Who doesn’t love to eat gravy? No one, right. It is a common item without which, our dinner party seems incomplete. Although it is a normal item, it can change the whole food taste by giving it a whole new flavor.
Moreover, it is effortless and appealing to make. For which, people tend to make much subconsciously and have leftovers. That’s when the 1st question that comes to our mind naturally is, can you freeze leftover gravy?
Yes, you can. But all you need is, to do it properly. And this is why, to ease your problem, we have presented this article in detail so that you can know exactly what to do with your leftover gravy.
How Can You Freeze Gravy?
One can freeze gravy comfortably and easily in any freezer for a long time. But for that, there are some steps that you need to follow to keep the taste and freshness intact.
So, without further wait, let us demonstrate those exact methods of freezing the gravy in 2 different ways to benefit yourself from it.
Method 1: Step by Step Procedure for Freezing Gravy
Your gravy will remain fresh, depending on the way you store it. Maybe you are storing it, but it doesn’t taste the way it should have been after some days. The sole reason behind this is perhaps you missed out on some crucial steps for which this issue occurred.
So, to help you, we have given the exact steps procedure below so that you can easily freeze the gravy for a long time by keeping the taste and freshness intact.
Step 1: Cooling the Gravy
The #1 step is cooling the hot gravy completely before keeping it in the freeze for storing. Because if you keep your hot gravy thinking that it will ultimately get cooled if I kept it in the fridge, then it is a huge wrong concept of yours.
Instead of keeping it fresh for a long time, the gravy will lose its taste and freshness within 1-2 days. Therefore, even by mistake, don’t keep the hot gravy in the freeze. Instead, wait patiently to let it cool completely for storing it for a long time with the same taste and freshness.
Step 2: Get an Airtight Container
Once the gravy is completely cooled, get an airtight container for transferring the gravy into it. Besides an airtight container, you can also use freezer-safe glass jars, freezer ziplock bags, etc.
However, an airtight container that is specially designed for holding liquids is the best one for freezing gravy for a long time, among all other options. Therefore, the next crucial step is getting an ideal airtight container for storing your delicious gravy for a long time.
Step 3: Write the Date on the Cover
The next step is writing the date you have made the gravy on the container cover with a permanent marker so it doesn’t get erased. Now, the question may raise why I should write the date it isn’t necessary and not even related to the gravy’s stored procedure and how long is gravy good for?
Writing date plays a vital role as it is quite natural to forget the date when you have created it. That’s why it is better to write the date so that you don’t mistakenly eat the gravy that was made a long time ago. No matter how precisely you store the gravy and it remains in a good state, it is never a good idea to eat the gravy that was created more than 6 months ago.
So exactly how long does gravy last? Although you can store your gravy by freezing for at least 4 to 6 months, it is still best to eat it as soon as possible. As it concerns your body and health, make sure you write the date carefully to avoid any problems.
It is best to write the date on the cover before pouring the gravy on the container as later it will be tough to write on the cover with the container full of gravy.
Step 4: Placement in the Freezer
After doing the above steps, the next step is to keep the container in the freezer. In this step, you need to ensure that you keep the gravy in a flat and upright position. Otherwise, you may end up dropping your gravy all over the freezer, which you would never want to happen. That’s why place it properly.
Moreover, you can use an extra bag around the container to protect the gravy from splitting any other place.
Step 5: Allow it to Settle in the Freezer
Lastly, allow your gravy to freeze in the freezer for at least an overnight to freeze completely. However, you can use it whenever you want within 6 months. Just make sure that you take only that portion out that you will need. Because if you take the whole thing out, it may affect your gravy’s taste and freshness.
Method 2: Step by Step Procedure for Freezing Gravy in Ice Cubes
Storing the gravy in the ice cubes is an excellent idea for preserving the gravy. It is very useful to use. You can easily use the amount you need without not even a slight effect on the rest gravy.
Moreover, they act as the stock cube or an excellent base just to give an additional taste to the food for making your day.
Although, storing the gravy in the ice cubes may seem easy. But there is an exact step by step procedure for storing it properly. They are:
- The 1st job undoubtedly is cooling the gravy completely.
- Once it is cooled, get clean and dry ice cube trays for storing your delicious gravy.
- After grabbing the cubes, start pouring the gravy into each cube carefully. Make sure that you do not fill the cubes full to the top as it is required to keep some gaps so the gravy can expand within that gap without getting split in the cube.
- Once the pouring is done, the next step is placing the ice cube trays in the freezer.
- After the cubes have completely frozen, you can take them out easily from the tray and then transfer them into a label and dated bag for further use. Or you can also use it directly from the ice cube tray.
Therefore, these are the 5 steps that you can follow for freezing your gravy in the ice cube trays.
Things to Consider before Freezing the Gravy
There are some key things that you need to keep in your mind before freezing the gravy. They are written below for your betterment so you can know about these things:
- The gravy that is made using flour is more likely to stay fresh than the cream ones. You can easily store the flour-based gravy at the normal temperature in the fridge for about 5 to 6 days. There will be no effect on the taste and freshness. On the other hand, the cream-based gravy can be stored for only 1-2 days in the fridge. After this, it will not taste good and will start to get rotten. Therefore, if you store the flour or cream gravy in the fridge, eat it within this time limit. Otherwise, you will not be able to eat after these limited days.
