Can You Freeze Greek Yogurt?

Greek yogurt offers a thick and creamy texture, a staple in many people’s fridges across the country. 

Most Greek yogurts say on the packaging not to freeze, but I bet, just like us, you’ve heard rumours that there is a way to prolong the life of your beloved yogurt?

Well then, here is some good news for you! You can freeze Greek yogurt! 

Freezing your Greek yogurt gives you longer to enjoy your favorite smoothie, sauce, or breakfast.

The best news about this? Freezing your Greek yogurt won’t change its many nutritional benefits that it provides, it will still stay full of nutrients for you!  

You may lose a few that die as the yogurt’s culture remains dormant in the freezer, but it’s so few that it will be insignificant to you and the nutritional benefits you will be gaining! 

Keep reading for tips on how to freeze and defrost your Greek yogurt, and some handy things to consider when freezing your yogurt!

How to freeze greek yogurt

There are a few different ways to freeze Greek yogurt, so definitely one to suit everyone! 

You can simply pop the yogurt in its original packaging into the freezer, great if you haven’t opened it yet! 

This works too for smaller multi-packs of yogurts or tubed yogurts, great for those with children as you can bulk buy when on offer and store away for future use. 

If you have a larger tub of yogurt you can freeze that too, or pop some in an air-tight container to freeze. 

You can also freeze your Greek yogurt using ice cube trays. Once the cubes are solid, you can pop these in a freezer bag for easy storage. 

Whichever option you choose make sure that the yogurt is sealed and the date clearly labeled on there. You should get two months in the freezer to use the yogurt. 

Any longer and you can run the risk of freezer burn and a change in texture which will make for a less than enjoyable Greek yogurt experience! 

It is worth noting that the yogurt may expand in the freezer, so taking the time to pop the Greek yogurt into an airtight freezer bag may be the best option!

How to defrost Greek yogurt

Defrosting your Greek yogurt is a simple process, but remember to be mindful and defrost safely to avoid any dodgy bellies. 

There are two ways to defrost your Greek yogurt which we will go through now. 

In the fridge:

Defrosting your yogurt in the fridge is the easiest method as it will keep the yogurt cool and stop it spoiling as it thaws. 

Simply remove the yogurt from the freezer and leave it in the fridge overnight. 

It may be worth popping the yogurt on a plate or bowl, as sometimes frozen items can ‘sweat’ while they thaw. Placing it on a plate or bowl will avoid any water gathering on your fridge shelves. 

By the morning, the Greek yogurt should be defrosted and ready to eat. 

On the counter:

For those in a hurry, or forgot to plan ahead the night before, there is a quicker way to defrost your Greek yogurt. 

You can leave the Greek yogurt out (still sealed in its tub or freezer bag) with a plate or bowl underneath for it to defrost. 

This is a quick way to defrost your yogurt and it should be defrosted within two hours. 

Once thawed be sure to eat straight away or put it in the fridge to avoid it spoiling. 

Factors to consider when freezing Greek yogurt

Before you run out to bulk buy (make the most of those bargains!) and freeze your favorite Greek yogurt there are a few factors to consider. 

In d​​​​​a​te?

Before you freeze your Greek yogurt make sure it hasn’t already passed its expiration date as it will still be inedible. 

Similarly if it has already been opened, check for signs that it has not spoiled such as a change in smell, any excess liquid on the top or any signs of mold. 

Changes​?

Greek yogurt can look and feel different after it’s been frozen. 

Similar to milk, Greek yogurt can separate when frozen as the fats separate from the mixture. 

This can leave you with Greek yogurt that is watery, or having developed a grainy texture. 

Fear not, there is a way to fix this! Simply mixing the yogurt with a spoon can help to return some of the smoothness to its consistency. 

Despite the stirring, it may not be as smooth as your usual fresh Greek yogurt. 

Some people, particularly those eating thawed Greek yogurt for the first time find that the change in texture bothers them greatly. 

If you find yourself particular about the texture of your food, try freezing and defrosting a small amount first to reduce any potential waste. 

If the slightly different texture isn’t how you want to eat your Greek yogurt and fruit, you can add it to other recipes. 

Try popping some into your morning smoothie or a marinade where the texture is less likely to be noticed.

Taste?

Some people find that, freezing Greek yogurt impacts the taste as well as texture. After defrosting you may notice a loss of flavor in the Greek yogurt.

Adding it to dishes is a great way to use it without noticing any change in taste.

Summary

Greek yogurt can be frozen for up to two months, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your favorite dishes. 

It can be frozen in its original packaging, although watch for any expansion of the product. An airtight freezer bag will allow room for any expansion. 

Those looking to use the yogurt in smoothies can decant the yogurt into ice cube trays to freeze in convenient sizes.

Defrosting your Greek yogurt is easy to do, by letting it thaw in the freezer overnight or leaving on the counter for no more than two hours. 

It can affect the texture of the yogurt with separation likely and a possible grainy texture. This texture can be fixed by stirring the yogurt once it has thawed.