Can You Freeze Activia Yogurt?

Like any other brand, Activia yogurt is a good source of protein, calcium, vitamins, and probiotics, making it one of those so-called superfoods in the market today. It’s a product worth stocking up, and buying them in bulk can save you bucks. But how do you keep your stock of yogurt for long periods without it going bad? We did the legwork for you and researched the best way to store yogurt. 

The good news is that you can certainly freeze Activia yogurt, just as most yogurts from other brands. Freezing your extra stock of yogurt does not only extend its shell life but also helps in keeping the active cultures from working against you. Remember, though, that once you put it in the freezer, you will no longer get to experience its original consistency, flavor, and texture upon thawing it.  

You now know that yogurt can be frozen for future use. But don’t put them in the freezer just yet. There is some more information you need to consider and understand regarding this topic. In this post, we will uncover the best methods to freeze yogurt and answer some questions about the texture changes and more, so continue reading.

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A blueberry flavored Activia light from a green 4 OZ plastic container, Can You Freeze Activia Yogurt?

what happens if you put yogurt in the freezer?

Freezing yogurt disengages the water inside it, causing the protein within it to disintegrate. The result? Runny and grainy consistency, instead of the curd-like texture and creaminess.

The yogurt will appear to be separating and almost appearing like clumps of undissolved powdered milk. Moreover, it will also possess a more enhanced acidic taste than it usually would. But don’t let it bother you because this is just the result of how yogurt is made.

Yogurt is produced through pasteurization. The milk undergoes heat treatment at around 176 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, the milk protein structure changes and results in the milk setting smoothly. When the heat treatment is done, the manufacturers wait for the temperature to go down to around 113 degrees Fahrenheit so the active cultures can be added without being killed by the heat. These are what gives yogurt its defined consistency and distinctive taste.

So, next time you freeze your yogurt and found that it has considerably changed, don’t immediately think that it has grown bad already. Just stir it thoroughly to slightly bring back its original consistency. Or you can also use it as an ingredient if you plan on baking cookies. 

How do you freeze store-bought yogurt?

Pack of Danone Activia Strawberry Yogurt on a white background

Every preservable food does not just go to the freezer or any other storage without proper preparation. That includes yogurt. Yogurt can last longer in the freezer if you follow either of the following ways.

In commercial containers

Thanks to the power of our desire to make everything instant, yogurts are also available in small, snackable containers, which you can just put into the freezer right away. 

Using small containers

But you can’t do the same thing when freezing a whole container of yogurt because you will risk compromising all of it when thawing. The solution is simple. Store it in portions using small containers with a tight-fitting lid. This way, thawing will be easier and faster. Plus, you avoid having leftovers that will most likely go to the bin.

Straight from the container

Nevertheless, you can choose to freeze the yogurt in its container if you don't have time. But remember to only store it in the freezer until the indicated expiration date on the container. Keeping it in the freezer and eating it any later than that can lead to gut issues.

Place yogurt in Ice Cube Trays

A much more clever way to freeze yogurt is to put it into ice cube trays then put them in the freezer. Once frozen, package them using freezer bags and put them back in the freezer. This way, you can thaw one yogurt cookie at a time.

Just remember to thoroughly stir the yogurt before dividing them into portions or directly freezing it. This can help make the yogurt evenly freeze. Lastly, don’t forget to label the containers with the dates of freezing and expected expiry date.

Can you eat frozen yogurt?

Fresh strawberry with cream

Frozen yogurt can appear like ice cream but not quite like it. Although the texture and taste of yogurt will be different when you freeze it, eating it will not be a problem as long as it’s not past the allowable consumption date. 

If the change in texture is too foreign for your taste, you can add it to your smoothies for the extra nutritional punch. You will not even notice the different taste of the yogurt.

For some people, another way to freeze yogurt without having to deal with the clumpy and watery consistency is freezing it as a pure yogurt popsicle or turning it into a healthier fruit and yogurt popsicle

Are there yogurts that you should not freeze?

But a word of caution: you can’t freeze or make popsicles out of all yogurts. Thinner yogurts that lack the curd-like consistency do not freeze well. They have a higher chance of being compromised and developing a more enhanced acidic taste and watery consistency.

Thinner yogurts are best consumed during the day it was bought. So, if you really want to stock up on this superfood, go for the creamier and full-fat yogurts.

How long can you freeze yogurt?

Freezing can only do so much in preserving any type of food, that includes yogurt. Depending on its quality and storage process, you can extend the shelf life of yogurt by at least 2 months or 3 months maximum.

Commercial yogurts, such as Activia yogurt, are the ones that last for 3 months. And this duration will differ for every brand. Read a particular brand’s label to see how long you can freeze it for. 

On the other hand, homemade yogurts should be consumed not later than the 2-month freezing time frame.

Remember the following to extend the shelf life of yogurt for as long as the time frames above:

  • Properly seal its container with thin foil or close off the lid tightly to avoid exposure to the bacteria in the air.
  • Always use a different bowl or saucer when eating yogurt. And never eat directly from the container if you bought a container of yogurt.
  • Store the yogurt at the very bottom or back part of the freezer to avoid exposure to temperature fluctuations. Too frequent temperature change is bad for the active cultures, which can cause the yogurt to spoil faster even inside the freezer.

Can probiotics survive freezing?

Yogurt enhances gut health, prevents digestive problems, and helps in losing weight. What provides these health benefits are called probiotics. They are good bacteria and yeast that live in all types of yogurt. 

Thus, another question arises. Wouldn’t freezing kill these good bacteria? Fortunately, freezing does not eliminate most of these active cultures, although some of them die but not as much as the ones surviving. These probiotics only become dormant when you freeze yogurt and become active again when you thaw the yogurt, so you will still get the health benefits.

How do you defrost frozen yogurt?

Thawing yogurt is not as complicated and time-consuming as the freezing preparation. To thaw yogurt, remove it from the freezer and leave it to defrost in the fridge overnight. The defrost time will vary depending on the yogurt container. 

Make sure to eat the defrosted yogurt within 2 hours. Do not refreeze it once it’s already been exposed to a temperature higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit and just discard it if you haven’t consumed all of it.

Remember not to defrost the yogurt at room temperature because you might end up frequenting the comfort room. 

Final Thoughts

Keeping a stock of healthy food like Activia yogurt and other healthy foods is economically beneficial for anyone in the long run. You save on extra bucks and become closer to your health goals conveniently. And to keep them in stock longer, freezing will do the trick. Just follow the reminders in this blog, and you will be off to a good start. 

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