Can You Freeze Yoghurt?

5 minutes

Despite frozen yoghurt being a common dessert treat, you can’t assume that yoghurt is easy to freeze or freezes well… Because it doesn’t. So, is yoghurt freezable and how should you freeze it?

How To Freeze Yoghurt

Yoghurt is pretty easy to freeze and the best way is in an unopened container. Just mark it with the date and pop it into the freezer.

However, this isn’t the most convenient, especially if you are freezing leftovers. There are a couple of methods you can choose. Both methods leave you with perfectly portioned amounts of yoghurt to add to your smoothie or baking.

How to Freeze Yoghurt In Containers

For this method, you will need a few small containers with airtight lids and some freezer bags and a Sharpie.

1. Prepare Containers: Prepare your containers. Make sure you have the space for them in the freezer as solid containers can take up a surprising amount of space.
2. Portion Out: Scoop a portion of yoghurt into a container and close the lid. Make sure you leave a good inch gap at the top because yoghurt will expand when it freezes. Make sure the container is airtight.
3. Bag Up: Pop a freezer bag around the container. This helps you to avoid spillages in the freezer and gives you a handy place to write the date on.
4. Freeze: Once you have labelled and dated your yoghurt put it in the freezer and let it freeze for a few hours.

How to Freeze Yoghurt In Scoops

This method takes a little longer as you need to double freeze but the final result is much more convenient. It takes up a lot less space in your freezer and gives you the perfect sized scoops of yoghurt.

This does only work for thicker yoghurts that can hold their own shape, like Greek yoghurt.

1. Line Baking Tray: Lay parchment onto a baking sheet.
2. Scoop Portions Onto Tray: Using an ice cream scoop or a spoon, pop a scoop of yoghurt onto the parchment. Make sure you leave a gap between each scoop to allow the yoghurt to expand.
3. Freeze: Pop the baking sheet into the freezer. You need to lay it flat and allow the yoghurt to freeze for a few hours.
4. Bag Up: When the yoghurt has completely frozen take it out of the freezer and grab a freezer bag.
5. Return to the Freezer: Label the freezer bag with the contents and date and transfer your frozen yoghurt scoops into the bag. They should remain separate enough for you to grab a scoop or two out of the bag as you need it.

How to Freeze Different Yoghurts

Yoghurts come in many forms. There are plain, natural yoghurts, flavoured ones and super thick and creamy varieties. But can you freeze all types of yoghurt? 

How to Freeze Natural Yoghurt

You can freeze natural yoghurt as well and use the same methods as you can any other type of yoghurt.

One thing to be a little more aware of with natural yoghurts containing probiotics is that the freezing process is likely to kill off some of the natural good bacteria these yoghurts are packed with.

How to Freeze Greek Yoghurt

Greek yoghurt is perfect for freezing. Its thick consistency makes it a brilliant choice for using method two and having handy frozen scoops of yoghurt in a bag.

Greek yoghurt is a fantastic type of yoghurt to choose for both baking and smoothies. The creamy texture adds depth and flavour and it’s packed with protein and good for you too.

How to Freeze Soya Yoghurt

Soya yoghurt is a great alternative to dairy yoghurt and luckily you can treat it the same way you can dairy when it comes to freezing.

As with dairy-based yoghurts the texture and taste won’t quite be the same after thawing but for cooking, baking and smoothies it should still be fine.

3 Tips for Freezing Yoghurt

Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing yoghurt to have the best results:

Label Clearly
If you’ve frozen a range of yoghurt types (such as Greek and Skyr) then you’ll want to include the type on the label so it’s easier to defrost the correct type when you want it. 

Don’t Enjoy For Breakfast
Unfortunately, as is often the case with dairy products, the texture will change and it will become a little split and grainy making it unenjoyable as a breakfast option. Instead, use frozen yoghurt in desserts, smoothies and baked goods. 

Try Ice Cubes
If you’re going to use the yoghurt in a smoothie then consider freeze it into ice cubes which you can pop directly into your blender.

How Long Can You Freeze Yoghurt?

You can freeze any kind of yoghurt for about 6 to 8 weeks which isn’t the longest of times but it is perfect if you have a little leftover yoghurt to use at a later date.

Just don’t bulk freeze yoghurt in large amounts unless you know you are likely to use it within two months.

How Do You Defrost Yoghurt?

If you are adding your frozen yoghurt to smoothies then there is no need to thaw. Just pop the amount you want into your blender with the rest of the ingredients and blend. This will add a lovely creamy texture to the smoothie.

If you do want to thaw it out to use then yoghurt, as with any dairy is one of those food items you want to take care with when defrosting. No one wants to get sick from thawed out yoghurt! So make sure you follow these steps.

1. Remove from Freezer: Take your yoghurt out of the freezer the day before you want to use it.
2. Place In Fridge: Pop it into the fridge and allow it to thaw slowly overnight. Don’t try and speed up the freezing process as this can alter the texture further.
3. Use Within 24hrs: Once your yoghurt is thawed you need to keep it in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.

Can You Refreeze Yoghurt?

The answer to this question is pretty simple! No, don’t refreeze yoghurt once it has been frozen and thawed out. The texture change will be too much and it might make you sick.

If your frozen yoghurt has been out of the freezer for more than a few hours or not been kept in the fridge then you will also need to throw it away.

Do Yoghurts Freeze Well?

Whilst you can freeze yoghurt, this isn’t a food item that freezes well at all.

Dairy products, on the whole, don’t freeze well as the proteins and fats tend to separate and cause a grainy texture that many people find unpleasant.

However, frozen yoghurt is perfectly fine if you want to use it as an ingredient in cooking, baking or smoothies.

Related FAQs

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