Make Ahead
Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy
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66 Reviews
Sue
November 17, 2024
I absolutely hate to say this but I just spent a day making this - by the way I have been cooking for over 30 yrs - this was the most bland disappointing excuse for a gravy that I have ever made. I tried every trick in the book to make it have flavor but it was terrible, Sorry everyone I have no idea how anyone can think this is good. I followed it to the letter - had to throw it out and what a waste and a disappointment. The gravy I make on the day is amazing just thought I would try and make extra - in my opinion it’s disgusting and a complete waste of time and money - Sorry!
Tom C.
October 7, 2023
This is our go-to recipe for chicken stock. I imagine that it makes great turkey gravy as well, but we've never tried that. :)
Margaret G.
November 27, 2022
This was an amazing gravy. I was a little concerned when I first started the process. The pre-made portion tasted good but a little flat. Once reheated day of and with the addition of about half the drippings from the brined bird it became an AMAZING gravy. People are still talking about it 3 days later.
[email protected]
November 19, 2022
I did this last year for the first time and I will never go back to making gravy the day of Thanksgiving after the turkey is done! I hate that last minute crunch where basically everyone seems to be waiting for me to make the gravy so we can eat! This make ahead gravy is DELICIOUS and dependable. 5 stars!
Anyway, this year I was unable to get any turkey wings. I did find a package of two turkey legs. I plan on doubling the recipe - should I use both turkey legs or is one enough for now? I can always freeze the other or roast it with the whole bird on T-day. Thanks!
Anyway, this year I was unable to get any turkey wings. I did find a package of two turkey legs. I plan on doubling the recipe - should I use both turkey legs or is one enough for now? I can always freeze the other or roast it with the whole bird on T-day. Thanks!
AntoniaJames
November 20, 2022
One turkey leg should be enough. I just made a luscious quart of turkey stop using just the back and neck.
Here's a tip: If you have a cast iron skillet that is large enough, heat it to very hot on the stove, then add the turkey parts, then put it in the hot oven to roast. I streamlined the vegetables this year, using just one onion, and no other vegetables. I halved the onion before putting it in the hot skillet after the turkey parts had been in the oven for about 20 minutes. I took everything out at 35 minutes, put the turkey parts and onion into my Instant Pot with some water, and proceeded with the stock. I put about a cup of water in the skillet on the top of the stove, over medium heat, to help scrape up the stuck bits, cooking down the water to just a few tablespoons. I melted the butter in the skillet on top of those drippings, added the flour, and made the roux right there in the skillet. When the stock was done, I finished making the gravy in the skillet. It's luscious, and oh, is it tasty.
There wasn't that much fat in the skillet after roasting the turkey parts, and the stock didn't seem too fatty, either (necks and backs just aren't that fatty), so i didn't cool and scrape fat off of the stock or the drippings. The fat is full of flavor, so I left well enough alone, with great results. ;o)
Here's a tip: If you have a cast iron skillet that is large enough, heat it to very hot on the stove, then add the turkey parts, then put it in the hot oven to roast. I streamlined the vegetables this year, using just one onion, and no other vegetables. I halved the onion before putting it in the hot skillet after the turkey parts had been in the oven for about 20 minutes. I took everything out at 35 minutes, put the turkey parts and onion into my Instant Pot with some water, and proceeded with the stock. I put about a cup of water in the skillet on the top of the stove, over medium heat, to help scrape up the stuck bits, cooking down the water to just a few tablespoons. I melted the butter in the skillet on top of those drippings, added the flour, and made the roux right there in the skillet. When the stock was done, I finished making the gravy in the skillet. It's luscious, and oh, is it tasty.
There wasn't that much fat in the skillet after roasting the turkey parts, and the stock didn't seem too fatty, either (necks and backs just aren't that fatty), so i didn't cool and scrape fat off of the stock or the drippings. The fat is full of flavor, so I left well enough alone, with great results. ;o)
emcsull
November 3, 2022
could this be frozen ? if so, at what stage, at best ?
AntoniaJames
November 3, 2022
Yes, it can! I make the recipe all the way to the very end. Be sure to whisk the thawed gravy well before heating it to serve. I always check for salt or acid, too. I often add a quick squeeze of lemon - enough to brighten the gravy up, but not enough to make the lemon flavor noticeable. Thank you for asking. ;o)
emcsull
November 9, 2022
thanks very much for answering, Antonia. At the end stage of a turkey dinner I am always so frazzled I am afraid the gravy suffers, this would save us all from my gravy transgressions !
