Freezes fine!....I've done it many times....make sure it has some fat in it....don't completely de-fat the broth.
Maybe even put some meat in it for her. I often freeze some leftover Turkey and gravy for me to thaw and heat for a hot turkey sandwich...or some potroast and gravy....yummy!

Yes, Annie, it freezes well. Sometimes (not always) it thaws looking a bit funky. Just give it a stir & it's good to go. Nice of you to look after Shirley. I'm sure she'll love having the gravy for her 'taters.

/tricia

I freeze leftover Thanksgiving turkey gravy all the time. As Triciae indicated, it can separate a bit upon thawing. I whisk it while I'm reheating, and it's perfectly fine. I like using a smaller whisk for the smaller amount, so perhaps that might be a good addition to her kitchen utensils. I've got a couple of small metal whisks and a couple of small non-stick whisks, so I can use them with any type of pan. I got them from Amazon.

thanks, everyone. I figured if Banquet could do it, I could, but I didn't want to freeze a bunch and have it all be inedible.

Shambo, I'm not sure what she has as kitchen utensils, she has never liked to cook and would happily eat McDonald's burgers, Taco Bell tacos and some kentucky Fried Chicken every single day. but since she was on dialysis for a while and had both heart valves replaced and now has a pacemaker, she has to watch the sodium/etc.

Since she's not supposed to eat what she really likes and never liked to cook even when she was physically able to do it, I'm assuming she has pretty much nothing for kitchen utensils.

I'm also going to have to pick up some disposable plates, she doesn't wash dishes either, and the last time I was there the sink was full of dirty dishes and it smelled awful.

Annie

Oh Annie, welcome to my world. Now RUN! Yeah, I know. You can't run either. This sounds too much like a visit to my ex's apartment who also would happily live on fast food, except that it would kill him. And he usually does the dishes. He finally has made the connection between what he eats (processed foods loaded with sodium) and trips to the ER because he is so full of retained fluid that he can't breathe. Bless his congested little heart, he is learning to cook fresh food! He calls me for instructions every few days. I don't bother with recipes, I just give him methods and seasoning ideas. Now he brags to me about how good his cooking is. (Eye roll.)

I would freeze the gravy in ice cube trays, then transfer to ziplok bags. She can pull out as much as she wants. :)

Moni

Gravy freezes very well and I think it will be particularly manageable in small amounts. As Moni suggests, freeze in ice cube containers and let her put one or two into her microwave potatoes, or freeze slightly larger amounts in freezer-safe and microwavable containers.

Annie, as above, do the gravy in the ice cube trays so she can use as needed/wanted.
When my MIL passed away, my FIL was just devestated! He had never cooked in his life!
He started eating from cans and eating out (both BIG sodium problems)
I started doubling up my recipes and vaccume packing them with my foodsaver. Mostly home made soups, stews, healthy casseroles etc.
Other relatives pitched in, and things are going OK these days!
HTH Nancy

Have found that gravy freezes just fine. I think what you thicken with (flour v corn starch) can make a difference. I prefer flour... corn starch seems to separate and thin when thawed.

I agree. Gravy thickened with a roux freezes nicely.

That freezing in an ice cube tray is a good idea, thanks! And yes, I always thicken my gravy with flour, cornstarch gives it a gelatinous consistency that I don't like.

Barnmom, the only reason she doesn't eat the fast food is that she lives out on the farm and the closest fast food is 7 miles away, or she'd eat it every day until she keeled over. I'm still convinced it was their horrible diet, KFC and frozen burritos, Quarter Pounders and Dunkin' Donuts, that caused Dad to die when he did. Less salt, less fat, less sugar, more vegetables and he'd have been a lot healthier a lot longer. She didn't cook for his health issues, though, and she won't cook for her own.

Annie

I wonder if you might be able to concoct a gravy that would supply some of the nutrition that she is not getting from her diet of instant mashed potatoes and whatever else.

For example, protein powder (like what bodybuilders use - for her muscles), flaxseed (heart), gelatin (joints), maybe even pulverized multivitamins or iron supplements.

I've never tried this, but the idea just popped up.

For that matter, does she like smoothies, either fruity or chocolatey ones? Those could also be frozen, instructions to thaw (not reheat), stir, and enjoy. I've never tried that either, but it should work, considering smoothies are often made with frozen fruit anyway. Somehow doubt she is consuming many berries or bananas, on her own.

Sorry, I can't say if normal flour-based gravy freezes well. I seldom make it. Almost all of my sauces and gravies are thickened with gelatin, cream, corn starch, or simply reduction.

John, that would be a good idea, but she doesn't like smoothies, although she will drink a chocolate shake from McDonald's. I did try pureeing vegetables and adding them to gravy, but then the gravy tastes like vegetables, which is not something I enjoy, so I gave up that idea.

Protein or whey powder might be a good idea, though, I'll have to experiment with that. Or make gravy with Ensure, LOL.

Annie

Hey, I just had a gross idea. How about some pureed baby food meat in the gravy? Probably wouldn't change the taste that much, might help thicken it a bit, and might add some extra protein. Just a weird thought...

Actually, shambo, that might be a really good idea. I had toyed with trying to puree chicken or beef, whatever, and adding that, but discarded it. I might have to rethink it after all...

Annie

Why puree it? She can chew, right? Just leave small meat bits in the gravy.

Pureed baby food meat is gritty.....she wouldn't like that. Add powdered milk to the gravy....tastes good and is good for her....particularly good in chicken gravy.