Need to know how to fix gravy when its too thick? Too thin? Too lumpy or gloppy? No worries—heres what to do.
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.
How to Fix Greasy Gravy
If your gravy is greasy, it likely had too much fat and not enough starch. Shannon suggests adding a cornstarch slurry to the gravy to fix it. The excess fat will bind with the cornstarch, reducing the grease factor. You may only need 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 teaspoon water, or you may need as much as a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed into a few tablespoons of water, depending on how thick your gravy is.
If you add too much cornstarch, don’t fret; you can always thin the gravy using the method above.
How to Fix Bland Gravy
Bland gravy: Is there anything sadder? Fortunately, Shannon has several suggestions for fixing bland gravy, starting by adding a bouillon cube, herbs or a splash of wine or cognac. But if you have time to spare, add pan drippings from turkey, bacon or bacon drippings, caramelized vegetables (like onions, leeks, carrots and celery), herbs or garlic.
You’ll want to simmer the gravy with these additions for a good 20 minutes to pick up the additional flavors (longer, if possible). You can strain any additions out using a fine mesh strainer before serving the gravy.
3 Ways to Thicken Gravy for Thanksgiving | Food 101 | Well Done
FAQ
What’s the best gravy thickener?
Will gravy thicken as it cools?
How do you thicken gravy without cornstarch or flour?
How do you fix a runny gravy?
Luckily, most gravy problems are fixable. If your gravy is runny, you can let it cook longer or add a roux or slurry to thicken it up. With lumpy or thick gravy, you can use a whisk or strainer to remove chunks or add some more fluid to increase your gravy’s runniness.
What if my gravy is runny?
Don’t stress if you run into trouble with your . We have a rescue for any gravy pitfall. If your gravy is runny, you can simmer it longer to thicken, but if it’s go time and the gravy still looks watery, there’s a faster fix: Whisk in a spoonful (and up to ½ cup) instant potato flakes.
What should I do if my gravy breaks?
If you do end up with lumps, strain them out with a fine-mesh strainer or pulse the gravy with an immersion blender to smooth things out. A sauce will break if it’s heated too quickly or if it comes to a rapid boil after adding the thickener.
How do you thicken gravy if it’s runny?
If your gravy is runny, you can simmer it longer to thicken, but if it’s go time and the gravy still looks watery, there’s a faster fix: Whisk in a spoonful (and up to ½ cup) instant potato flakes. It might sound like a joke to add potato to a sauce for mashed potatoes, but this truly is an easy way to give gravy a velvety texture