- The fat and the milk products gravy are more likely to get separated when defrosted. Therefore, giving the sauce a rough texture. So if you know beforehand that you will be freezing your gravy, we suggest that you use less milk and fat while making your gravy.
- Before freezing, you can use a food processor for blending the gravy. This process can largely minimize the chances of your gravy getting separated from its ingredients while defrosting.
- We highly suggest you not freeze the leftover gravy that is affected by contaminated serving spoons. If any other slight food particles get mixed with the gravy, it can create dangerous bacteria, which can cause food poisoning to anyone who eats it. It is something that you will never want to happen to you or anyone. Hence, before freezing leftover gravy, carefully check and then store it.
- For freezing the gravy in the ice cube tray, measure each cube’s amount before filling it. Generally, ice cubes’ standard measurements are 2 tablespoons in volume, but they may differ from company to company.
- In case your gravy is too thin, you can add cornflour starch in a 2:1 ratio to thicken it.
- In case your gravy is too thick, you can add water or stock to get the right texture.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have now understood about can you freeze gravy. There are two ways to store gravy: heating it for a long time and another is freezing it. However, the best and the easiest method to keep the sauce for a more extended period is the freezing method.
You can store the gravy without hampering its taste and texture for at least 4 to 6 months by keeping it properly. Although freezing is the best way to store gravy, we still recommend eating the fresh one rather than eating it after a long time. Because nothing can beat the nutrients level and taste that eating fresh food can give us.
FAQ
People tend to have a lot of confusion about freezing gravy. It is normal to have doubts as gravy along with being a tasty food, is also a complex food when it comes to freezing. So, here we are to clear all your doubts by giving the answers to the most asked questions in our FAQ section. Check them below to clarify your ones also.
Can you freeze homemade sausage gravy?
Yes, you can freeze and store homemade sausage gravy comfortably for at least three months. But for doing that, you need to freeze it properly.
So, to freeze homemade sausage gravy: The 1st step is cooling the sausage gravy. Once it is cooled completely, then transfer it into a Ziploc bag or a sandwich container in a level position.
Can you reheat the gravy twice?
Yes, you can reheat gravy twice comfortably by having the same taste. You can make the gravy weeks ago and reheat it as many times as you want by keeping the original taste intact. But for that, you need to freeze it properly using some necessary steps for freezing gravy properly.
Can you freeze the gravy made with cornstarch?
Well, the answer to this question is yes. But there is a problem with freezing the gravy made with cornstarch. We normally want our gravy to have a thick texture. For these, many of us use cornstarch for thickening it. Although it doesn’t have any problem in taste while eating right away, if you freeze it, you will see that the thick texture is no more.
Can you freeze the gravy made with Bisto?
A gravy made with Bisto will stay fresh for at least 4 months in the freezer. So, yes, you can easily freeze it in an airtight container by following the steps properly of freezing the gravies. However, the taste may alter a bit, but it will remain fresh.
Can you freeze the gravy made with milk?
Yes, you can freeze gravy made with milk. But the original taste of it will change, for which it is better not to freeze gravy made with milk for a long time.
Instead, you can make the only required amount and finish it within that time for relishing the exact taste. However, you can keep it fresh for 5-7 days in the refrigerator and 6-12 months in the freezer.
What are the best things for freezing gravy?
The best things for freezing gravy for long-time storage are freezer ziplock bags, airtight containers, freezer-safe glass jars, or ice cube trays. Among all of these, ice cube trays are best for storing as it allows to keep in smaller portions. Moreover, it lets you use it whenever you want without touching the rest, thus resulting in more food longevity.
Can you freeze the gravy in a glass jar?
The normal glass jars usually tend to get cracked if they freeze. That’s why for freezing gravy in a glass jar for a long time, you need to use either tempered glass (like the can glass jars) or freezer-safe glass jars.
However, even freezer-safe glass jars can get cracked if the food expands, always ensure about a 2 to 3 inches gap between the food and the cover.
How long can you keep gravy in the fridge?
You can keep the gravy in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. However, if it is not used, then you can store it by freezing it for at least 4 to 6 months. Though the taste may change a bit in some cases, it will remain fresh and tasty for eating.
Is gravy OK if left out overnight?
The answer to this question is a big no. As if you left the gravy overnight, then dangerous bacteria will develop in it, which is risky to intake. The only way the gravy is safe to store is by freezing it properly in the freezer.
How can I make soup using leftover gravy?
Making soup using the leftover gravy is one of the best use of it. The procedure: at first, add the frozen gravy to the container of cooked vegetables, meat, etc. Then keep mixing till everything is equally coated. After mixing, add about 4-5 cups of water and finally cook it based on your taste.
How do you defrost frozen gravy?
For defrosting frozen gravy, only take out a portion of the freezing gravy you will need as there is no need to defrost the whole sauce. After taking it out from the freezer, place it into the refrigerator for the whole night to let it melt properly.