Saving Thanksgiving Dinner: How to Fix Lumpy or Too-Thin Gravy

It's bad enough messing up in the kitchen when it's just for you or your family, but when you're cooking for a big event with a lot of guests, it can be mortifying. And on a holiday like Thanksgiving that's all about the food, the last thing you want is to botch a key component of the meal.

Gravy is one of those things that most people don't make very often, so it can be easy to make a mistake on the big day. Sometimes it comes out too thick, too thin, or just plain lumpy. Whatever your problem, you can still save the day (or dinner).

How to Fix Lumpy Gravy

When it comes to gravy, smoother is always better. Lumps are formed when the thickening agent (usually flour) incorporates unevenly with the fat. You can prevent it from happening by mixing the flour with butter to make a roux before adding the broth or drippings, but how do you get rid of lumps that have already formed?

Strain with a Mesh Sieve

Pour your gravy through the finest mesh sieve or colander you have to strain out the lumps. You may not catch every last one, but it will get rid of the biggest ones.

Use a Blender

You can also put your gravy through a blender to smooth it out. If it's hot, make sure to take out the center piece of the lid to let the heat vent or you might have an explosion on your hands.

Check out the video from Allrecipes for more details.

Now you've gotten rid of the lumps, but since you're removing some of the flour, you may end up with gravy that's too thin. What now?

How to Fix Watery Gravy

Luckily, thickening gravy is a lot easier than getting rid of the lumps. Depending on what you have on hand, there are a few ways to do it.

Thicken It with Flour

Mix equal parts flour and water to make a paste, then whisk it into your gravy. This will thicken it without creating lumps. It's best to add it gradually so you don't make it too thick.

Thicken It with Cornstarch

If you want to use cornstarch to thicken your gravy, the process is similar. Mix it with water to make what's called a slurry, then whisk it in.

Got your own tips for making perfectly smooth gravy? Share them with us in the comments below.