Can you Freeze Overnight Oats?: Overnight oats are a delicious and easy breakfast meal if you do not have enough time to cook. What makes overnight oats so special is the fact that they do not need to be boiled or cooked, which helps you save a lot of your time. You simply let your oats soak up and hydrate in milk or a liquid of your choice, during the night, and take them out the next day to eat.
You might know how to make overnight oats, but do you know how to preserve them? Well, here is where we come into the picture. In this article, we will not only explain how to freeze overnight oats in detail, but we will also do our best to answer all your burning doubts about the world of overnight oats!
- Can you Freeze Overnight Oats?
- How Long Can You Store Overnight Oats In The Freezer?
- Guide To Freezing Overnight Oats
- Our Top Tips For The Best Frozen Overnight Oats
- How To Tell If Your Frozen Overnight Oats Have Gone Bad?
- Easiest Method To Thaw Overnight Oats
- Is It Okay To Refreeze Overnight Oats?
- Exciting Facts About Overnight Oats
- Can I freeze overnight oats without refrigeration?
- Should I put overnight oats in the fridge or freezer?
- Can I freeze raw oats?
- How to serve frozen overnight oats?
Can you Freeze Overnight Oats?
Yep! Freezing your overnight oats is actually a very good idea for those who are on a time crunch. You will be able to freeze your overnight oats easily if you follow the instructions that we will explain below. Simply divide the overnight oats into individual portions and freeze them in airtight containers to prevent food wastage and spoilage.
How Long Can You Store Overnight Oats In The Freezer?
When you freeze your overnight oats, they will last for up to 6 months if you store them properly. But remember that over time, your overnight oats will lose their texture and taste. Their overall quality will reduce the more they stay inside the freezer.
If you are planning to use up your overnight oats within a few days, then you can skip the freezing process and go straight to refrigeration. All you have to do is store your overnight oats in an airtight container and pop it into the fridge. Here, your overnight oats will last for about 5 days. Make sure you use them before the 5 days end because if they are stored any longer in the fridge, they might go bad.
In addition, try not to include toppings in your overnight oats when you refrigerate them. This is because any add-ons will affect the consistency and taste of your overnight oats after you thaw them. If you do want toppings, then you can just add them in when you serve the overnight oats the next day.
Guide To Freezing Overnight Oats
- Divide into portions: Separate your overnight oats into individual portions and place each portion into a freezer-safe plastic container. Ensure that your containers have a little extra room at the top for the liquid of your choice to expand while freezing, and prevent sudden explosions.
- Push out air: To make your container airtight, we recommend that you try to remove as much air as you can from inside the containers. Just make sure that the containers contain as little air as possible.
- Freeze: Place the containers of overnight oats into the freezer, preferably in the center or somewhere that they do not touch the walls of the freezer to avoid freezer burn.
Our Top Tips For The Best Frozen Overnight Oats
- Remove all air: We advise that you try your best to suck out as much air as you can from inside the containers before you freeze them. You may even use a straw to make this job much easier. If there is excess air inside the containers, it will make your ruin the quality of your overnight oats and may even cause freezer burn, which is a huge no-no.
- Skip the toppings: Any solid toppings will definitely impact the flavor and consistency of your overnight oats once you defrost them. So, we urge you to either add them later on after thawing your overnight oats or add in only soluble toppings like syrups or spices before you freeze your overnight oats.
- Seal tightly: Close the lids of the containers tightly so your overnight oats don’t soak up the unpleasant smells within the freezer. This will also prevent freezer burn later on.
How To Tell If Your Frozen Overnight Oats Have Gone Bad?
Unpleasant smell
If your overnight oats have gone bad inside the freezer, then you might notice an off-putting odor. One way of preventing this can be storing your overnight oats in an airtight container that is sealed as tight as possible. This will shut off all contact between the freezer and the oats inside. In addition, you may also consider glass containers, which do not absorb unpleasant smells like plastic containers.
Freezer burn
If you notice a lot of ice crystals on your overnight oats, or if they look shriveled up and tough, then they most probably suffered from freezer burn. To avoid this, simply store your overnight oats in airtight freezer-safe containers.
Change in color
Notice a change in color in your frozen overnight oats. Well, they might have spoiled inside the freezer. For this reason, we suggest that you use up your frozen overnight oats as soon as possible to avoid the loss of quality and consistency later on.
