Can You Freeze Sausage Gravy?

Sausage gravy is a delicious, creamy sauce often served over biscuits for a classic Southern breakfast. It’s made from sausage, milk or cream, and flour. While fresh sausage gravy tastes best, you may have leftovers that you want to save for later. So can you freeze sausage gravy?

The short answer is yes; you can absolutely freeze leftover sausage gravy for future use. Freezing is a great way to preserve the shelf life of sausage gravy, so it doesn’t go to waste. With proper storage methods, frozen sausage gravy can last 2–3 months in the freezer.

Below, you’ll find tips on how to freeze and reheat sausage gravy, how long it lasts frozen, and answers to frequently asked questions.

How to Freeze Sausage Gravy

Freezing sausage gravy is easy to do.

Cool the Gravy first.

It’s important to let freshly made gravy cool to room temperature before freezing. Hot gravy put directly into the freezer can lead to unsafe temperature fluctuations. Cooling it down helps prevent bacterial growth.

Pour the gravy into a shallow container and let it come to room temperature, about 1–2 hours. Then you can transfer it to a freezer bag or airtight container.

Use Proper containers.

The best containers for freezing gravy are freezer bags, plastic freezer containers, or tightly sealed mason jars. Make sure to leave about 1/2 inch of headspace in containers to allow for gravy expansion as it freezes.

Exclude Extra Air

Press out any extra air before sealing bags or containers. The less air inside, the better it prevents freezer burn. You can use a straw to suck out excess air from zipper bags.

Label Containers

Clearly label packages with the contents and freeze date so you know how long they’ve been stored. Include reheating instructions too, for easy reference later.

Freeze Flat

Freeze gravy flat, in a single layer if possible, rather than in a big block or mound. This allows the gravy to freeze faster, which preserves its quality. Individual flat packages also thaw more quickly.

Thawing and Reheating Frozen Sausage Gravy

Thawing and reheating gravy is simple. Here are some tips:

• Thaw gravy in the refrigerator overnight, or for quick thawing, run the sealed bag or container under cool water.
• For stove-top reheating, pour the gravy into a saucepan and cook over medium-low, stirring regularly, until heated through. Add a splash of milk if it needs thinning out.
• For microwave reheating, transfer the gravy to a microwave-safe dish, cover, and microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until hot.
• You can also reheat frozen gravy in the oven at 350°F. Cover the container and heat until warmed through, 10–15 minutes.
• Avoid boiling or overheating gravy, as this can cause separation and affect the texture. Reheat gently.
• If needed, add extra broth, milk, or cream to the gravy after reheating to adjust the consistency.

How Long Does Frozen Sausage Gravy Last?

Properly stored, frozen sausage gravy will last 2–3 months in the freezer before quality starts to decline. The gravy may still be safe to eat after that time, but it will lose its fresh flavor.

For best quality, use your frozen sausage gravy within these freezer timelines:

• 2-3 months in a regular freezer at 0°F
• 6–8 months in a deep freezer at -4°F or colder

Write the date you frozen it clearly on packages. Use the oldest packages first when reheating to make sure you enjoy the gravy at peak freshness.

Tips for Freezing Sausage Gravy

Follow these tips for freezing sausage gravy to maximize quality:

• Use high-quality, fresh sausage to make the gravy. Avoid pre-frozen sausage.
• Cool the gravy to room temperature before freezing.
• Use freezer bags, containers, or mason jars to prevent freezer burn.
• Remove as much air as possible and freeze flat in portions.
• Avoid overcrowding the freezer, which slows down freezing.
• Once thawed, use gravy within 1-2 days and avoid refreezing if possible.
• If gravy separates upon thawing, use an immersion blender or whisk vigorously to re-emulsify.

Can You Freeze Sausage Gravy With Sausage in It?

You can freeze sausage gravy with the sausage pieces still in it. However, for best results, it’s recommended to freeze the gravy base and sausage separately.

Here’s why:

• Freezing raw sausage directly in gravy can compromise food safety if the gravy takes too long to freeze. Raw sausage should be frozen quickly.
• Frozen sausage bits will thaw at a different rate than the gravy, leading to uneven heating and potentially unsafe temperatures when reheating.
• Frozen bits of sausage may degrade the texture of the gravy over time.

For the safest results and best quality, cook the sausage fully before making the gravy. Then freeze the cooked sausage pieces separately from the gravy base. Add the sausage back in after you reheat the gravy.

Can You Freeze Milk Sausage Gravy?

Yes, milk-based sausage gravy freezes well. Milk has enough fat and emulsifiers to keep the gravy stable in the freezer.

Just be sure to thoroughly reheat thawed milk gravy, as dairy products are prone to harboring bacteria if not reheated to safe internal temperatures.

Bring the milk gravy to a rolling boil when reheating on the stove. Reheat in the microwave until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Whisk well before serving to evenly distribute the ingredients.

Can You Freeze Sausage Gravy With Biscuits?

It’s not recommended to freeze sausage gravy poured over raw biscuits, as this creates issues with safely thawing and reheating the gravy.

A better method is to freeze the sausage gravy and biscuits separately. Thaw the components in the fridge overnight, then assemble and bake the biscuits topped with gravy right before serving.

You can also fully bake the biscuits first, then freeze them layered between parchment. Reheat the frozen baked biscuits in the oven and top with hot gravy for an easy meal.

Get Creative with Your Frozen Sausage Gravy

Freezing sausage gravy ensures you’ve always got some on hand for fast breakfasts. But don’t stop at just biscuits and gravy! Consider these creative ways to use thawed frozen gravy:

• Mix it into scrambled eggs or an omelet.
• Top a baked potato with bacon, cheese, and scallions.
• Fill crepes or Swedish pancakes and roll them up.
• Toss with roasted vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower.
• Layer it into a lasagna instead of cheese sauce.
• Stir into the rice for a creamy sausage rice bowl.
• Use it as a dip for chicken tenders or fries.
• Mix with cooked pasta shells or rigatoni.
• Use it as a sauce on pizza instead of marinara.
• Fill into crepes or Swedish pancakes and roll up.
• Pour over biscuit dough for chicken pot pie.

With endless possibilities, you’ll look forward to ice-cold mornings when you can enjoy a hot bowl of thawed, hearty sausage gravy.

So go ahead and double up your next batch—freezing ensures you can savor sausage gravy anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to thaw frozen sausage gravy?

The safest way to thaw frozen sausage gravy is by placing the sealed container in the refrigerator overnight or for 24 hours. You can also run the sealed gravy under cool water for quicker thawing. Do not thaw at room temperature.

Can you refreeze thawed sausage gravy?

It’s best not to refreeze thawed sausage gravy. Refreezing can compromise the quality and create safety issues. Only refreeze if the gravy was never brought up to room temperature after thawing. Even then, use within 1-2 days.

How can you tell if frozen sausage gravy is bad?

Signs that frozen sausage gravy has spoiled include an off-odor, a change in color, an unusual texture, or mold growth. Gravy that smells sour or ammonia-like is past its prime. Discard it if it displays any odd signs instead of tasting it.

Why does my frozen gravy separate when thawed?

A thin water layer on thawed gravy is normal. Vigorously whisking or blending it will re-emulsify it. If gravy separates dramatically, it froze too slowly or thawed too quickly. It’s still safe to eat, but the texture may be off.

Can you substitute frozen gravy in a recipe?

Yes, thawed and heated frozen gravy can be substituted in any recipe calling for fresh gravy. You may need to adjust consistency by adding a bit of extra milk or broth if needed after reheating.