Yogurt has long been considered a nutritious and versatile food choice, offering numerous health benefits thanks to its high nutrient content and probiotics. But what if you need to store it for an extended period? How can you preserve the favourable qualities that make yogurt so beneficial? In this blog post, we’ll discuss whether you can freeze yogurt, the effects of freezing on this dairy product, and the proper methods for safe storage and use.
To answer your burning question: yes, you can freeze yogurt. However, there is more to consider when handling and consuming frozen yogurt. We will cover topics ranging from the impact of freezing on yogurt’s nutrients and probiotics to how to properly freeze and thaw yogurt to how to incorporate it into various recipes. Let’s begin with a closer look at the nutritional content of yogurt.
Did you know?
One of yogurt’s standout features is its nutritional content. It carries many nutrients needed for health. Probiotics and essential nutrients are its star features. Both are key for digestion and overall health.
Loads of helpful live bacteria, known as probiotics, live in yogurt. Such bacteria support gut health and support digestion. They might even boost immunity! This sets yogurt apart from other dairy products.
Yogurt has lots of protein, calcium, potassium, and B vitamins. These nutrients are key for our bodies. They’re important for muscle growth, bone health, and body functions.
Before we dive deeper, here’s a quick look at what each nutrient does in the body:
| Nutrient | Key Functions |
|---|---|
| Protein | Helps repair muscles and cells |
| Calcium | Good for bones, nerves, and muscles |
| Potassium | Helps balance fluids, aids nerve impulses and muscle contractions |
| B Vitamins | Supports energy metabolism, nervous system, and red blood cell production |
You’re wondering if you can freeze yogurt, right? Well, you can. Let’s delve deeper into this process.
Frozen yogurt, also known as “froyo,” is simply yogurt kept at low temperatures. We often enjoy store-bought frozen yogurt like ice cream. Yet, it keeps a bit of its nutrition.
Freezing yogurt can serve many purposes. It can extend shelf life and provide a nice cold treat. Proper freezing techniques keep its nutrition and probiotics intact. So, it’s good for both long-term storage and usage.
Freezing affects yogurt in various ways. Let’s take a peek at how it retains freshness, flavour, changes texture, and extends shelf life.
The good news is that proper freezing helps keep yogurt fresh and tasty. This is subjective, however. Even after freezing, the nutrients and probiotics stay largely the same. So, you get the same health benefits from eating it.
After freezing and defrosting, yogurt tends to get grainy or thinner. This is due to water and milk solids parting ways. As a result, it feels different in your mouth. But, the nutrition stays more or less the same.
Freezing yogurt, it lasts one or two months instead of one or two weeks. This gives you more flexibility with your storage. Plus, it helps avoid wasted yogurt due to spoilage.
Apart from being high in calcium, proteins, vitamins and minerals, yogurt is rich in probiotics and helps enhance the gut microbiota and probably boosts the immune system as well.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
It’s fair to wonder if the live bacteria in yogurt can take the freeze. Let’s dive into their nature and how they cope with the frost.
Live bacteria like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus live in our yogurt. They’re known as probiotics. They help with gut health, digest food, and can bump up your immunity.
While these probiotics favour warmer climes, evidence shows they can make it through freezing. This is good news. Their survival means you still benefit from consuming yogurt after freezing.
As you thaw frozen yogurt, the live bacteria wake up. They come out of their freeze-induced rest. Then they get active again and are ready to do their job.
Frozen yogurt is a healthy Alternative, because it’s low calorie compared to yogurt, but the number of good bacteria in the yogurt decreases with freezing.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Freezing induces some changes in yogurt’s texture. It’s good to know how this happens. Then we can manage expectations and alter the use of frozen yogurt as needed.
The main change in thawed yogurt’s texture is a grainy or thin feel. When you freeze it, the water and milk solids part. This change affects how it feels in your mouth.
Want to cut down on possible texture problems? Stir well or blend your thawed yogurt. This brings back some smoothness. Thawed yogurt texture works great in recipes where texture doesn’t matter much.
Also Read: Is Tzatziki Good For You? A Research-Based Health Analysis
So how should you go about freezing yogurt? Here are some tips.
