Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

Make Ahead Turkey Gravy is one of the easiest ways to make Thanksgiving a little less stressful. You can make it weeks in advance, freeze it, and have it ready to go when Thanksgiving dinner comes around.

The best part? You don’t even need this year’s turkey to make it!

How Long Does It Take To Thaw A Turkey?

If you’re planning Thanksgiving dinner, knowing when to thaw your turkey is just as important as knowing when to cook it.

A frozen turkey generally needs 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds. Larger birds can take nearly a week to thaw completely, so you’ll want to plan accordingly.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how long it takes to thaw a turkey in the refrigerator:

• 4 to 12 pounds: 1 to 3 days
• 12 to 16 pounds: 3 to 4 days
• 16 to 20 pounds: 4 to 5 days
• 20 to 24 pounds: 5 to 6 days

Once thawed, your turkey can stay in the refrigerator for another 1 to 2 days before cooking.

But here’s another reason I love making turkey gravy ahead of time. You don’t have to wait for your Thanksgiving turkey to thaw before getting started.

You can use homemade stock from a previous turkey, including leftover bones and scraps you’ve saved in the freezer. Or, if you don’t have any turkey stock on hand, chicken stock works too.

How Do I Make A Turkey Stock?

One of my favorite things about roasting a turkey is that you can get another use out of the leftovers.

After Thanksgiving, most people pick the meat off their turkey and throw away the carcass. But those bones, bits of meat, and leftover skin can be used to make a fantastic homemade turkey stock.

Instead of throwing everything away, I like to save those scraps in the freezer until I’m ready to use them.

Making homemade turkey stock is pretty straightforward.

1. Save your turkey scraps. Keep the carcass, bones, skin, and any leftover bits of meat from your roasted turkey. Refrigerate them promptly or freeze them for later.
2. Roast the bones. Roasting the leftover turkey bones and scraps in the oven helps develop a deeper, roasted taste in your stock.
3. Add everything to a pot. Transfer the bones to a large stockpot with onions, carrots, celery, and any herbs you’d like. Cover with cold water.
4. Let it simmer. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for a few hours.
5. Strain the stock. Remove the solids, strain the liquid, and cool it promptly before refrigerating or freezing.

The result is a homemade turkey stock that can be used for gravy, soups, stews, and plenty of other dishes.

For this make ahead turkey gravy recipe, you’ll need six cups of stock.

Homemade is my preference, but don’t let that stop you from making this recipe. Store-bought turkey stock or chicken stock will work just fine.

How Long Can I Freeze My Turkey Leftovers?

If you have a bunch of leftover turkey after Thanksgiving, don’t feel like you need to eat turkey sandwiches for the next four days straight.

Cooked turkey can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, but freezing it gives you quite a bit more time to use it.

For the best quality, cooked turkey leftovers can generally be frozen for 2 to 6 months. Turkey that’s been continuously frozen at 0°F can remain safe beyond that window, although its texture and overall quality may decline.

I recommend separating your leftovers before freezing them. That way, you can pull out exactly what you need without having to thaw everything at once.

Here’s what I typically recommend saving:

• Turkey meat: Shred or slice the leftover turkey and freeze it in portions for soups, casseroles, and sandwiches.
• Turkey bones and carcass: Save these for making homemade turkey stock.
• Turkey skin and scraps: These can go into your stockpot alongside the bones.
• Turkey stock: Freeze extra stock in smaller portions so it’s ready whenever you need it.

Just remember to refrigerate or freeze your leftovers within two hours of cooking, and use airtight, freezer-safe containers to help prevent freezer burn.

Tips For Making The Best Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

Making homemade gravy isn’t particularly difficult, but a few small things can make a big difference.

• Add your stock gradually. When combining the stock with your flour and butter mixture, start with a small amount and whisk until smooth before adding more. This helps prevent lumps.
• Use fresh herbs when possible. Fresh sage and thyme work especially well with turkey. They also give the gravy that familiar smell of Thanksgiving dinner.
• Don’t add too much salt right away. Different stocks contain different amounts of sodium, especially if you’re using store-bought stock. Since this recipe also includes dark soy sauce, it’s best to start with a little salt and adjust as needed.
• Don’t worry if your gravy thickens in the refrigerator. That’s normal. As it cools, the gravy will become thicker and may even take on a gelatin-like consistency, especially if you’re using homemade turkey stock. Once reheated, it should loosen up again.

Storage Instructions

One of the best things about this make ahead turkey gravy is how well it stores. You can prepare it a few days before Thanksgiving or make it much earlier and keep it in the freezer.

How To Store Turkey Gravy In The Refrigerator

Once your gravy is finished, let it cool slightly before transferring it into shallow, airtight containers. Refrigerate it promptly, within two hours of cooking.

Homemade turkey gravy can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. If you’re making it earlier than that, I recommend freezing it instead.

How To Freeze Turkey Gravy

This recipe is designed to be freezer-friendly, so you can make it well ahead of Thanksgiving.

• After cooking, transfer the gravy into freezer-safe containers and chill it promptly. Leave a little room at the top of each container to allow for expansion as it freezes.
• Once chilled, transfer it to the freezer.
• For the best results with this recipe, I recommend using your frozen turkey gravy within 3 months.

I also recommend dividing it into smaller portions if you’re not planning to use all of it at once.

How To Thaw Frozen Turkey Gravy

The easiest way to thaw homemade turkey gravy is to move it from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before you plan to serve it.

Smaller portions will usually thaw overnight, but larger containers may need 24 to 48 hours.

Avoid leaving frozen gravy on the countertop to thaw.

How To Reheat Make Ahead Turkey Gravy

• Once thawed, transfer your turkey gravy to a saucepan over low to medium heat.
• Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to help loosen the gravy as it warms. Whisk frequently to bring everything back together.
• As the gravy heats, it should return to a smooth, pourable consistency.
• Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low until you’re ready to serve.

If your gravy is still too thick, add a little more water or turkey stock until you reach your preferred consistency.

This is also a great time to stir in some of those fresh turkey drippings if you have them. Just bring the gravy back to a boil after adding them.