Sauertea
November 25, 2020
Quick question, I just finished making. It is a little thinner than I remember. The roux and the gravy did not get lumpy. The flavor is amazing. If I want it a little thicker, not too much, what do you suggest?
marthaw
November 22, 2023
Mine is too thin also. Used 4 full TBSP flour. Never got thick paste, and burned the first butter trying.
Any way to thicken it at the end?
Any way to thicken it at the end?
dpatel1ca
November 24, 2020
Hi question regarding the prosciutto after roasting... I assume you include it all in the reserved drippings? Just wasn’t sure as it seems it will make gravy a little chunky.
AntoniaJames
November 24, 2020
Often, they cook down quite a bit. If not, you can chop the larger pieces and add them, but frankly, at that point, they've already provided most of their flavor, so that isn't necessary. I've been known to pop the larger ones into my mouth . . . . ;o)
Sauertea
November 21, 2020
Hi, quick question about making the stock in the pressure cooker. Do you need to reduce it further after the pressure cooking is complete? Those instructions seem to apply to the stove top method, but I just want to be sure. This is the first time I am making this with a pressure cooker. One of my go to holiday recipes!
AntoniaJames
November 23, 2020
Sorry for the delay in responding. I don't reduce it. The vegetables and turkey parts tend to throw off a lot of liquid, so you end up with about 2 quarts, if you start with 1.5 quarts of water. It's so tasty and so full of flavor that I don't bother reducing. I just save the extra for the soup we'll enjoy with turkey leftovers. ;o)
Sauertea
November 23, 2020
Antonia, thanks! I made on Saturday. I ended up with a lovely gelatinous stock. I have made both ways and the instant pot really produces a great stock.
lynnk
November 21, 2020
I making this recipe today and it seems like its going to be amazing but the steps are so convoluted and complicated that I wish I had read them through a couple of times, rewritten them, and then just proceeded on my own
AntoniaJames
November 23, 2020
lynnk, you're right. This can be done much more simply. It's much fussier than necessary. A lot of people have been using this recipe for years, so I'm not going to edit it now, but you've inspired me to post a more streamlined version that's just as good! I'll let you know via this comment thread once I do. Happy Thanksgiving! ;o)
lynnk
November 23, 2020
Thanks Antonia,
My gravy turned out to be worth all the work. I’ll look forward to the streamlined version. Happy Thanksgiving!
My gravy turned out to be worth all the work. I’ll look forward to the streamlined version. Happy Thanksgiving!
Patty
November 21, 2022
This is so fuzzy. The instructions are not clear. Then the comments change the instructions. help! i am making this 3 days ahead. I have the 2 1/2 qts of water in instapot. i've roasted the wings, then added the veggies.. all good so far. I'm stuck w/ the instapot instructions now....... do I do it in 2 steps? do what i can now w/ the drippings, and save them... then wait to make the gravy the day of thanksgiving???? help
AntoniaJames
November 22, 2022
Patty, I'm sorry this has gotten muddled . . . it's become a work in progress, i suppose. When the dust settles after the holidays, I'll see if the editors will let me update this.
What I would do is to throw the wings and the veggies into the Instant Pot as if making stock according to the original instructions, cook on high pressure for 45 minutes or more (though 30 minutes should be sufficient if you have less time), with either natural pressure release or manual after the cooking cycle ends.
What happens next depends on how important it is to get rid of the fat in the stock and in the pan drippings. Wings typically don't have that much fat (nor do back + neck), I've realized, so I've collapsed the process a bit in my own kitchen.
You could proceed the way I did the other day, scraping up the cooked bits from the wings, making the roux, then adding to the roux the scraped bits + drippings. Use a bit of the warm stock to turn the butter + flour + drippings into a thick sauce, if you want to chill the cooked stock so you can scrape off the fat. If not, complete making the gravy using the warm stock.
(If you don't have a fat separator and want to remove some or most of the fat, cool the stock to room temperature -- or colder, using in an ice bath -- and then refrigerate the stock overnight, or however long it takes to let the fat chill on top.). If chilling the stock, it's a good idea also to chill the roux sauce you've made.
