Freezing gravy: can you do it, or is it a bad idea?
Childhood trauma? Boiled potatoes so dry that they were so difficult to swallow, you might as well have taken a bite of sand. (Sorry, Mum.) The solution to my problem was always a generous spoonful of gravy. (Thanks, Mum!) Now that I’ve been living on my own for quite a few years, I regularly make a good portion of gravy myself. And then the question came up: what do I do with leftover gravy? Can you freeze it and eat it later?
We’ve also since unravelled the secret to perfect gravy, and we’re happy to share it with you. Believe us, you’d love to have a whole supply of it in your freezer – if only that were possible.
Freezing gravy: can you do it?
So, can you freeze gravy? The answer: you can! You can keep gravy in the freezer for two to three months. Let the gravy cool completely before putting it in the freezer. It’s best to store gravy in well-sealed containers, freezer bags or (our favourite method): an ice cube tray. If you choose the latter, you’ll always have perfect portions of gravy on hand for the coming months.
Want to use the gravy again? Let it thaw in your fridge overnight, straight from the freezer. Then heat the gravy slowly in a saucepan. If you know for sure that you’ll want to reheat the gravy tomorrow or the day after, you can also put it straight in the fridge. It will keep there for a maximum of one to two days. So work out for yourself whether you need to freeze the gravy or whether refrigerating it is sufficient.
So-gravy!
Some people add milk or cream to their gravy. They do this to make the gravy creamier and thicker. You’ll then get a sort of white gravy. Keep in mind that it’s best not to freeze this kind of gravy. When you thaw it later, the milk or cream will separate, leaving you with an unpleasant mess you can’t do anything with. In any case, it’s always a good idea to check whether your gravy is still edible, just to be on the safe side. Does the gravy smell sour? Or has it turned into a slimy mess? Then it’s past its best.
So gravy immediately makes me think of boiled potatoes. But what about a delicious portion of meatballs with gravy? And, especially now that we’ve kicked off the autumn season, how about a classic stamppot with a spoonful of gravy on top? So-gravy, how delicious!
Also read:
