If you have just enjoyed a weekend plan with delicious dishes, chances are higher that gravy will be left. Mash dinner and weeknight sausage need gravy as a staple. If the quantity of gravy was way too much, you could easily store it. In case you want, you can use it the next day and enjoy your meal in the same manner.
Can you freeze gravy? Then the answer is yes! You have to put the gravy into freezer bags, ice cube trays, or airtight containers. Make sure you properly put the gravy before storing it. Even when the shelf life is based on the ingredients in the gravy, keeping it in an airtight container can ensure its quality.
Freezing the leftover gravy is one of the best ways to reduce waste. Even when it is small in quantity, you can still keep them stored. The best way is to keep smaller amounts in the ice tray. Whenever you need the gravy, you can just pop the ice cube on the dish. This makes it easy to enjoy your dish without having any food wastage.
However, it takes a lot of knowledge on how to freeze gravy. You cannot expect your gravy to remain in its quality if you don’t know the way to preserve it. So let us find out more about it.
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How to Freeze Gravy?
Before you attempt to freeze the gravy, you must wait until the gravy cools down. You should never pour the hot gravy into the container. This is applicable for homemade gravy and if you have prepared using instant granules. Cooling your gravy is a must before freezing it.
Moreover, you also need to pay attention to the portions of gravy you are freezing. When you keep more significant portions of gravy, it will take more time to freeze. So let us check about the way to freeze your leftover gravy.
Use a ziplock bag or a freezer-proof container. Pour the gravy that you have cooled down after cooking. Bags are mostly recommended as it becomes easy to lay then flat. Thus, even when you have more bags of leftovers, it would not take up much space with bags.
You need to make sure that you have left some space on top of the bag. Never try to overfill your bag, as your gravy needs some room when it freezes. Keeping the space will give space for air circulation.
Label the container with the date to give you the knowledge about the date and time. Making it specific by writing the name of the gravy as beef gravy or chicken gravy would help. This will make it easy in the future.
So now that you have found it, you know that it is not difficult at all. You just need a suitable container to store the gravy.
How to defrost gravy?
Before you use it, there is always a need to defrost the gravy in the fridge overnight. Even when it is possible to defrost gravy on the countertop, the risk remains of becoming too warm. Thus, it makes it an ideal place for the bacteria to grow. Therefore, you have to be very vigilant about it.
Remember that when you keep more extensive portions of gravy, it will take much longer to thaw. If you choose to use a 2-liter bowl, you must thaw it for 48 hours before using it in the fridge. Thus, the chances of damage are even more.
Keeping the gray in small portions makes it easy to defrost in the microwave. Make sure that you use the usual settings for defrosting.
How to reheat frozen gravy?
You can find a range of ways to reheat the gravy.
If you are using a stove, you just have to place your pan and heat it on a medium flame. Keep whisking to prevent and avoid hotspots. Make sure that the gravy is fully heated before you serve it. This is when you should be able to smell the flavors.
If you want to use the microwave:
- Use a microwave-safe container. You can also use a plastic container.
- Keep the lid covered to prevent splattering of gravy everywhere.
- Keep it high and keep stirring every 60 seconds.
- Make sure it has reached 75 degrees Celsius before you serve it.
How Long Can You Keep Gravy in The Freezer?
You can store gravy for a good 4 to 6 months without finding any quality reduction. However, make sure you don’t poke it now and then. After 6 months of time, you might not find the same taste and flavors. It is usually not recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you store chicken gravy?
When it is homemade gravy, which is prepared with fresh meat, it can be used for two days. However, you have to make sure that you are refrigerating it properly to maintain its quality.
Does mushroom gravy expire faster?
If the mushroom gravy preparation is made at home, you have to store it correctly. Remember, everything remains great when we store them properly. However, it is recommended not to consume it after three days. After three days, it will expire. Always use a glass jar or airtight container on the lower portion of your fridge.
How to say that the gravy has turned bad?
Remember that no gravy can stay good for long. Chances are there that it has gone wrong even before refrigeration. All you have to do is to smell it to find if there are any dark spots or unpleasant smells. If you find any of these, the gravy is not good to eat.
Can You Freeze Gravy Summary
Freezing gravy is possible, but only when you know how to store it. Now that you have comprehensive knowledge about how to store and for how long, it will become easy. However, if you want to enjoy the best health, it is not advised not to store it longer. The faster you have it, the lesser chance it will damage your health.
Since many ingredients are put together to prepare the gravy, it has less shelf life. So, freeze the leftover gravy but make sure you don’t keep it in the fridge for long.