You can then finish making the gravy whenever it's convenient..
Please let me know if you need further clarification. (I'm a lawyer who drafts contracts for a living, so it concerns me greatly when anything I've written, anywhere, is not clear!) ;o)
What I would do is to throw the wings and the veggies into the Instant Pot as if making stock according to the original instructions, cook on high pressure for 45 minutes or more (though 30 minutes should be sufficient if you have less time), with either natural pressure release or manual after the cooking cycle ends.
What happens next depends on how important it is to get rid of the fat in the stock and in the pan drippings. Wings typically don't have that much fat (nor do back + neck), I've realized, so I've collapsed the process a bit in my own kitchen.
You could proceed the way I did the other day, scraping up the cooked bits from the wings, making the roux, then adding to the roux the scraped bits + drippings. Use a bit of the warm stock to turn the butter + flour + drippings into a thick sauce, if you want to chill the cooked stock so you can scrape off the fat. If not, complete making the gravy using the warm stock.
(If you don't have a fat separator and want to remove some or most of the fat, cool the stock to room temperature -- or colder, using in an ice bath -- and then refrigerate the stock overnight, or however long it takes to let the fat chill on top.). If chilling the stock, it's a good idea also to chill the roux sauce you've made.
You can then finish making the gravy whenever it's convenient..
Please let me know if you need further clarification. (I'm a lawyer who drafts contracts for a living, so it concerns me greatly when anything I've written, anywhere, is not clear!) ;o)
AntoniaJames
November 16, 2023
I haven't post it yet, but you can get the text from this Google Doc:
https://tinyurl.com/MakeAheadGravy
Hope this helps. ;o)
https://tinyurl.com/MakeAheadGravy
Hope this helps. ;o)
Marty
November 13, 2020
Late to the party here, but what are your thoughts on making gravy this weekend and freezing it for transport for Thanksgiving?
AntoniaJames
November 13, 2020
Yes, that will work. The flavors may need a bit of brightening -- freezing tends to do that -- so be sure to check the seasoning, and perhaps add a touch of cider vinegar or more Worcestershire, right before serving. Give it a good whisking too, while warming it, to even out the consistency. Happy Thanksgiving! ;o)
MannyButt
November 28, 2019
Hello AJ, I am having my Thanksgiving on Saturday. So I’m making my gravy now. I have a couple of ? 1. I am assuming the wings are trash now. 2. Under 10 day you roast your turkey put dripping in metal bowl. Remove harden fat add to gravy while heating. Am I adding the fat??! You have been careful about separating fat. Am I using this? If so why bother with the freezer? FYI: cognac lived on with cork removal. Thank you. Nancy
AntoniaJames
November 29, 2019
Hi, Nancy. To answer your questions:
I am assuming the wings are trash now.
***Yes, they are pretty much spent after doing their service in the stock.
2. Under 10 day you roast your turkey put dripping in metal bowl. Remove harden fat add to gravy while heating. Am I adding the fat??! You have been careful about separating fat. Am I using this? If so why bother with the freezer?
*** Goodness, that needs editing. You scrape the fat off and pour the drippings into the gravy - or if you like a rich gravy, you throw them into the gravy and don't worry about removing the fat. That's what I did this year. There is so much flavor in the fat, and the gravy isn't particularly greasy without it, so I just went for it and frankly, it was one of my best gravies ever.
Here's another tip: Store your made-ahead gravy in a wide-mouthed Mason jar and heat it up in the microwave right before putting it into the boat and out on the table. No pan to clean up! Less traffic on the stove and counter. So convenient. (If freezing the gravy, use a wide-mouth jar and make sure you don't fill it past the "shoulder", to avoid the jar breaking from over-expansion when frozen.
Thanks for the heads up on that ambiguity. I'll go into the recipe and edit it when time permits later. ;o)
I am assuming the wings are trash now.
***Yes, they are pretty much spent after doing their service in the stock.
2. Under 10 day you roast your turkey put dripping in metal bowl. Remove harden fat add to gravy while heating. Am I adding the fat??! You have been careful about separating fat. Am I using this? If so why bother with the freezer?
*** Goodness, that needs editing. You scrape the fat off and pour the drippings into the gravy - or if you like a rich gravy, you throw them into the gravy and don't worry about removing the fat. That's what I did this year. There is so much flavor in the fat, and the gravy isn't particularly greasy without it, so I just went for it and frankly, it was one of my best gravies ever.
