Greasy pan drippings not only ruin the texture of sauce or gravy, but they also make an unhealthy addition to your meal. While you may find it difficult to drain every drop of fat from the pan drippings in roast turkey, for example, each tablespoon you drain removes 13 g of fat and 120 calories. Yes, even though draining fat from pan drippings adds an extra step to dinner preparations, it helps prepare a healthier meal for your friends and family.
Step 1
Transfer the meat or poultry to a serving platter and remove the roasting rack, if you use one.
Step 2
Remove solids from the pan drippings by pouring the liquid through a sieve into a large measuring cup. Discard the solids or save and add them to gravy or sauce for extra flavor.
Step 3
Set the measuring cup in your refrigerator for 2 to 3 minutes or leave it on your kitchen counter for 4 to 5 minutes. During this time, the fat will rise to the top of the cup and the liquid will settle to the bottom.
Step 4
Spoon the fat layer from the cup with a large, shallow spoon. As an alternate option, cover the top of the measuring cup with two to three layers of cheesecloth and pour out the liquid, leaving the solid fat behind.
Step 5
Wait about one minute to allow any additional fat to rise to the surface. Gently wipe the surface of the liquid with a slice of bread to soak up and drain any remaining fat.
Tips and Warnings
- You can also use a commercial tool called a gravy separator to drain fat from pan drippings.
Things You'll Need
- Sieve
- Measuring cup
- Spoon
- Cheesecloth
- 1 slice bread
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