Can You Freeze Yogurt to Make Frozen Yogurt? Here’s What You Have to Do
Updated on March 2, 2023
When it comes to desserts, frozen yogurt is one of the healthier choices out there. When it comes to making this dessert, however, you need to take a few steps and one of those is actually freezing the yogurt.
Things aren’t as straightforward as shoving a pack of yogurt in the freezer, however – at least not when you’re making frozen yogurt. We’ll get to the bottom of things, however, and see exactly how we can freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt.
Can You Freeze Yogurt?
We’re not the only ones who love frozen yogurt and we actually received a message from one of our readers regarding this. Here’s the message we got:
I’ve recently started eating frozen yogurt instead of ice cream in an attempt to eat healthier. I really like the taste and texture of frozen yogurt, but have found that it is much more expensive compared to regular ice cream. I would like to be able to make my own frozen yogurt at home, but I’m not exactly sure how to do it.
I would like to think that I can just stick a tub of yogurt in the freezer and let it freeze, but there’s probably more I need to do. Can you freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt?
Yes, you can freeze yogurt to make frozen yogurt. However, you are correct in your assumption that you need to prepare the yogurt a bit first to get the results you want.
How to Freeze Yogurt to Make Frozen Yogurt?
If you simply stick a tub of regular yogurt in the freezer until it’s frozen, you’ll end up with a hard brick of yogurt that doesn’t resemble the soft, creamy frozen yogurt you’re used to. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to that problem.
- To get smooth frozen yogurt, you must add sugar before freezing. The sugar helps slow down the formation of ice crystals, allowing the yogurt to remain soft even after freezing.
- So, for about a quart of yogurt, stir in a cup of plain white sugar.
- Then, you must churn the yogurt to incorporate the sugar properly. This can be done with an ice cream maker, or you can do it by hand.
- Once combined, scoop the yogurt into a freezer-safe container.
- Seal the container, then label and date it.
- Now the yogurt can be placed in the freezer.
- Allow the yogurt to freeze for several hours before consuming.
How to Make Frozen Yogurt?
Aside from the instructions we mentioned above, you can also take into consideration some other tips we have for you.
- Frozen yogurt made at home will be lighter in texture and less creamy than the commercial varieties.
- You can make your frozen yogurt creamier by mixing regular yogurt with Greek yogurt.
- The thicker consistency of the Greek yogurt will make for a creamier finished product.
- Follow the rest of the instructions for creating the original version of frozen yogurt.
- If you are interested in making flavored frozen yogurt, add your flavoring before freezing, or save it as a topping after the yogurt has been frozen.
We even have a really tasty recipe you may want to try out, for frozen yogurt with raspberry and blueberry.
How Long Can You Keep Frozen Yogurt?
Frozen yogurt can be kept in the freezer for several months. Protect against freezer burn by ensuring that the lid is always closed tightly after use.
If you find your frozen yogurt is still not as creamy as you’d like, allow it to stand for about 5 minutes at room temperature before serving.
How to Keep Frozen Yogurt for Longer?
If you want to make sure that your frozen yogurt will keep for longer in the freezer and the flavors are intact, you can use a vacuum sealer. These appliances make sure to take out all the air from the freezer bag or container and give a perfect seal.
We have a list of great vacuum sealers you can try, but you can also go straight for the one taking up our first spot on the list – FoodSaver V4840 2-in-1 Vacuum Sealer Machine. This one works with freezer bags and containers of different sizes so you can enjoy single servings and whole dishes for longer.
How to Thaw Frozen Yogurt?
When it comes to eating your frozen yogurt, you don’t necessarily have to thaw it out. In fact, if it has the right creamy texture, you can dig in as soon as you take it out of the freezer. Otherwise, you may want to allow it a few minutes at room temperature before you start enjoying it.