Here's another tip: Store your made-ahead gravy in a wide-mouthed Mason jar and heat it up in the microwave right before putting it into the boat and out on the table. No pan to clean up! Less traffic on the stove and counter. So convenient. (If freezing the gravy, use a wide-mouth jar and make sure you don't fill it past the "shoulder", to avoid the jar breaking from over-expansion when frozen.
Thanks for the heads up on that ambiguity. I'll go into the recipe and edit it when time permits later. ;o)
Lina
November 19, 2022
Looking forward to trying this recipe! I like the idea of leaving the stock fat in the gravy. Is it meant to be in addition to, or instead of, the 4T butter? Thank you!
Kara W.
November 25, 2019
How "make ahead" can this be? I'm ready to roll today (Monday of Thanksgiving week) but can't imagine 3 days out is a great idea. Would love any feedback!
AntoniaJames
November 29, 2019
Kara, so sorry I missed this . . . . you can certainly make it on Monday to serve on Thursday. Sunday, probably not.
;o)
;o)
bellaluna
November 24, 2019
We're having our Tday dinner on Tuesday. I'm making gravy tonite. Still into it, but the drippings I've put aside from step #8 are as good or better as any that I've taken from my conventionally roasted turkey drippings which have always served as an awesome base for acclaimed (at my house) gravy. I didn't use cognac, (If I ever had cognac in my house, I must have drunk it before it ever made its way into my recipes) just white wine, as I've always done. I've been doing Tday dinners for 50 years, so I know what a good gravy base tastes like. I'm pretty sure this is going to work out very well. Doing the Judy bird recipe, (best ever!) so it's nice to have a really good recipe that allows for excess gravy to send home with folks.
AntoniaJames
November 29, 2019
Thank you, bellaluna. This year, I bought 4 wings and a thigh, which I roasted with the turkey back (we spatchcock ours) and neck. I broke off the tips of two of the roasted wings and put those in the stock pot, but wrapped and froze the rest of those 2 wings and the thigh, for a nice turkey stew come January (no doubt, this. https://food52.com/recipes/1965-leftover-turkey-sort-of-stroganoff ). I'll use the bones from those pieces to make a bit more stock then as well.
The 2 wings plus back and neck made a perfectly delicious, deeply flavored stock. ;o)
The 2 wings plus back and neck made a perfectly delicious, deeply flavored stock. ;o)
AntoniaJames
November 20, 2019
Here's an update, as I am ticking through my must-do's the week before Thanksgiving and 4 days before the first out-of-towner arrives . . .
It's okay not to roast the vegetables.
You can make the stock in the Instant Pot. I heat the water and the vegetables in the Instant Pot on saute - high during the last quarter hour or so of roasting, throw the roasted back, wings, etc. in, and pressure cook on high for an hour and 15 minutes and then let the pressure release naturally for at least 30 minutes. If I'm busy, I just select the "keep warm" function and proceed as is convenient.
Then I remove as many of the bones, etc., as I can easily grab with my tongs, and chill by putting the Instant Pot into an ice bath in the sink. Actually, when it's in the low 30's or cooler here, as it's been in the evenings lately, I just put the pot out on my patio for an hour or so until the stock is cool enough to refrigerate and/or freeze. I strain to catch all the small bits before putting into containers.
Cheers, everyone. ;o)
It's okay not to roast the vegetables.
You can make the stock in the Instant Pot. I heat the water and the vegetables in the Instant Pot on saute - high during the last quarter hour or so of roasting, throw the roasted back, wings, etc. in, and pressure cook on high for an hour and 15 minutes and then let the pressure release naturally for at least 30 minutes. If I'm busy, I just select the "keep warm" function and proceed as is convenient.
Then I remove as many of the bones, etc., as I can easily grab with my tongs, and chill by putting the Instant Pot into an ice bath in the sink. Actually, when it's in the low 30's or cooler here, as it's been in the evenings lately, I just put the pot out on my patio for an hour or so until the stock is cool enough to refrigerate and/or freeze. I strain to catch all the small bits before putting into containers.
Cheers, everyone. ;o)
Sauertea
November 20, 2019
Thanks for the update. I was going to do in the instant pot, but realized after I doubled the recipe that I had exceeded the capacity of the instant pot. As we speak a double batch is simmering on the stove.
