Alright, let’s talk about this gravy stuff, you know, the kind you pour all over your mashed potatoes and chicken. I heard some folks talking about putting baking powder in it. Now, I ain’t no fancy cook or nothin’, but that just sounds plumb wrong to me.
What is Gravy Anyway?
Gravy, to me, is just the juice from the meat, you know, the stuff that’s left in the pan after you cook a chicken or a roast. You take that juice, and you thicken it up a bit. That’s gravy. Good gravy is thick and savory, not all foamy and weird like some kinda science experiment.
The Right Way to Thicken Gravy
Now, my grandma, she always used flour to thicken her gravy. She’d take a little bit of flour, mix it with some water or milk, and then stir it into the pan juices. You gotta stir it good though, or you’ll get lumps, and nobody wants lumpy gravy. I’ve heard some folks use cornstarch too, says it makes the gravy shiny. Never tried it myself, but flour always worked just fine for me.
- Flour is good, real good. Mix it with water first, though. Don’t just dump it in the pan, you’ll make a mess.
- Cornstarch, that’s what city folks use, I hear. Makes things shiny, whatever that means.
Baking Powder? No Sir!
But baking powder? That’s for making biscuits rise up all fluffy and light. It ain’t got no business in gravy. Baking powder makes things puff up, you see? Gravy ain’t supposed to puff up. Gravy is supposed to be smooth and thick, not like some kinda bubbly mess.
Why Baking Powder is a Bad Idea
I reckon if you put baking powder in your gravy, it’ll taste all funny. And it might get all foamy and weird looking. Nobody wants that. Gravy should taste like meat and spices, not like some kinda chemical concoction.
And another thing, baking powder’s got that kinda… metallic taste, you know? It’ll ruin the whole flavor of your gravy. You spend all that time cooking a good chicken or roast, you don’t want to go and mess it up with bad gravy, do ya?
What Happens When You Add Baking Powder to Gravy?
Well, I ain’t never done it myself, and I don’t plan on it neither. But I reckon it’ll make the gravy all fizzy and light, like a soda pop. That’s not what you want. You want gravy to stick to your food, not float away like some kinda cloud. I heard tell it’ll give it a funny taste too, kinda bitter, kinda like soap. Just plain nasty, is what it is.
Stick to the Basics
So, if you want good gravy, stick to the basics. Use flour or cornstarch, and don’t go messing around with baking powder or any of that other fancy stuff. Good food ain’t complicated. Just use good ingredients, and cook it right.
Making Gravy Like Grandma Used To
You take that pan after you cooked your meat, see? And you pour off most of the grease, but leave a little bit in there. Then you put your pan on the stove, medium heat. Sprinkle in some flour, maybe two or three tablespoons, depending on how much gravy you want. Stir it around with a fork or a spoon until the flour is all mixed in with the grease.
Then you start adding your liquid, a little bit at a time. You can use water, or milk, or even broth if you got it. Just keep stirring and adding liquid until the gravy is as thick as you want it. Add a little salt and pepper, maybe some other spices if you like. And that’s it. Good, old-fashioned gravy.
Where to Buy Good Gravy Mix (If You Must)
Now, if you ain’t got time to make gravy from scratch, I reckon you can buy those little packets at the store. Just add water, and you got yourself some gravy. But it ain’t gonna taste as good as the real thing, that’s for sure. And for goodness sake, don’t buy any gravy mix that says it’s got baking powder in it! That’s just plain wrong.
Final Thoughts on Gravy and Baking Powder
So, there you have it. My two cents on gravy and baking powder. Don’t mix ’em. It’s just common sense, really. Stick to the flour, or the cornstarch if you’re feeling fancy. And you’ll have good gravy every time.
Looking for Gravy Mix?
If you really ain’t got time to make your own gravy and those store-bought packets are your only option, well, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do. I heard tell you can even find them on places like eBay. Just make sure you read the label real careful-like. We want gravy, not some science experiment.
And that’s all I gotta say about that. Now go make yourself some gravy, and don’t you go puttin’ no baking powder in it!
Tags: [gravy, baking powder, cooking, flour, cornstarch, homemade gravy, gravy recipe, thickener, pan gravy, kitchen tips]
