Necessity is the mother of invention. A recipe once required me to use warm yogurt, and I quickly thought, “Can you microwave yogurt?”
I did thorough research and backtesting, and this is what you will do should you come across a recipe requiring warm yogurt.
Can You Microwave Yogurt?
It is a yes and no answer, depending on the prevailing situation.
Microwaving yogurt for a snack is not recommended because the high heat kills healthy bacteria, causes milk to curdle, and alters the original taste and appearance of the yogurt.
However, if the need arises, you can warm yogurt on low power for 20 seconds in a microwave-safe container.
You should note that heated yogurts are only used in recipes to enhance the flavor and taste of the food but have no nutritional value since the proteins and probiotics present in milk are denatured above 54.4℃.
Yogurts are best taken frozen or cold to reap maximum health and digestive benefits.
Whether you are using Greek or regular yogurt, you should use a safer alternative to warm the yogurt, such as a hot water bath.
Below are tips for microwaving yogurt for a baking recipe:
How To Microwave Yogurt
Yogurts contain vitamins, proteins, and probiotics that are sensitive to heat. You must monitor the reheating process keenly.
The following are easy and quick steps for microwaving yogurt:
- To avoid unevenly heated spots, frozen yogurt must be thawed before reheating in the microwave.
- Transfer your yogurt from its packaging container to a microwave-safe bowl. Most yogurt containers are made of plastic which contains BPA; hence not safe for microwaving.
- The bowl should be deep enough to prevent splattering since yogurts have fatty contents.
- Set your microwave on low power and the timer at 20 seconds. Low heat prevents the yogurt from curdling.
- You can stop the microwave halfway through heating to stir and check the progress. Pausing the microwave also helps to regulate the temperature in the oven.
- You can extend the heating time to 30 seconds if it doesn’t attain the desired temperature.
Safety Tips to Consider When Microwaving Yogurt
If your recipe calls for warm yogurt, be sure to follow these safety guidelines for the best results:
Portion control
Use a small portion of yogurt if it’s the first time you try this trick. You can increase the portion if the results impress you.
A small portion saves you from wastage should the results turn against your expectations.
Portion control also helps with splattering, which will soil your oven.
Use microwave-safe containers
Some yogurt containers are made of PP, a safe type of plastic but always confirm that the container has a safety symbol.
Unsafe containers will melt due to high microwave heat and leach chemical toxins into your snack.
Set a timer
Strictly microwave yogurt for 20 seconds to maintain its texture and nutritional benefits.
Exceeding reheating time increases the oven heat. Excessive heat causes yogurt to thicken and form lumps.
High heat also kills healthy bacteria meant to assist in digestion.
Close monitoring
You must pay attention to the whole process, pause the oven, and stir your yogurt to allow even heating.
Alternatives to microwaving frozen yogurts
Microwaving yogurt leaves it lumpy and tasteless. An alternative method is needed to warm it.
These are the other options you might consider:
Overnight Refrigeration
You can leave frozen yogurt in the refrigerator overnight to defrost. Overnight refrigeration is the safest method because you can refreeze excess yogurt.
Using a Hot Water Bath
A hot water bath defrosts frozen yogurt and warms it up. It is the ideal method to warm frozen yogurt since it preserves the available probiotics, taste, and texture of your yogurt.
The hot water bath method involves submerging the sealed yogurt container in warm water for a few minutes.
Using an Electric Blanket
Wrapping the yogurt container in an electric blanket is also an effective method that works as well as the hot water bath.
Frozen yogurt is heated evenly at low temperatures; hence bacteria are preserved. The yogurt is also safe from curdling.
Leaving It at Room Temperature
You can also leave it to thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes. Your yogurt will soften, regain its texture and still maintain the probiotics.
Using stove top
The stovetop method entails adding yogurt to curries and stews as soon as they are done cooking.
Take off the dish from the stove and let it cool for 5 minutes to avoid overheating your yogurt.
Add in yogurt and mix in with a spoon, and the yogurt will warm up within no time.
not advisable to microwave food with yogurt toppings. Hot food causes yogurt to curdle and form unpleasant lumps.
You should warm the food separately, wait for it to cool, and then pour yogurt on your food.
However, if you insist on warming oatmeal with yogurt toppings, you must regulate the microwave temperature.
Yogurt is used as a meat tenderizer. Enzymes present in yogurt break down complex proteins leaving meat tender.
You can add yogurt to fish dishes to enhance their flavor.
Is yogurt still healthy when cooked?
Yogurt contains vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients that are sensitive to heat.
High heat denatures and kills the proteins lowering the nutritional value of yogurt.
Keen caution and low heat could, however, spare some nutrients. A safe temperature below 54.4℃ spares some vitamins.
Heating small portions reduces exposure time since small quantities heat faster.
Microwaved yogurt should be taken immediately after cooling to avoid cross-contamination. It is not safe to expose microwaved proteins that were previously frozen.
Interaction with bacteria could lead to foodborne diseases. You should also serve hot yogurt in safe glass bowls that are heat resistant.
To Wrap It Up
Microwaving yogurt is not recommended. High microwave heat kills bacteria present in yogurt, causes it to curdle, and alters its taste.
Microwaved yogurt is only used in recipes to enhance taste and flavor but has no health benefits.
You are advised to use an alternative method to reheat your yogurt, such as a hot water bath. A hot water bath allows even heating and preserves yogurt’s nutrients, taste, and texture.