Ready to freeze your yogurt? Check first if it has added stabilizers. Stabilizers help stop separation during freezing. So yogurts with stabilizers freeze and defrost smoother.
Here’s a list of common stabilizers in yogurt:
What do stabilizers do? They keep yogurt together. They do so by keeping proteins in structure. That way, the yogurt stays smooth during freezing.
One simple way to freeze yogurt is to just pop the container in the freezer. This works for single servings and bigger tubs. However, the yogurt may expand and crack the seal. So, put the container in a freezer bag.
Another way is to put your yogurt in small containers safe for the freezer. This prevents the yogurt from growing too much as it freezes. Plus, any fruit or grains are distributed evenly.
Fancy a quick, fluffy smoothie? Put your yogurt in an ice cube tray and freeze it. Move the frozen cubes to a freezer bag after they freeze. These cubes can easily be mixed with your other ingredients.
You can also freeze Greek yogurt as scoops on a baking sheet with parchment paper. After it freezes, move the scoops to a bag. This makes it easy to portion out later.
To defrost your yogurt, leave it in the fridge overnight. If you thaw it at room temperature, you risk growing bacteria. So, eat thawed yogurt then and there.
Plan to use your yogurt? Move it to the fridge the night before. This makes sure it stays cool and won’t grow harmful bacteria.
In a hurry? You can soften yogurt at room temp for 2 hours. But, don’t try this with raw milk yogurt. It might have dangerous bacteria like E. coli.
Before using your thawed yogurt, stir it well. Was there a lot of water separation? Consider blending the yogurt for added smoothness.
You may not like the texture of thawed yogurt straight off. However, it can work well in various recipes.
You can enjoy frozen yogurt straight from the freezer. It makes a cool treat and can be used in popsicles, or scooped out like ice cream. Though it might be firmer than store-bought froyo.
Thawed yogurt can add value to certain recipes. For example, smoothies, marinades or baked goods. This hides any undesirable changes in texture while keeping its benefits.
Let’s revisit why yogurt is good for you:
Probiotics in yogurt help your gut. They aid digestion and may even improve mood.
Yogurt’s high protein content and few calories could help control your weight. They reduce hunger and calorie intake.
Probiotics in yogurt have been linked to stronger immunity and less swelling. That’s great for your overall health.
If you want your yogurt to last longer, freezing is a practical choice. Even if the texture changes a bit, you can still use thawed yogurt in many recipes. You’ll still get all its health benefits.
Follow the proper steps for storing, freezing, and defrosting. Then you can keep your yogurt’s good bacteria alive. You’ll also enjoy yummy snacks or meals. So, fear not! Freeze your yogurt. Enjoy all the health bonus points it brings.
Yes, store-bought yogurt can be frozen. Just follow the methods mentioned above for proper storage and freezing.
The best way to freeze yogurt depends on your intended use and personal preference. Consider one of the methods outlined above, such as using the original container, a freezer-safe container, an ice cube tray, or scooping it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Yes, you can freeze yogurt to eat like ice cream. Note that the texture may be firmer compared to store-bought frozen yogurt or ice cream, but it still makes a refreshing and healthy snack.
Yogurt lasts for one to two months in the freezer. Although it can be stored for longer periods, the quality of its taste and texture may decline after two months.
Eating yogurt every day within the recommended intake limits can provide numerous health benefits, such as improved gut health, weight management, and a boost in immunity. Be sure to choose yogurts low in added sugars and high in protein to maximize these benefits.
Yoghurt, favourite among kids as well as adults, is considered a superfood because it has innumerable health benefits. Yoghurt is rich in nutrients. It is an amazing source of proteins and calcium. It also contains B complex vitamins, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. It improves metabolism and provides a feeling of satiety.
Made from bacterial fermentation of milk, it is this very process that provides it with beneficial properties. Probiotics like Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are used to make yoghurt. They ferment milk and convert the lactose in milk to lactic acid.
Lactic acid thus produced, coagulates the proteins present in milk, thereby giving it a thick texture and sour taste. Yoghurt thus obtained, can be enjoyed as it is or sweetened or flavoured with fruits as per choice. You can add yoghurt to a variety of dishes or make smoothies out of it.
Did you know?
