This beef tips and gravy in the crock pot is very easy to make and tastes great! You won’t have any leftovers, so if you want to freeze some for later, you might want to double the recipe. Oh, and btw. it makes a great dump-and-go freezer meal too.
In other words, it’s a two-minute “dump and go” recipe. You can freeze the leftovers (if there are any) and make it ahead of time for a quick and easy meal in case of an emergency. Winner the whole way around with this one!.
Beef tips and gravy is a classic comfort food that never seems to go out of style This hearty dish featuring tender chunks of beef and savory gravy is the perfect cold weather meal, but the leftovers can present a dilemma Can you safely freeze beef tips and gravy for later? The answer is yes, with a few simple tips! In this complete guide, we will cover proper methods for freezing and reheating beef tips and gravy so you can enjoy tasty leftovers for months.
Leftover beef tips and gravy is the kind of dish that seems to multiply in the fridge. Rather than letting it go to waste freezing is a great option. By properly portioning and storing leftover beef tips and gravy you can have quick and easy homemade meals ready when you need them.
Freezing cooked beef tips and gravy allows you to:
- Save time by making a batch to freeze
- Reduce food waste by preserving leftovers
- Save money by always having a homemade meal on hand
With the right techniques, frozen beef tips and gravy will maintain its flavor and texture for reuse within about 3 months. Follow this guide to freeze beef tips and gravy like a pro!
Can You Freeze Beef Tips and Gravy?
Yes, you can freeze beef tips and gravy for later use. The important things are to make sure the dish is completely cool before freezing, store it in airtight containers, and reheat it slowly to keep the texture.
When freezing beef and gravy, it’s best to:
- Use an already cooked recipe rather than raw meat
- Choose gravy with a flour or starch thickener over cream-based
- Portion into meal sizes before freezing
With the right prep and handling, freezing cooked beef tips and leftover gravy is perfectly safe and keeps the meal tasting freshly made.
How to Cool Beef Tips and Gravy for Freezing
Before packaging up your leftovers, it’s crucial to cool them properly. Here are some tips:
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Don’t freeze hot foods – let them fully cool first.
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Transfer beef tips and gravy to shallow containers to cool faster.
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Allow dishes to come to room temperature, about 1-2 hours.
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Quick cool filled containers by placing in an ice bath.
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For faster cooling, divide into smaller portions.
Letting your beef tips and gravy cool before freezing prevents moisture build up that can cause freezer burn.
How to Freeze Beef Tips and Gravy
Once cooled, beef tips and gravy can be frozen in a few ways. Here are some freezing tips:
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Portion into meal-sized containers or bags.
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Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.
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Label containers with contents and freeze date.
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Lay bags flat in freezer to quick freeze.
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Frozen beef tips and gravy keeps 3-6 months.
Proper freezing in airtight containers prevents freezer burn and locks in flavor.
Thawing Frozen Beef Tips and Gravy
When ready to enjoy your frozen beef tips and gravy, safely thaw using these methods:
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For fast thawing, place sealed bag in cold water.
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Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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Microwave on defrost setting if using microwave-safe container.
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For quick oven thawing, place sealed bag in warm oven.
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Avoid thawing at room temperature as bacteria can grow.
Thaw frozen beef tips and gravy gently and completely before reheating.
How to Reheat Beef Tips and Gravy
Once fully thawed, you can reheat beef tips and gravy a couple ways:
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On stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently until hot.
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In the oven at 350°F until heated through, about 20 minutes.
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In the microwave in 30 second intervals until hot, stirring between.
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Add extra broth or water if gravy is too thick.
Gently reheat thawed beef tips and gravy until steaming hot throughout.
Tips for Freezing Beef Gravy
For best results with the gravy, follow these tips:
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Choose a flour or starch thickened gravy over cream-based.
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Cool gravy completely before freezing.
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Freeze gravy in an airtight container leaving headspace.
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If separating from beef tips, label as gravy with date.
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Stir thoroughly when reheating to incorporate any separated liquid.
With proper prep and freezing methods, gravy can be frozen successfully for reuse later on.
Storing Leftover Beef Tips for Freezing
To properly freeze leftover cooked beef tips:
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Cool beef completely before freezing.
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Portion beef tips into meal size servings.
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Pack beef into freezer bags, removing excess air.
