — typically around -40°C. At this stage, the water in the milk turns into ice. Unlike regular freezing, where ice crystals can damage cells over time, freeze-drying locks in the structure at a molecular level.

2. Primary Drying (Sublimation)

This is where the magic happens. We place the frozen milk in a vacuum chamber. Under these conditions, the ice bypasses the liquid phase and transforms directly into vapour — a process called sublimation. This step removes up to 95% of the water in the milk, while preserving its delicate compounds.

3. Secondary Drying (Desorption)

Next, we raise the temperature ever so slightly to gently remove any remaining moisture. At the end of this phase, the milk is left as a fine, dry powder — with a water activity (aw) low enough to inhibit microbial growth and degradation. This means it can now be safely stored for years, not months, without refrigeration.

What Happens to Breast Milk Nutrients During Freeze-Drying?

Breast milk isn’t just food — it’s a living, dynamic fluid made of fats, proteins, immune cells, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.

Unlike traditional dehydration methods (like heat drying or pasteurisation), freeze-drying doesn’t damage these compounds. Because the process happens at ultra-low temperatures without heat, studies have shown that freeze-dried breast milk retains:

• Antibodies (like secretory IgA)

• White blood cells

• Lactoferrin & lysozyme (natural antimicrobials)

• Prebiotics and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)

• Fats and essential amino acids

This makes freeze-dried milk the next best thing to fresh or frozen — just without the limitations.

So, How Does The Milk Fairy Do It?

At The Milk Fairy, we take your frozen breast milk, process it in our food-safe, temperature-controlled lab in Victoria, and return it to you as shelf-stable powder — ready to use, wherever and whenever you need it.

Here’s how it works:

1. You Send Us Your Frozen Milk

We provide you with a prepaid shipping kit — complete with insulated packaging, ice bricks, and clear instructions. You pop your labelled milk bags inside and send it off to us overnight.

2. We Freeze-Dry It With Care

Once it arrives, your milk is tracked, batched, and freeze-dried in small, individual runs — we never mix milk from different mums. Your milk is then vacuum-sealed into sterile, labelled pouches that are food-grade and light- and moisture-resistant.

3. You Receive Your Powdered Milk

We ship it back in our signature Milk Fairy box — complete with your baby’s name, a rehydration guide, and storage tips. Each pouch contains your milk, preserved and ready to use for up to 3 years.

Why Do Mums Choose Freeze-Drying?

There’s no “one right way” to feed your baby — and our service is here to support your choices, not replace them. But freeze-drying can be an incredible solution for:

• Returning to work — Send powdered milk to daycare without the daily pump grind.

• Travel — No fridge? No problem. Powdered milk is airport-, car-, and suitcase-friendly.

• Freezer overload — Clear space and turn old milk into something you can actually use.

• Emergency prep — Keep backup milk that doesn’t rely on power or ice.

• Donor milk storage — If you’re donating or sharing, freeze-dried milk is easier to store, ship, and rehydrate safely.

Is It Safe?

Yes — when done properly, freeze-drying is a safe, scientifically sound process. We follow food safety regulations, hygienic handling, and batch tracking at every step. Our lab is designed to ensure no contamination and full traceability.

Breast milk freeze-drying has been studied in multiple countries, including America, Spain, Italy, and Australia, and is increasingly used in neonatal settings, milk banks, and even by the military for infant feeding in remote areas.

We aren’t just about the science though — we’re also about the story.

Your milk tells the story of your love, your sacrifice, and your strength. And we’re here to honour that — one pouch at a time.