It's the annual wintry cooking-skill conundrum-figuring out the best way to thicken your gravy. As you start craving chilly weather dishes and comfort foods, like robust roasts, mashed potatoes, and (of course), Thanksgiving turkey, you may find yourself at the stove wondering: Why won't my gravy thicken?
First, Try Reducing the Liquid
One easy way to thicken gravy is to simply reduce the liquid. Add any pan drippings you have to a small or medium-sized saucepan. Then, add in 1 cup of liquid, and simmer on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the liquid reduces by at least a third and the flavors are more concentrated.
No time to simmer? No problem. We certainly don't want your table full of gravy-loving guests to wait. Grab a whisk and follow these tips for how to thicken gravy with cornstarch, flour, or using alternative ingredients in your pantry.
How to Fix Lumpy Gravy
How to Thicken Gravy With Cornstarch
Cornstarch isn't just a handy all-around kitchen staple to keep in your pantry—it's also a gluten-free gravy thickener that saves the day for the gluten-averse. How much cornstarch is needed to thicken gravy? The ratio is an easy one to remember: Use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch per 1 cup of liquid for a perfect gluten-free gravy thickener every time. If you want extra-thick gravy, use 2 tablespoons per 1 cup of liquid (vegetable, chicken, or meat stock, ideally, a combination of pan drippings and stock, or water and bouillon). A good rule of thumb is to start with a single tablespoon-you can always add more.
To thicken gravy with cornstarch and get smooth results, mix the cornstarch with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to make a liquid-like paste or slurry. Another method is to strain the dry cornstarch through a fine-mesh sieve, although using this method to thicken gravy may result in a more lumpy gravy.
Once you add the cornstarch to your hot liquid, use a whisk or wooden spoon to incorporate it, whisking or stirring constantly until it is well incorporated and the gravy starts to thicken. Bonus: In addition to being a gluten-free gravy thickener, you need less cornstarch than other gravy thickeners to get the job done.
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How to Thicken Gravy With Flour
Similar to cornstarch, the technique to thicken gravy with flour works best if you add a little water to your flour to create a liquid-like paste or slurry (you may also use a fine-mesh sieve to strain the dry flour into the hot liquid). However, when using flour as a gravy thickener, you must double the amount—use 2 tablespoons of flour per 1 cup of liquid. Use a whisk or wooden spoon to incorporate, stirring constantly until you thicken the gravy to the desired consistency.
How to Make Classic Gravy
How to Thicken Gravy Without Cornstarch or Flour
Don't have cornstarch or flour on-hand? There are lots of cornstarch alternatives and flour substitutes you can use (many are gluten-free gravy thickeners, too)-you just need to get a little creative. Here are a few pantry items you can use to thicken gravy.
This powder comes from rhizomes of the Marantaceae family of tubers. It's a great natural substitute for those needing a gluten-free gravy thickener. As with using cornstarch or flour to thicken gravy, make a slurry with your arrowroot powder by mixing 2 to 3 tablespoons with an equal amount of water. Add to 1 cup hot liquid with a whisk or wooden spoon, stirring until incorporated and the gravy thickens.
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Tapioca
Tapioca is derived from the cassava root. To thicken gravy, add 1 ½ teaspoons of tapioca starch into the hot liquid, whisking until well incorporated and the gravy thickens.
RELATED: The Safety Tip You Need to Know Before Cooking With Cassava
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Potato Starch
This gluten-free gravy thickener requires 1 tablespoon of starch mixed with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Whisk or stir into 1 cup of hot liquid, stirring constantly until the gravy thickens.
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Pureed Vegetables
Who knew? This smart way to thicken gravy allows you to use what's in your veggie crisper. Roast any kind of potato, parsnip, beet, or carrot, puree in a blender or food processor, and stir into gravy until completely incorporated. (Just remember: Vegetables have their unique flavors, so you'll be altering the taste of your stock base with whatever vegetable you decide to add.)
If your gravy is on the skimpy side, you can thicken it quickly with flour or cornstarch. But don't add your thickener directly to the gravy, which will create lumps. Instead, try stirring in three or four tablespoons of flour or cornstarch into a small amount of cold water until you have a smooth paste.
Mix 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder with 3 tablespoons water until dissolved for every 1 cup of gravy. While whisking the gravy constantly over medium heat, add the arrowroot mixture a little bit at a time. Cook, whisking often, until the gravy thickens.
What's the difference between using cornstarch or flour to make your gravy? Cornstarch does have more thickening power than wheat flour (because it's pure starch, while flour has some protein in it). So usually you need a little less cornstarch than flour for the equivalent thickening power.
Cornstarch can be subbed in for wheat flour at a 1:2 ratio. Because it's a durable thickener, you only need half the amount of cornstarch to create the same effect. Also, adding cornstarch to a gluten free recipe is a great way to add softness and texture to baked goods while keeping them grain free!
1. All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.
Easy-to-access alternatives are wheat flour, arrowroot flour, and rice flour. These are good alternatives to cornstarch because they are more nutritious and contain fewer carbohydrates and calories. Xanthan and guar gum are much stronger thickeners than cornstarch, but they can be harder to obtain and use.
If you just dump dry flour into the pot, it'll form stubborn lumps. Instead, you need to make a paste of roughly equal parts flour and softened butter, mashing them together until completely smooth, then whisk this paste into the gravy a tablespoon or two at a time, until the gravy has thickened appropriately.
Cornstarch and potato starch are the best options for gravy. Avoid arrowroot and tapioca starches because they can get "stringy" and look artificial in gravy. Cornstarch gravy is more translucent than flour based sauces. Potato starch gravy is more opaque than cornstarch, but less opaque than flour.
Good news: Cornstarch is one of those baking staples that can last for years and doesn't really expire. If cornstarch does go bad, it's usually because moisture or pests have been able to get to it—and you'll notice it immediately. It may have an off taste or flavor (think sour or "funky"), or an off color.
If you don't like using flour or cornflour, a simple sauce reduction does the trick. Let your sauce simmer over heat, uncovered, to evaporate excess liquid. Before you begin to reduce your sauce, remove meat and large vegetable pieces if possible.
If using flour, you'll still want to make a slurry: The ratio is two tablespoons of flour and 1/4 cup of cold water for each cup of liquid. Once you add the slurry to the hot sauce, stir until the mixture turns thick and bubbly.
A roux is a paste made from flour and fat that thickens sauces, and it's essential to a good gravy. You can make it with fat from the bottom of the roasting pan, butter or oil. Aim for one part fat to one part flour.
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium-sized bowl. Pour the gravy through the sieve, pressing gently with a rubber spatula to strain that thick gravy goodness into the bowl. Pour the strained no-lump gravy back into your pan and give it a little whisk to make sure all the lumps are gone and your gravy is smooth.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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