---
title: "Can you freeze yogurt? It depends"
description: "Safe to freeze, but it thaws grainy and watery — good for cooking, not for eating plain. What actually happens, what goes wrong, and what to do instead."
url: https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-yogurt/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Can you freeze yogurt?

**It depends: Safe to freeze, but it thaws grainy and watery — good for cooking, not for eating plain.**

Freezing does not harm yogurt safety and the live cultures largely survive, though numbers drop. What suffers is the gel: the protein network that makes yogurt thick is broken by ice crystals, so it thaws watery with the whey separated out. Full-fat and Greek yogurts hold together better than low-fat, because fat cushions the structure. Stirring hard after thawing recovers some of the texture but not all of it.

## How to do it properly

1. Freeze in small portions or in an ice cube tray for smoothies
2. Choose full-fat or strained Greek yogurt over low-fat
3. Thaw in the fridge and stir vigorously, or whisk
4. Use in smoothies, marinades, curries and baking rather than eating it neat

## What goes wrong

- Whey separates and the texture goes grainy
- Low-fat yogurt separates worst
- Live culture counts drop, though the yogurt stays safe

## Other "can you freeze" questions

- [Can you freeze cheese?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cheese/) — It depends — Yes, and it stays safe indefinitely — but hard cheese comes out crumbly and soft cheese comes out wet.
- [Can you freeze milk?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-milk/) — Yes — Yes — leave headspace for expansion and shake it hard after thawing.
- [Can you freeze eggs?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-eggs/) — It depends — Not in the shell. Beat them first, or freeze whites on their own.
- [Can you freeze bread?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-bread/) — Yes — Yes — freezing is the best way to store bread, far better than the fridge.
- [Can you freeze bananas?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-bananas/) — Yes — Yes — peel and slice them first, because the peel turns black and welds itself on.
- [Can you freeze cooked rice?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cooked-rice/) — Yes — Yes, and freezing quickly is the safest way to keep leftover rice.
- [Can you freeze raw chicken twice?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-raw-chicken-twice/) — It depends — Only if it thawed in the fridge and never got above 4 °C (40 °F).
- [Can you freeze breast milk?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-breast-milk/) — Yes — Yes — freeze it flat in bags, and use within six months for best quality.
- [Can you freeze avocado?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-avocado/) — It depends — Yes, but only as a purée — frozen slices go grey and watery.
- [Can you freeze soup?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-soup/) — It depends — Yes for most soups; cream, milk and potato-based ones separate or go grainy.
- [Can you freeze butter?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-butter/) — Yes — Yes — butter freezes better than almost anything else in the fridge.
- [Can you freeze cooked pasta?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cooked-pasta/) — Yes — Yes — undercook it slightly and toss it in oil first, or it thaws into a solid block.

## Common questions

### Can you freeze yogurt?

Safe to freeze, but it thaws grainy and watery — good for cooking, not for eating plain.

### What happens if you freeze yogurt?

Whey separates and the texture goes grainy Low-fat yogurt separates worst Live culture counts drop, though the yogurt stays safe

## Related pages

- [Can you freeze cheese?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cheese/)
- [Can you freeze milk?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-milk/)
- [Can you freeze eggs?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-eggs/)
- [Can you freeze bread?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-bread/)
- [Can you freeze bananas?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-bananas/)
- [Can you freeze cooked rice?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/freeze-cooked-rice/)
- [Can you microwave styrofoam?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-styrofoam/)
- [Can you microwave aluminum foil?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-aluminum-foil/)
- [Can you microwave plastic containers?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/microwave-plastic-containers/)
- [Can you wash pillows?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/wash-pillows/)
- [Can you wash sneakers in the washing machine?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/wash-sneakers/)
- [Can you recycle pizza boxes?](https://atoneplace.net/can-you/recycle-pizza-boxes/)

## Sources

- Food Safety and Inspection Service — US Department of Agriculture (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]