MannyButt
October 19, 2019
Hands down this is the best gravy EVER!!! I tried extremely hard to find turkey wings in October. Ha! I am making Canadian Thanksgiving. I did find Turkey drumsticks. So I used what I had. I was already in shock. For a 20 pound turkey I was charged $60. I followed the instructions. Could not find Wondra Flour. I toasted flour. This gravy is so amazing! I will make it for American Thanksgiving. I’ll be able to get turkey wings in November. One issue. My cognac was so old. Part of the cork fell into the liquor. Wonder if that will ruin the cognac? Make this an grab a big spoon. It is all you will want to eat with the Yorkshire popovers. Thank you very much. Delicious!!
AntoniaJames
October 30, 2019
Thank you, MB. About that cork . . . only way to know is to taste the cognac. If it tastes okay, go with it. Pour out what's left in the bottle into a pitcher, fish or rinse out the cork piece, rinse the bottle, and pour back to cognac into the bottle. Love the idea of eating this gravy with popovers. I will most certainly be giving that a try. ;o)
MannyButt
November 19, 2019
Ladies, thank you for your help. Preparing to make this again. This time with actual turkey wings. Now US Thanksgiving.
Sauertea
October 8, 2019
Hi, quick question. I am dry brining my turkey using the Judy Bird Genius recipe. Does a dry brine present the same concerns as a wet brine if you plan to use drippings from the turkey? I
AntoniaJames
October 11, 2019
It does somewhat, but not as much. I suppose it depends on how much salt you use, and whether you wipe the turkey down well before roasting. In any event, don't add any salt to the gravy and then stir in the drippings judiciously, a bit at a time, tasting along the way.
I should mention, however, that I use un-brined wings, neck and back, roasting them in advance with just a bit of salt, to get lots of pan juice flavor without worrying about the salt. I've found it easy to get those parts well in advance of buying my bird, because the butcher counters a places like Whole Foods and our independent grocers tend to break down a lot of turkeys, selling parts, starting a week or two before Thanks.
Also, I save the pan juices of my brined turkey to use as a seasoning in post-Thanksgiving dishes like turkey sort of stroganoff over toast.
Hope this helps. ;o)
I should mention, however, that I use un-brined wings, neck and back, roasting them in advance with just a bit of salt, to get lots of pan juice flavor without worrying about the salt. I've found it easy to get those parts well in advance of buying my bird, because the butcher counters a places like Whole Foods and our independent grocers tend to break down a lot of turkeys, selling parts, starting a week or two before Thanks.
Also, I save the pan juices of my brined turkey to use as a seasoning in post-Thanksgiving dishes like turkey sort of stroganoff over toast.
Hope this helps. ;o)
AntoniaJames
October 11, 2019
You're welcome! You can cut about an hour out altogether (assuming 2 hours of simmering the stock) if you have an electric pressure cooker, by cooking on high pressure for 45 minutes and then releasing either naturally or manually - it doesn't matter much. I've been making extraordinary chicken stocks with practically no effort over the past few weeks in my Instant Pot multi-cooker - using up the dozen or so rotisserie chicken carcasses that I accumulated over the summer, along with the odd onion scraps I'd saved in the freezer for this. (I make my everyday stock with onions and bay leaf only.) ;o)
Sauertea
October 11, 2019
Thanks for the follow up. I was going to try chicken stock in the Instant Pot this weekend. I will definitely try the turkey stock using the instant pot
foodynewty
November 21, 2018
If i were to double the gravy recipe, would I use twice the amount of flour called for here?
Cynthia L.
November 12, 2017
Do you get good results if the gravy is made a full day ahead then reheated before serving?
AntoniaJames
November 13, 2017
Yes! It may seem very thick when you take it out of the fridge. Heat it thoroughly before deciding whether to thin it; add stock, a tablespoon at a time, until it’s right. Also, be sure to check the salt. It may need a bit more. Thanks for asking. ;o)
Valerie
November 1, 2017
What color would the wings be if roasted the recommended time? This is my first time trying this recipe. Also, I am thinking of making the liquid part ahead and canning it until ready for use...this year, of course. Another note of interest...when browning your flour it breaks down...I don't know the rules; however, it will not work as a thickener as well as uncooked flour and you might need more than recipe calls for.
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