Yogurt is a very popular dairy product. People often have it for breakfast or as a dessert in a parfait or as frozen yogurt. It is jam-packed full of health benefits and is a great addition to your daily diet.
However, what do you do if you have too much yogurt leftover and can’t use it all by the best-before date? The simple answer is to freeze it and, yes, this is possible. However, is yogurt affected by the freezing process?
Facts About Freezing Yogurt
Freezing affects all dairy products and yogurt (see also Can You Freeze Greek Yogurt) is no exception. It will look a little different when it is defrosted and the taste and texture may not be quite the same. However, it should still be good. If you are a little wary, freeze a small portion of yogurt and then try it when thawed.
This will tell you if you like yogurt that has been frozen. Experiment with different brands to find one that you like. If you’re still not sure about eating yogurt that has been frozen, use it for baking (it works really well in scones, for example.). The end product will taste just as good as if the yogurt was fresh.
It is important to remember that the longer you keep the yogurt in the freezer, the less tasty it will become. It is best to eat it within a few weeks of being frozen.
You may worry that freezing will destroy some of the beneficial cultures in yogurt, but you don’t have to worry too much. Yes, a few will be killed off, but most will just become dormant. As soon as the yogurt is defrosted, the bacterias will become active again. You will still get a lot of goodness out of yogurt that has been frozen.
How to Freeze and How to Thaw Frozen Yogurt
So you have your leftover yogurt ready to be frozen but you’re not sure what to do. Well, avoid freezer bags as they can become messy when you come to thaw out the yogurt. The best thing to use is a rigid plastic container with an airtight lid. You need to have an airtight lid so that the yogurt doesn’t absorb odors from other items of food in the freezer. In addition, this stops freezer burn from occurring. While freezer burn isn’t detrimental to your health, it can alter the appearance of your yogurt.
Yogurt will expand when you put it in the freezer, so ensure that you leave about an inch of headspace in the container to allow it to do this. If you don’t, the container could explode and leave a mess in your freezer.
If you think that you will only need small portions of yogurt at a time, get smaller containers so that you can portion it out.
When it comes to thawing your yogurt, the best thing to do is to put it in the fridge for a few hours. Thawing it slowly should help to stop it from separating, but you might still need to give it a quick whisk. If you want to eat the yogurt and find that it is still a little hard, you can put it in the microwave on defrost for a few seconds. Don’t put it on any heat as warm yogurt is not pleasant.
Can You Freeze Yogurt Parfait
Yogurt parfait is both a delicious and a healthy dessert, but can you freeze it? Yes, of course, you can, but you might lose the original appearance.
The best thing to freeze yogurt parfaits in are jelly jars which can be sealed before putting them in the freezer. This means that they can be kept for longer in the freezer than yogurt frozen in a plastic container. However, as with the containers, yogurt parfait will also expand so make sure that you leave some room at the top of the jar.
As with simple yogurt, you should thaw the parfaits in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. Unfortunately, there may be some separation and you will have to stir it to get rid of your beautiful layers. If you want to add granola to your parfait, do this when it has defrosted.
Is it Possible to Freeze Yogurt to Make Froyo?
Of course, this is possible. Froyo or frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert. However, it does need additional ingredients and processing before you can put it in the freezer. Only then can it become a delicious dessert not dissimilar from ice cream.
You don’t need an ice cream maker to make froyo. A blender will do fine. Combine your yogurt with whatever you like. Frozen fruit is a good addition as is honey (see also Can You Freeze Honey). Add a bit of chocolate or strawberry sauce and blend until smooth. Put it into the freezer for a few hours so that it becomes semi-solid.
Summary
Yogurt is both popular and healthy. If you want to have a regular supply in your freezer, just follow our instructions. The texture and taste may be a little different, but it will still be delicious.
