Can You Freeze Kefir Smoothies?

How to Freeze Kefir Smoothies

Freezing your kefir smoothies is the easy part. It becomes a little trickier when it comes to the point when you want to thaw them out but let’s worry about freezing them first.

1. Prepare Containers
   Find some containers that will be suitable for freezing the kefir smoothies. Ideally, these will be a container with tight-fitting lids. If you have bottles that can be frozen, this can work too but be careful because you need to allow plenty of room for the kefir to expand as it freezes.
2. Portion Out
   Pour the kefir smoothie into the containers. Make sure you leave a gap for the smoothie to expand.
3. Seal
   Put the lid onto the containers and then pop them into a freezer bag. Seal the freezer bag too. This helps to ensure that if any accidents happen with the kefir expanding and breaking, the containers you don’t end up with a mess in the freezer.
4. Seal
   Label with the contents and the date so you know when you use the kefir by.
5. Freeze
   Put the kefir smoothies into the freezer and freeze.

2 Tips for Freezing Kefir Smoothies

Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 2 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing kefir smoothies to have the best results:

• Place in the Coldest Part – To ensure the freshness of your kefir smoothie, put the containers into the very coldest part of your freezer. This helps to ensure they freeze quickly, keeping them as fresh and tasty as possible.
• Stir or Whisk After Thawing – If you find that your kefir smoothie splits or becomes separated when you thaw it out, you can usually fix most of this problem by giving it a stir or a whisk. If you have a protein shaker, then this can also work to help mix the kefir smoothie back up again.

How Long Can You Freeze Kefir Smoothies?

You can keep your kefir smoothies in the coldest part of the freezer for up to three months. After this, you may find the splitting texture worsens, and it can be more difficult to drink the smoothie.

You Can Freeze Kefir Smoothies for up to 6 Months

How Do You Defrost Kefir Smoothies?

You do need to fully defrost your kefir smoothie before drinking it. Unfortunately, this is not a quick process because you need to allow the cultures in it the time to thaw out and come out of their dormant state.

Your best option is to put the frozen kefir smoothie into the fridge and allow it to thaw for about 24 hours. How long this takes will depend on your portion size. The larger the portion, the longer it will take to defrost.

Can You Refreeze Kefir Smoothies?

No, you shouldn’t refreeze your kefir smoothies. Not only do they contain healthy bacteria, but they are made from dairy milk which can degrade in the freezer. You may even add some harmful bacteria to the mix and make yourself ill.

Do Kefir Smoothies Freeze Well?

Whether or not kefir smoothies freeze well is a bit of a yes and no type of answer. In theory, yes, they do freeze fairly well. They are safe to freeze, and you won’t kill the healthy bacteria contained within them. It is actually the dairy that is the problem.

As with most dairy products, it doesn’t freeze well and can split when you thaw it out. Although, you should be able to mix it back up again to still enjoy the healthy kefir smoothie.

Related FAQs

If you’ve still got questions about freezing kefir smoothies or smoothies in general, then these may help:

Does Freezing Kefir Kill the Probiotics?

There is no evidence to suggest that freezing kefir kills probiotics. Instead, it puts them into a dormant state. As you thaw kefir, you wake up the probiotics, and you get all the benefits once again.

Can You Freeze Probiotic Drinks?

Probiotic drinks can be frozen in the same way as kefir. The important aspect is to ensure the drink is stored in an airtight container. If air can get in, then there’s a chance it will spoil, ruining the taste and health benefits.