Can yogurt be added to prepped meals without curdling?

Question

Can yogurt be added to prepped meals without it curdling? Find out the best way to incorporate curd into your make-ahead dishes.

Answer 1

Yes, yogurt can be added to prepped meals without curdling if you take certain precautions, such as tempering the yogurt or using a stabilizer. Adding it at the end of the cooking process also helps.

Detailed Explanation:

Yogurt curdles when its proteins coagulate due to heat and acidity. To prevent this when adding yogurt to prepped meals, consider these strategies:

1. Tempering: Before adding yogurt to a hot dish, temper it by gradually mixing in a small amount of the hot liquid from the dish into the yogurt. This slowly raises the yogurt's temperature, reducing the shock of direct heat and minimizing curdling.

2. Stabilizers: Adding a stabilizer like cornstarch or flour to the yogurt can help prevent curdling. Mix a small amount of cornstarch (about 1 teaspoon per cup of yogurt) into the yogurt before adding it to the dish.

3. Add at the End: Incorporate the yogurt at the very end of the cooking process, reducing the amount of time it's exposed to high heat. Gently stir it in and avoid boiling the mixture after adding the yogurt.

4. Full-Fat Yogurt: Full-fat yogurt is less likely to curdle than low-fat or non-fat yogurt because the fat content helps stabilize the proteins.

5. Reduce Acidity: If the dish is highly acidic (e.g., contains a lot of tomatoes or lemon juice), try to reduce the acidity by adding a pinch of sugar or baking soda. This can help prevent the yogurt from curdling.

Pro Tip:

Avoid adding yogurt to dishes that will be reheated multiple times, as repeated heating can increase the likelihood of curdling. If reheating is necessary, do so gently over low heat.