Brown, delicious gravy from homemade veal or thanksgiving turkey is every bit tasty and our holiday dinners wouldn’t be complete without them. In fact, the National Consumer Survey (NHCS) revealed that over 130 million Americans used gravy in 2020 alone.
Not your regular sauce, you might want to keep your gravy for another day or two without having to go through the stress of preparing it. This brings us to the question: is it safe to freeze gravy? And if so, how long is frozen gravy good for?
Can You Safely Freeze Gravy?
You could freeze homemade gravy ahead of your next meal. However, you must do it in the right way to avoid wasting your precious velvety sauce. Gravy begins to separate when not stored rightly, so you might want to freeze it not more than two hours after your last meal.
Also, dairy or cream-based gravies might not freeze as well as other gravy types. They are more likely to separate because of their content, so you might want to use a little quantity of fat or milk if you plan to freeze your gravy. Running gravy through a food processor might reduce the chances of separation.
Storage Considerations for Gravy
- Short-term freezing: You can keep gravy in ice-cube trays until they form cube molds. Once formed, put them in airtight or freezer bags and keep in the refrigerator. Do not store for more than three to four days. When you are ready to use it, bring the cubes out of the bag and thaw. If it looks like it is beginning to separate a bit, you could boil it for five minutes, stir, and safely eat.
- Long-term freezing: If you do not plan to eat your gravy that week, you could store it in a freezer for up to four months especially if it is flour-based. To prevent significant loss in quality over time, it must be stored in airtight containers. Ready-made gravy in cans should be stored in a cool, dry place and used before the expiry date.
It is not advisable to refreeze gravy once you have thawed it.
Using up your Leftover Gravy
Consume your leftover gravy as you would with a freshly prepared one. However, you must confirm that it is not spoiled. To prevent such a bummer, do not leave it out of the fridge for more than two hours since bacteria can multiply quickly under warmer conditions. Following FDA guidelines, you should throw your gravy away if you:
- See any signs of mold growth
- Did not get it into the freezer in time
- Are not sure how long you have kept it in the freezer
- Perceive any rancid smell
You do not want to deal with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms of food poisoning. After you are sure that your gravy is as good as new, defrost in a cold-water dish, pour out of the bag, reheat slowly under medium heat in a saucepan, and enjoy. If it is from the freezer, you could thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.
Bottom Line
When frozen properly, you can thaw and enjoy gravy with roast turkey, soups, biscuits, mashed potatoes, casserole, or just about any meal combo. If you are still reading this post, the chances are that you would not have to cry over another spoiled gravy.
