Can yogurts be frozen? I’m sure a lot of us have asked ourselves this question at some point.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, you can freeze nearly all kinds of food and yogurt no exception.
I particularly love yogurts because it gives me a break from the everyday sugary food. From the look to the texture to the sweet sour taste, which I consider really unique, yogurt is just a must have! Aside from being delicious, yogurt is also very nutritious and gives your body the right kind of nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Yogurt, also spelt yoghurt, is a dairy product of milk made from the fermentation of bacteria, called yogurt culture, which produces lactic acid. This lactic acid acts on the milk to give it its texture and tart flavor.
Yogurt is a very popular dairy product and can be used for a variety of foods and recipes. The versatility of yogurt is simply amazing! If you are like me, you are so in love with your yummy and sumptuous yogurt that you sometimes purchase more than you can finish in one go. When this happens, disposing of it should never be an option! There’s a whole lot you can do with it.
It’s an amazing food that you can style the way you want, as well as decide to eat any time of the day — breakfast, appetizer, dessert, snack, you name it.
History of Yogurt – A Brief Trip Through Time
The word yogurt is said to have come from Turkey, meaning tart or thick milk. The origin of yogurt itself, however, is not as certain but is thought to have been first produced in Mesopotamia around 500 BC.
Some accounts also have it that yogurts were first consumed among the Neolithic peoples of Central Asia around 6000 B.C. The Persians hold the belief that Abraham owed his longevity to regular consumption of yogurts.
The foods of the ancient Greeks were said to be comprised of the dairy product known as oxygala, believed to be a form of yogurt eaten with honey. Another account associates yogurt with a French man named Francis who suffered serious diarrhea and was cured of it by his doctor using yogurts.
In 1919, Isaac Carasso’s company Danone, named after his son Daniel, was first associated with the industrialized production of yogurt.
During the 20th century, yogurt was introduced to the United States by Élie Metchnikoff’s in the form of tablets for those with digestive problems. Thereafter, yogurt spread across many countries and is today a staple in many homes.
Health Benefits of Yoghurt
Yogurt is considered a superfood. Like I said earlier, besides being delicious it is also very nutritious. Yogurt has a lot of health benefits and is packed with loads of nutrients that are beneficial to our bodies.
Some health benefits of yogurt are:
- It provides the body with an appropriate amount of ”good” bacteria needed in the digestive tract for it to stay healthy. Yogurts have live bacteria culture, which contain probiotics, a living bacteria beneficial to the body.
- It helps in the proper functioning of the body’s metabolic processes.
- It is rich in vitamins. With each serving, it contains a good amount of riboflavin, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iodine, vitamin B5 and B12. Furthermore, Vitamin A, needed for proper eye functioning and vitamin E, which is necessary for the immune system, are contained in yogurt produced from whole milk.
- It helps reduce blood pressure. Research has shown that the risk of blood pressure is reduced by 50% among those who consume dairy products, compared to those who do not.
- It helps in the formation of strong bones and teeth due to its calcium content. A lot of us do not consume enough calcium. Yogurt, which is rich in calcium, contains more than half the recommended daily amount.
- It is safe for the lactose intolerant. Yogurt contains “live and active cultures”, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, which help break down lactose. This makes it okay for those of us who are lactose intolerant to enjoy our yogurts without reservation.
- It is rich in protein. Good protein is vital by helping to support metabolic processes in the body as well as help build muscle.
- We can go on and on as to the health benefits of yogurts. Since one can never be too healthy, I wholly recommend you to incorporate yogurt into your diet. Just a cup a day can do your body a whole lot of good. You only have one body. Give it a treat and nourish it with some yogurt!
Types of Yogurt
There are different varieties of yogurts out there on the market. These mostly depend on the ingredients added to plain yogurt as well as the manufacturing process. Some types available on the market include:
- Nonfat yogurt: nonfat yogurt contains less than 0.5 grams of fat. This is perfect for those looking to rid themselves of some weight.
- Low-fat yogurt: the name already explains it. Low fat yogurt has a small amount of fat which ranges between 2 to 5 grams of fat per cup. If you are considering your weight but do not go for nonfat yogurt, then you should consider having this instead.
- Whole milk yogurt: it is the richest form of plain yogurt. Whole milk yogurt is also called farm style yogurt and contains between 6 to 8 grams of fats per cup.
