Thanksgiving wouldnāt be the same without that delicious, homemade gravy smothering everything in sight. If you’ve got some Turkey Gravy leftover, you can freeze it for later following these simple steps.
Can You Freeze Turkey Gravy?
Yes, you can freeze turkey gravy for up to six months. The best way to do this is to allow the gravy to cool to room temperature before transferring it to air-tight containers. Then, seal the containers tightly and store them at the edge of your freezer.
Do Does Turkey Gravy freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Turkey Gravy? No
Looking for a full list of Thanksgiving foods you can freeze? Here it is!
How to Freeze Turkey Gravy
Freezing turkey gravy is a great way to ensure that every post-Thanksgiving meal has a helping of the wonderful taste you’ve worked so hard to create!
- Allow to cool: Allowing your gravy to completely cool to room temperature will prevent any condensation from forming within the airtight containers. Itās worth doing, as condensation creates a great place for bacteria to thrive.
- Transfer to airtight containers: Transfer the turkey gravy into airtight containers, ensuring that you do not spill any on the sides of the containers. This not only keeps your kitchen clean, but makes sure you don’t compromise the seal around the lip of your container.
- Seal the containers tightly: Remove as much air as possible while still leaving some headspace (1/2″ or 1.5cm) for expansion. Seal each of the containers very tightly and double-check them for their tightness which will prevent any gravy from leaking into your freezer.
- Freeze: Freeze each of the turkey gravy containers along the outside edge of your freezer, as close to the wall as you can. We recommend this as it ensures the turkey gravy forms a protective barrier for other, more delicate, items deeper in the freezer that could be damaged by freezer burn.
Freezer-Friendly Cookie Recipes
Try out one of these delicious recipes that are perfect for freezing:
3 Tips for Freezing Turkey Gravy
Freeze alone – Freezing turkey gravy on its own within the freezer is a great way to make sure that the gravy doesnāt get contaminated by other items that might spoil more quickly. Therefore, we would recommend making sure that the gravy is stored on its own in a container.
Make sure itās smooth – Any solid within the gravy will provide a nucleation point for ice crystals. Ensuring the gravy youāre making is as smooth as possible will ensure that the gravy stores well for as long as possible.
Consider the emulsion – Turkey gravy is made mostly from fats and water. An emulsion is formed between the fat content of the gravy and the water. This is totally normal, but the freezing and thawing process can break down that emulsion. To bring the gravy back to one cohesive liquid, you may have to stir frequently when reheating or use an immersion blender.
How Long Can You Freeze Turkey Gravy?
Turkey gravy will last up to six months in the freezer before you start to notice a significant decrease in quality. Most people find 2-3 months to be the best for retaining flavor and quality.
Any quality decrease will most commonly take the form of the flavor of the gravy becoming weaker with time. There is also a chance that the protein content of the turkey gravy could be damaged, leading to a lack of meaningful texture.
How Do You Defrost Turkey Gravy?
Your first step is to consider whether you’ve got a cream-based gravy? A standard broth-based gravy?
To defrost either, you can set the gravy in the refrigerator the night prior to needing it. Once mostly thawed, you can defrost the turkey gravy in the microwave or place it in a saucepan on the rangetop.
If using a microwave, remove the lid from the container, and microwave on medium in increments of thirty seconds, stirring occasionally, until steaming hot. If using the rangetop, use low to medium heat as gravy is notorious for clumping when not properly tended to (whisked) or heated too fast.
Tip
Adding a little fresh cream to your cream-based gravy when reheating it will help restore the consistency. Don’t forget to whisk during reheating.
Can You Refreeze Turkey Gravy?
No, you canāt refreeze turkey gravy. The reason is there are proteins present in the gravy that are liable to attract bacteria, which would contaminate other items in your freezer and potentially make you sick.
Does Turkey Gravy Freeze Well?
Yes, turkey gravy does freeze well. The main reason for this is that most liquids freeze well. Solids are more affected by freezer burn, thanks to the fact that their structure is damaged by the water expanding. Since gravy is mostly water, this doesnāt impact it.
FAQs
You should be good with flour-based, brown, and white gravy by following the same directions as above.
We’ve covered how to properly freeze chicken gravy and other meat or poultry-based gravy here.
Treat gravy containing dairy the same as the cream-based ones explained above.
Gravy can be stored safely in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