The difference between curd and yoghurt is subtle, both are dairy products made through somewhat similar methods. In yoghurt, bacteria are added to ferment the milk, producing lactic acid which gives yoghurt its texture and tangy taste. Curd on the other hand is made by adding acidic substances like lemon juice, vinegar or rennet to the milk which results in coagulation or curdling.
Yoghurt contains lactobacillus bacteria and some other bacteria, making it one of the top choices for naturally produced probiotics. Curds also contain some amount of bacteria, but not as much as yoghurt.
Another difference between yoghurt and curds is that the curds can often be further processed to make cheese. Yoghurt and curds are both available in plain form or can be flavoured and sold as desserts and beverages. Lastly, while both curd and yoghurt contain lower amounts of lactose, yoghurt is more preferable for people with lactose intolerance.
Did you know that a 150g serving of whole milk plain yogurt can provide about 31% of your daily riboflavin requirement, while low-fat plain yogurt can provide about 30%? Additionally, the same serving of each type of yogurt can provide 23% and 45% of your daily thiamin requirement, respectively. Including yogurt in your diet is a tasty way to boost your intake of these important vitamins.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
Consuming yoghurt every day, keeps our bowel movements regular and improves our body’s flora. It kills the harmful bacteria in the gut and makes our digestive system healthier. [1]
Yoghurt is also found to be effective in lactose intolerance, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria. [2]
Regular consumption of yoghurt enhances our immune system and protects our body from a variety of infections. [3]Yoghurt effectively fights against gastrointestinal infections, respiratory issues like common cold, flu and even cancer.
Magnesium, selenium and zinc in yoghurt also improve immunity. [4] [5] [6]
Yoghurt has anti-carcinogenic properties and is known to protect our body from colon, bladder and breast cancer. [7] [8] [9]
Regular consumption of homemade, unsweetened yoghurt helps to regulate blood sugar levels and is very good for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [10]
Read More: 10 Low GI Fruits for Diabetics
Yoghurt is a rich source of calcium, thus making it ideal for improving bone health. Regular consumption of yoghurt, preserves bone mass and strength, thus reducing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis. [11] [12]
Read More: How to Keep Bones & Joints Healthy?
Daily consumption of yoghurt reduces inflammation in the body. Inflammation is responsible for most autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer and arthritis.
Consuming yoghurt on a regular basis has shown to reduce blood pressure which is a major risk factor for diseases of the heart. [13]
Thus, yoghurt results in reducing the risk of heart diseases.
The high protein content of yoghurt makes us feel full, reduces our appetite and thus decreases our calorie consumption. This, in turn, promotes weight loss. [14]
Probiotics in yoghurt help in reducing anxiety and stress, thus making patients with depression feel better. [15]
Read More: 15 Ways to Treat Depression Naturally
Consuming yoghurt reduces the number of antibodies produced by our immune system in response to any kind of allergy. Probiotics present in yoghurt are responsible for this action [16]
Interestingly, the term “yoghurt” is believed to have originated from the Turkish word “yogurmak,” which means to thicken or curdle. This reflects the unique process of fermenting milk to achieve the thick and creamy texture that we enjoy in yoghurt. It’s fascinating to discover the cultural roots behind this popular and nutritious dairy product.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Also Read: Is Heavy Whipping Cream the Same as Heavy Cream? Decoding Dairy Terms
STEP 1: Firstly heat the milk (use whole milk for thicker and creamier yoghurt) and switch off the gas just before it boils.
STEP 2: Let the milk cool down.
STEP 3: When the milk is just warm to touch, add yoghurt to it and stir well. ( Add around 2 tablespoons of yoghurt to 1 litre of milk).
STEP 4: Then, keep this mixture untouched in a warm place for about 6 to 8 hours ( or overnight).
Your homemade yoghurt will be ready. You can enjoy it as it is or refrigerate for future use.
There are as such no side effects of eating yoghurt but it is recommended to consume homemade yoghurt as commercial ones are loaded with sugars and preservatives which are harmful to us.
It is better to consume homemade yoghurt as commercial varieties may have hidden sugar and preservatives. Eat it as is or have with your meals, top it with fruit or drink up as a beverage.
Also Read: Can You Freeze Yogurt? A Guide to Safe Storage Practices
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