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is a traditional yogurt, achieved by straining normal yogurt to produce a thicker texture. It is a concentrated fermented milk, containing at least 5.6 grams per 100 grams of protein.
- Whipped yogurt: this type of yogurt is low on calories by nature. It contains more air which gives a lighter consistency than greek yogurts and other forms of yogurts.
How Long Does it Take for Yogurt to Freeze?
How long it takes for your yogurt to freeze doesn’t have a concrete answer as your optimal freezing time depends on how soon or how long it will take for you to use it.
For me, any time between 6 hours to 24 hours is perfect.
How long does frozen yogurt last?
The length of time your frozen yogurt lasts depends on different factors. The most important is the storage condition. It is necessary to keep your yogurt refrigerated. Another factor is the type of freezing cups or containers. For your yogurt to last longer, you should use airtight container/cups. You can freeze Greek yogurt to extend its shelf life by several months.
When these conditions are met, your frozen yogurt should last between 1 to 2 months. I do not recommend keeping your yogurt much longer than 2 months or so.
How to Prepare Your Homemade Frozen Yogurt
Just like any other food, you can actually freeze yogurts. And there is no limit to what you can do with it. As a foodie, I love food and I absolutely adore my yogurts. I can have it for breakfast, snack or any other time of the day! I’m sure a lot of you out there love yogurt as well, maybe even a little more than I even do.
So how much do you like yogurt? And how much do you love that smooth, creamy taste and rich texture of homemade yogurt slowly melting into your mouth? Have you ever wondered how to freeze your homemade yogurt? Well, you are very close to finding out.
We have seen how rich and nutritious yogurt is. We have seen some of the added benefits of yogurt, which is a tremendously easy way to be responsible and stay healthy.
Now it’s time to see how to make this superfood yourself! The process is really easy, so you don’t need to worry about getting stressed out. You can comfortably eat frozen yogurt in the comfort of your home with just a few easy steps.
Now lets learn about how to make frozen yogurts already!
Tools
- Whisk
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring spoons or cups
- Ice cream machine
- Freezing cups
Ingredients
- 4 cups of plain yogurt
- 1 cup of sweetener (sugar and honey)
- ½ cup of cream
- 1 tablespoon of syrup (optional)
Directions
In a bowl, combine your yogurt, cream, sweetener. Whisk until all the ingredients are properly blended. Use your fingers to feel your mixture and be sure it is smooth, especially if you are using granulated sugar. I love my yogurt really creamy and silky so I suggest you make it this way if you also don’t enjoy a grainy feel. This process takes about 2 minutes.
- Transfer your mixture into your ice cream machine and whip until the yogurt becomes really soft and thick.
- Scoop your yogurt into the cups and freeze your yogurt cups for about 6 hours until hard.
- Serve and enjoy!
I love to do different things with my food, and yogurt is no exception. So before freezing, I like to blend in some fruits to give it some fruity flavor. You can try this as well if you can’t get enough fruit in your life.
Strawberry, pineapple, mango, and banana are some fruit you can consider. But if you are a lover of plain frozen yogurt then please go ahead and just enjoy yourself.
I told you this was going to be easy right? Just like that and you’ve made yourself a bunch of super delicious yogurt. I know after reading this you’re getting ready to try this super simple and mouth-watering recipe for yourself.
Tips
- Yogurts expand as they freeze, so you should use cups that can accommodate the yogurt even after it has expanded.
- If your yogurt is thawed, always remember to stir.
Honey is not just for sweetening but also makes your yogurt scoopable, while sugar keeps your frozen yogurt creamy and prevents the formation of ice crystals ( a cup of syrup can serve too).- Let your yogurt sit for about 30 minutes before scooping. This makes it easier for you to scoop.
Uses of Homemade Yogurts
This dairy product is very versatile. Aside from being really healthy, I love yogurt for its flexibility. This makes it easy for you to use in a variety of ways.
There are many uses of yogurt, and we’ll be seeing some of them below. After this, you’ll be sure to keep some yogurt in that refrigerator.
There are many different delicacies we can make from yogurt. Let’s take a look.
Pancakes
Yogurt pancakes, I must say are really tasty — and healthy! And you need just about your normal pancake ingredients except that we’ll be incorporating yogurt this time.