Also, Refer
Ingredients: Rolled Oats (100%)
Contains Oats, Wheat, Barley, Nuts, Soy, and Milk
Nutrition Information
Total Number of Servings per Pack: Approximately 22.5
Serving Size: 40 g
| Nutrients | Per 100 g | %RDA per Serve (40 g) | Per 40 g | |
| Energy (kcal) | 379 | 8% | 152 | |
| Energy from Fat (kcal) | 81 | 32 | ||
| Total Fat (g) | 9.0 | 5% | 3.6 | |
| Saturated Fatty Acids (g) | 1.7 | 3% | 0.7 | |
| Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (g) | 4.3 | 1.7 | ||
| Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (g) | 3.0 | 1.2 | ||
| Trans Fatty Acids (g) | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total Carbohydrates (g) | 67.8 | 27.1 | ||
| of Which Total Sugars (g) | 1.3 | 0.5 | ||
| of Which Added Sugars (g) | 0 | 0% | 0 | |
| of Which Dietary Fibre (g) | 10.0 | 4.0 | ||
| Soluble Fibre (g) | 4.4 | 1.8 | ||
| Insoluble Fibre (g) | 5.6 | 2.2 | ||
| Protein (g) | 11.6 | 4.6 | ||
| Sodium (mg) | 7.0 | 0% | 2.8 | |
| %RDA | ||||
| Iron (mg) | 2.4 | 1.0 | 3.3% | |
| Magnesium (mg) | 101.3 | 40.5 | 11% | |
| Zinc (mg) | 2.2 | 0.9 | 6.7% | |
Approximate Values
%RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) per day for Sedentary Women Basis Nutrient Requirements & RDA for Indians by ICMR, 2010
Basis MAT October 2021 Retail Audit Data Published by Nielsen India.
First Established in Battled Creek USA in 1906
Easiest Method To Thaw Overnight Oats
To defrost your overnight oats, all you have to do is shift them from the freezer to the fridge and wait for them to thaw overnight. You might even take them out in the morning and set them on the counter for around an hour before you eat them. This is the safest method to defrost your overnight oats because it allows milk and other contents to thaw in a way that does not cause spoilage.
However, remember that you must never leave your frozen overnight oats out at room temperature to defrost overnight. This will definitely cause your overnight oats to go bad.
Is It Okay To Refreeze Overnight Oats?
Yes, you can definitely refreeze your overnight oats. But we do not recommend refreezing your overnight oats many times. Refreezing them too many times can increase the risk of bacterial growth which can cause the oats to spoil more quicker.
This is why we suggest that you divide your overnight oats into smaller portions so you will not feel the need to refreeze them. This tip also helps you avoid food wastage.
Exciting Facts About Overnight Oats
- Contain beta-glucan, which gives you a feeling of fullness faster than other foods. This can be vital for weight management and weight loss.
- Reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels and decreasing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.
- Stimulates the healthy functioning of white blood cells that protect our bodies from illnesses. It also reduces the risk of infections and makes healing faster.
- Rich in fiber, which aids those who suffer from constipation. It also improves overall gut health.
- Strengthens and improves brain function by providing energy to the brain.
FAQs on Can you Freeze Overnight Oats
1. Can I freeze overnight oats without refrigeration?
Yes, it is actually recommended to skip the refrigeration and freeze your overnight oats directly after making them. This will reduce the chances of bacterial growth and keep your overnight oats safe and tasty.
2. Should I put overnight oats in the fridge or freezer?
We recommend storing overnight oats in the fridge in airtight containers for 5 days.
Yes, raw oats can definitely be frozen for up to a year. But this is usually not necessary because they already last up to 30 years without freezing. All you have to do is store them in a dark, dry, and cool place, and you are good to go!
4. How to serve frozen overnight oats?
You can defrost them either in the fridge or microwave carefully. You may eat them cold, or you can also reheat them on the stove. Then, you can enjoy it!
Key Takeaways
Overnight oats are the best and easiest breakfast meal because it is a no-cook dish that can be prepared within minutes. Hope that we have answered all your doubts regarding freezing overnight oats, so you can follow our tips and tricks to freeze your overnight oats successfully. The most important thing to remember is that you need to store your overnight oats in a freezer-proof airtight container, and everything else will fall in place.
If you are curious about other foods that can be frozen, then we urge you to check out canyoupreserve.com for exciting articles like this.