Can you freeze yogurt? Yes, for cooking and smoothies
Yes. Yogurt keeps 1 to 2 months in the freezer, but it thaws thinner and grainier, so use it in smoothies, oats and baking. How to freeze and thaw it.
By Zain Nazeer, founder and editor
Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash
Yes, you can freeze yogurt. It keeps 1 to 2 months in the freezer for best quality, according to the USDA FoodKeeper. Freezing does not make it unsafe, but it changes the texture: thawed yogurt is thinner and can look grainy or separated. That makes it fine for smoothies, overnight oats, baking and sauces, and less pleasant on its own from a bowl.
How long does yogurt last?
- In the fridge: 1 to 2 weeks from the day you buy it, and no later than the date on the pot.
- In the freezer: 1 to 2 months for best quality.
- Thawed in the fridge: use within a few days and do not refreeze it.
How do you freeze yogurt?
- Freeze it in its sealed pot, or spoon it into small containers or an ice cube tray for smoothie portions.
- Leave a little space at the top, because it expands.
- Label it with the date.
Greek yogurt and full-fat yogurt freeze with the least change, because they contain less water. Fruit-on-the-bottom pots freeze too, but stir them well after thawing.
How do you thaw frozen yogurt?
In the fridge overnight, then stir hard to bring it back together. Do not thaw it on the counter. Smoothie cubes can go straight into the blender from frozen. More in how to thaw meal prep safely.
What can you make with frozen yogurt?
- Overnight oats: thawed yogurt mixes in as well as fresh; see high-protein overnight oats.
- Smoothies: add the frozen cubes straight in.
- Baking: muffins, pancakes and baked oatmeal; see baked oatmeal and blender protein pancakes.
- Marinades and sauces for chicken.
More ideas are in Greek yogurt in meal prep.
Is frozen yogurt the same as yogurt you freeze at home?
No. Shop-bought frozen yogurt is made to be eaten frozen, with sugar and stabilisers. Plain yogurt frozen at home is hard and icy straight from the freezer, so thaw it before eating.
Which other dairy foods freeze?
Hard cheese freezes reasonably well for cooking; see can you freeze cheese. The USDA does not recommend freezing cottage cheese or sour cream, which separate badly. For the full list, see foods that do not freeze well.
Sources
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