HOW TO FREEZE NATURAL YOGURT
Yogurt with or without fruit can be frozen.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service assures that you can freeze just about any food, including yogurt. Made from fermented, pasteurized milk without any additional preservatives or fillers, both homemade and commercially available all-natural yogurt can be frozen in serving-sized cups, though the appearance, texture and nutrition may be different when it is thawed.
Preparation
According to major manufacturers of commercially available yogurt and yogurt cups, you can successfully freeze yogurt by simply putting the entire container into the freezer. To ensure even freezing, open the container first and use a spoon to thoroughly stir the yogurt. Then replace the lid, securing it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. If your yogurt is homemade or you only wish to freeze a small portion, place the desired amount in a food- and freezer-safe plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Label the lid with the contents and date.
Considerations
When yogurt is frozen then thawed, it can separate and become grainy and watery. The yogurt may also take on an acidic taste and some of the live bacterial cultures abundant in natural yogurt may be destroyed by the freezing process. However, thawed yogurt is still healthy to eat. If the alteration doesn’t bother you, there’s no reason not to consume thawed yogurt. If the change is a problem, you can use the yogurt in baked goods or eat it while it is still frozen.
Serving Tips
Before putting your yogurt in the freezer, try mixing small, diced pieces of fruit with vodka, then stirring them into the yogurt. The vodka will keep the fruit from turning icy, says The Kitchn. You can also turn yogurt cups into quick ice pops by inserting a wooden stick through the lid of a small yogurt container. “Bon Appetit” recommends freezing small portions of yogurt in ice cube trays, then storing the yogurt cubes in a zip-top bag in the freezer. When you want a quick bowl of frozen yogurt, remove as many cubes as you need.
Freezer Tips
If you freeze whole containers of yogurt, you should keep them only until the “Use By” date located on the outside of the container. Homemade yogurt should be frozen for no longer than one to two months. If you plan on thawing the yogurt completely, do so by placing the container in the refrigerator overnight and do not refreeze. Frozen natural yogurt that’s been thawed and left at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or more for over two hours should be discarded.
Source and photo: SFGATE