Get your flour, eggs, vanilla, baking powder, milk and of course yogurt and get cooking, or rather frying. This is one pancake that will make you flip!
Muffins
Yogurt just gives you a tangy and moist texture. A little variation from the usual kind of muffin.
Yogurt muffins have super nice flavors and are also low in fat. So don’t worry, you are eating healthy.
Shawarma
Sometimes, I love a little tang in my shawarma and yogurt gives me that. It is superb for spicy shawarma. But I particularly love this for my chicken shawarma.
The taste it gives to chicken shawarma is simply delectable.
Cakes
Yes, cakes! Sounds weird, I know. And makes you wonder how that would even work. Plain low fat yogurt, when added to batter, will make the cake come out moist, supple and tangy.
Because I love a little tang in my cake sometimes, and I like to have it so soft that it pretty much melts in my mouth, I add a little yogurt to my batter.
Dip
Does this sound a little strange? To some of you it could and to some not. Your yogurt can serve as a good dip for different kinds of food. When I want my dip really smooth, creamy and delicious yogurt gives that along with a dash of sourness.
Try some yogurt for a dip. You’ll be glad you did.
Filling
Try some yogurt as filling too! Who ever gets enough of crepes with yogurt cream? The moisture in yogurt makes for a super delicious filling.
Cheese
Questionable right? I understand. But believe me, it’s worth a try. Want a more healthy substitute for cheese? Yogurt is just perfect! In place of cream cheese, why not try using yogurt instead.
Smoothie
Freezing yogurts for smoothies is probably the most popular use of yogurt. A smoothie is a creamy, thick beverage made from fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
It is consumed in a lot of homes, including mine. And for my smoothies, nothing will do but yogurt. I love how beautiful, creamy and, of course, tasty it makes my smoothie come out.
There are different yogurt smoothies you can make. Some of them are: pineapple smoothies, banana smoothies, apple smoothies, and green smoothies. You name it! Simply blend your fruits or vegetables in with some yogurt and you have a whole world of nutrition and health all in one glass.
Adding some frozen yogurt to your smoothie will give you a rich and satisfying taste. If you’re like me, yogurt will become your favorite dairy product for smoothies as well.
French toast
To make a healthier french toast, I like to use yogurt. Since whole milk contains a lot of fat, I substitute whole milk with a low fat yogurt.
The amazing thing about it is that my french toast still comes out perfect. So why not feed your body healthier french toast by using yogurt? It’s a no brainer. You really have nothing to worry about as your toast will still come out just the way you expect it to.
Parfait
Do you ever make a parfait and just stare at it for a while before chowing down? I do! It is just so beautiful.
For my parfaits, I like to layer my fruits, nuts and chocolate with some yogurt. I also suggest you replace whipped cream with yogurt. It’s so creamy and savory.
Bread
To give yourself a delicious treat, use some yogurt in your bread. Using yogurt, a perfect and soft bread will result due to the extra moisture.
A little yogurt in your bread will make all the difference.
Salads
I love using plain yogurt in my salads to reduce my fat intake, especially in my egg salad. If I don’t want to worry about taking in a lot of calories, I just use yogurt instead.
If you’d love to try something else for your salad instead of mayo then I say give yogurt a try. Maybe, just maybe, mayonnaise will be out of the picture after you do.
Marinate chicken
Using yogurt to marinate your chicken is simply great! Some believe it is the best marinade for chicken and I have to agree. The lactic acid in yogurt helps make your chicken tender and juicy as well as adds more flavor to it.
If you haven’t experimented with yogurt yet, it’s well time you did. There are many other uses of this yummy dairy product, and you can also do whole lot with your frozen yogurt. Don’t be afraid to try doing something different and exciting with that yogurt today. Be creative!
Conclusion
We have talked about what yogurt is and how it is produced. We have also looked at its history and health benefits which are just mind-blowing. You might even ask how only one food product can be packed with so much goodness.
Most importantly we have looked at the simplest recipe you can use to prepare yogurt at home. This means that you don’t have to visit the store each time you need some. Its lighter on your frame and your wallet!
By now I believe you are well on your way to giving yourself, your family and friends the treat of perfectly prepared homemade frozen yogurt.
I’m certain now that your question on whether or not you can freeze yogurt has been answered. Because obviously, the answer is…Yes! You can freeze yogurt.
Enough wasted time, go out there and get some yogurt!
