Can You Freeze Yogurt?

As a devoted yogurt enthusiast who always keeps this ingredient on-hand for smoothies, parfaits, veggie dips, and as an easy snack on its own, I eagerly anticipate grocery store sales that allow me to buy yogurt multi-packs at reduced prices. But I inevitably end up tossing at least a few of those yogurts when I can’t eat them before their expiration date.

In the interest of reducing waste and getting the most out of my yogurt hauls, I wondered whether it's advisable (or even possible) to tuck a few of those yogurt cups in the freezer and defrost them to enjoy at my leisure.

According to yogurt makers, food scientists, and pro chefs, freezing yogurt is possible, and here's what you need to know about this money-saving storage option.

Can You Freeze Yogurt?

Yes, you can freeze yogurt. In fact, anyone who has ever enjoyed a cup of froyo know that. But a frozen dessert and frozen Greek yogurt are not the same thing.

If you’re curious about whether freezing a cup of fridge-temperature yogurt and then eating it after it’s defrosted comes with any health-related risks, we have good news for you: After freezing and defrosting, “the nutritional components [of yogurt], like proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, remain largely unchanged,” says food scientist and author Jessica Gavin.

But there can be some exceptions to this rule. Sheryl Kesey Thompson, VP of marketing for Nancy's Yogurt, mentions that the live probiotics that are present in some yogurt, including Nancy’s, are impacted by the freezing process. "While the live beneficial probiotic bacteria go dormant in the freezing process, they do return to their active state when thawed, but their viability is reduced in the freezing process."  The reduction of probiotics doesn’t make the yogurt less safe to consume, but it may lessen its overall nutritional value.

You also may notice a shift in the yogurt's texture post-defrost. "When you freeze yogurt and then thaw, the yogurt will have a thinner, less creamy texture. Milk naturally contains a good amount of water, which when it’s frozen, [that water] forms an icy texture,” explains Thompson.

Gavin agrees, pointing out that “the fats and proteins can reaggregate, further altering the texture and making it less smooth and creamy.” Luckily, "vigorous stirring can help even out the texture before consuming."

What About Plant-Based Yogurts?

To lessen the risk of textural changes in your thawed yogurt, Gavin encourages you to consider swapping out dairy yogurt for plant-based versions. Plant-based yogurts, like those made from almond, cashew, soy, coconut, or rice, have different protein structures that don’t coagulate and gel like cow's milk proteins.

To help with the texture of the yogurt, stabilizers and thickeners like tapioca starch, rice starch, cornstarch, and pectin are often added. "These additives help maintain consistency, as plant proteins may not aggregate like dairy proteins, leading to less pronounced texture changes after freezing and thawing. The combination of these additives can help plant-based yogurts remain stable and consistent after freezing,” Gavin says.

Ways To Use Frozen and Defrosted Yogurt

Don't let a little change in texture keep you from saving yogurt that might otherwise be headed to the bin. Even if you find that your defrosted yogurt is thinner than you prefer, it’s still possible to make effective use of it.

"Many of our customers opt to freeze their yogurt in order to extend the shelf life. When thawed, they often use it for baking or as a base for their favorite smoothies,” Thompson says.

How To Freeze Yogurt

Freezing yogurt is about as straightforward as it gets: “From three-ounce cups to 32-ounce tubs, it can be frozen directly in the manufacturer's packaging," says corporate executive chef Kelly Anderson. If you’d rather transition the yogurt to a different vessel for easier stacking and freezer organization, yogurt can also be stored in airtight freezer containers.

In any packaging, “yogurt can be safely stored in the freezer at 0ºF (-17.7ºC) for one to two months. Once defrosted, it can last in the refrigerator at 40ºF (4.4ºC) for an additional one to two weeks,” Gavin tells us.

If you’d rather enjoy your freezer-stored yogurt in frozen form, you’ve got options aside from traditional froyo. Yogurt frozen in ice cube trays are brilliant additions to warm-weather smoothies (or you could stick toothpicks in the compartments for mini yogurt pops), or spread a thin layer of yogurt on a baking sheet, sprinkle it with dried fruit, chocolate chips, or nuts, freeze it, and make frozen yogurt bark for a crunchy and satisfying snack.