How to Thicken Gravy, According to Our Test Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

How to Thicken Gravy, According to Our Test Kitchen? ›

One way to thicken gravy with flour is by making a slurry. A slurry is made by whisking 2 tablespoons of flour with cold water, which then gets whisked into the gravy.

Thicken Gravy with a Roux

To make your roux, use an equal amount of flour and fat, like butter or oil, and follow these steps: Melt the butter or heat the oil in a skillet or saucepan on medium heat. Add the flour and whisk into the fat until all lumps are gone.

Browning adds more flavor to the gravy and gets rid of the raw flour taste. You're basically making a roux. We find that a flour-based gravy holds up better and reheats better later, which is why we tend to prefer using flour over cornstarch to make gravy unless we have a guest who is eating gluten-free.

Use two tablespoons flour mixed with ¼ cup cold water for each cup of medium-thick sauce. Thoroughly mix in the water to prevent lumps. After stirring the combined flour and water into the sauce, cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Heat one minute more to cook the flour thoroughly.

Cornstarch is the most common thickening agent used in the industry. It is mixed with water or juice and boiled to make fillings and to give a glossy semi-clear finish to products.

It is possible to thicken gravy without flour or cornstarch, and it's as simple as keeping it on the heat. When gravy is left to simmer or reduce, it naturally thickens, so be patient with your gravy. One downside to reducing gravy, though, is that it can become too salty.

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

Slurry. This thickener is a smoothly blended mix of all-purpose flour and water or other liquid, such as stock. For example, to thicken three cups of simmering stock to make gravy, combine 1/4 cup (for thinner gravy) or 1/3 cup (for thicker gravy) all-purpose flour in a bowl with 1/2 cup water or stock.

Cornstarch is one of the most commonly used thickeners, but it has some unique traits. So thanks for the good question! Cornstarch must be cooked to 95°C (203°F) before thickening begins. At that point, it usually thickens fairly quickly and the sauce turns from opaque to transparent.

What thickens better than cornstarch? ›

Glucomannan

It's a far more powerful thickening agent by amount, so use about half the amount of glucomannan as you would cornstarch. About one teaspoon to every cup of liquid is a common suggestion. Since glucomannan tends to clump in high heat, mix it with cold water before adding it to your dish.

This is because cornstarch is composed only of starch, while all-purpose flour contains starch, fiber, and protein. One of these proteins is gluten, which helps give bread its elasticity and chew. Because cornstarch doesn't contain gluten, it is gluten free and safe for people with celiac disease.

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.

Besan or gram flour is usually added to potato based dishes and gives a nice 'halwa wala taste' to the sabzi. Make sure you roast the gram flour first and then add it to ward off the raw smell. Besan is a healthy substitute for corn flour or refined flour to make gravies thicker.

To make a good cheese sauce or gravy, you need a thickening agent. Cornstarch and flour are two common thickening agents in the home kitchen. Both are cereal starches and when they're mixed with a liquid and then heated, they gelatinize.

One of the most commonly used food thickeners is starch, which works by absorbing liquid and swelling to create a thicker consistency. Cornstarch or flour are often used to thicken gravies or sauces due to their neutral flavor profile.

The roux not only thickens the gravy but also adds a rich, nutty flavour to it. To make a roux, simply melt the fat in a pan, add the flour, and cook it gently until it has a smooth consistency. Cornstarch is another popular thickening agent that is commonly used in gravies.

Cornstarch, tapioca, arrowroot, potato starch, and others will thicken liquid quite effec- tively and result in a smooth translucent gel or glaze. The differences are found in how much of each it takes to thicken the same amount of liquid equally. Eventually slurry-based sauces break down.