Can You Freeze Greek Yogurt?

Wondering if you can freeze yogurt? This creamy dairy ingredient actually holds up well when frozen — here’s how to do it!

Got extra Greek yogurt and want to save it for later? Here’s a tip — throw it in the freezer! Unlike many dairy products, Greek yogurt freezes well. Throw it in the deep freeze, and you can use it up to 2 months in the future. Top it with fruit and granola or use it in recipes! Here’s how to package it for freezing and a few things to know.

Can you freeze Greek yogurt?

Freezing Greek yogurt is an effective way to preserve it, and the texture and flavor are unchanged after thawing. In comparison to some dairy products that grainy after freezing (like sour cream or cottage cheese), Greek yogurt freezes beautifully.

While it may appear to separate after thawing, stirring returns it to its original texture. You can eat fresh or use it in cooked or baked recipes.

Some sources indicate that Greek yogurt tastes more tart after freezing. However, in my taste testing, there was no flavor change. It is possible that texture changes can happen after freezing for long periods, so I recommend not freezing Greek yogurt for more than 2 months.

How long does it last refrigerated?

Opened Greek yogurt lasts for 2 weeks. If you can’t use it within that time period, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.

Directions for freezing

Ready to freeze Greek yogurt? Here’s how to do it:

• If unopened, leave in the original packaging. Place the package in a resealable freezer-safe plastic bag.
• If the package is opened, prepare the Greek yogurt for freezing. Keep in mind you cannot re-freeze the yogurt, so it’s helpful to have smaller portions if you don’t plan to use it all at once. Divide the Greek yogurt into small sizes (like ½ cup servings) or freeze it all together. Place the yogurt into a sealed, freezable container that has as little air as possible, or try it in a silicon tray. You can also place small portions in sealed freezer-safe bags.
• Mark the “Use by” date. Use a permanent marker to label the Greek yogurt with a “use by” date that is 2 months in the future. If using a plastic bag, partially seal the bag, then use a straw to suck out all the air from the bag.
• Freeze. Place the yogurt in the freezer and freeze for up to 2 months.

How to defrost Greek yogurt

When defrosted from frozen, Greek yogurt separates into liquid and solid elements. If it looks separated, you can simply stir it back into a creamy texture. (When I tested this, I made the thawed Greek yogurt into healthy chocolate pudding, and it worked perfectly!) Here’s how to thaw yogurt:

• Place the yogurt in the refrigerator 24 to 48 hours to defrost. To speed up the process, you can place the yogurt at room temperature for 1 hour, then place it in the refrigerator to finish defrosting.
• Stir it. Once thawed, stir to return the yogurt to its creamy texture. Use within 2 days.

Use it in a recipe

Greek yogurt is one of my favorite ingredients to use fresh, in dips, or baked into recipes! Try it plain or in these Greek yogurt recipes:

• Pancakes like Greek yogurt pancakes
• Dips like veggie dip, fruit dip, or taco dip
• Baked goods like Greek yogurt zucchini bread or blueberry muffins
• Parfaits like Greek yogurt parfaits
• Smoothies like Greek yogurt smoothie or 15 smoothies with yogurt
• Treats like yogurt bark or healthy chocolate pudding
• Dressings like Caesar dressing

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