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Flatten bags for quicker freezing.
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Label with contents and freeze date.
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Use within 3-6 months for best quality.
Follow these tips and your leftover beef tips will stay juicy and flavorful when frozen.
Serving Ideas for Frozen Beef Tips and Gravy
Don’t limit your leftovers to just the original meal! Here are some creative ways to use thawed beef tips and gravy:
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Over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.
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In empanadas, pot pies, or shepherd’s pie.
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Over biscuits for an easy beef shortcake.
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Mixed into stuffed peppers or cabbage rolls.
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In beef enchiladas, tacos, or burritos.
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Tossed with roasted vegetables and pasta.
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As the filling for dumplings or wontons.
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On sandwiches topped with melted cheese.
Get creative with your thawed beef tips and gravy! The possibilities are endless.
Easy Freezer Meal Beef Tips and Gravy
Want to prepare beef tips and gravy specifically for freezing? Here is an easy, freezer-friendly recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- 1 1⁄2 lbs beef stew meat cubes
- 1 packet onion soup mix
- 14 oz beef broth
- 10 oz cream of mushroom soup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions:
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Combine all ingredients except cornstarch in a gallon freezer bag.
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Remove air, seal, and flatten bag to freeze.
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When ready to eat, thaw overnight in fridge.
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Transfer contents to saucepan and bring to a simmer.
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Make a slurry with cornstarch and 2 tbsp water. Stir into pan juices until thickened.
Freeze in handy meal-sized portions for quick dinners and lunches!
Freezing Beef Tips and Gravy FAQs
Can you refreeze beef tips and gravy after thawing?
It’s not recommended to refreeze beef tips and gravy once thawed. Only refreeze if they never completely defrosted.
How do you thicken gravy after freezing?
If gravy becomes thin after freezing, mix a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water per 1 cup gravy. Gently reheat while stirring to thicken.
Can you freeze beef tips and gravy with vegetables?
Yes, you can freeze beef tips and gravy with sturdy vegetables like carrots, celery, onions, etc. Avoid freezing with soft veggies like potatoes.
What containers are best for freezing beef tips and gravy?
Use rigid airtight containers like plastic freezer containers or freezer bags. Glass may break due to expansion during freezing.
Can I make beef tips and gravy directly in the slow cooker and then freeze?
Absolutely! Allow to cool completely, then portion into freezer bags or containers for easy reheating later on.
The Takeaway on Freezing Leftover Beef Tips and Gravy
With proper cooling, storage, thawing, and reheating methods, leftover beef tips and gravy can easily be frozen for quick future meals. Divide into servings, store in airtight containers, label, and use within 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before gently reheating on the stove or in the oven or microwave. With a little planning, you can enjoy delicious homemade beef tips and gravy even on your busiest nights!
Freezer Meal Prep for Slow Cooker Beef Tips
Boy, this is a rough one. Ready? Dump it all in a bag, label it, and freeze. Really, thats it. Theres no other prep work unless you decide to add veggies. And just about any vegetable, you can think of works with this recipe. so if you want, give it a shot.
Ive personally tried broccoli, onions, mushrooms, and a peas & carrots combo. All of them turned out well. Just make sure to follow the freezer meal directions on our Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli if you use broccoli. If you dont your broccoli will disintegrate. And if that happens its still edible but a bit odd.
Also, I gotta tell you…for anything concerning a freezer bag and food. These baggie holders ROCK! They work for quart and gallon baggies both. They sorta “zip” up and down to hold either size. Also, the fold flat for storage so you dont have a bulky something to store. They are quite literally like having an extra set of hands in the kitchen…and again, they ROCK!
I didnt buy these until last year. I had looked at them for a long time, but they are great, very useful, and not expensive at all. They were when I purchased them. And there was only one option then too. Which is exactly why I held off. Now you have lots of options.
Prep Directions for Crock Pot Beef Tips and Gravy
Theres no magic, no bells or whistles, or anything difficult about this recipe. What you see is what you need. NO extra water, milk, or anything else. You CAN add some water or beef broth if you’re leaving for more than 6 to 8 hours, but you don’t have to.
Also, you can use any sort of beef. I caught chuck roast on sale for $2. 95 a pound. I didn’t want to cook it any other way than in the crockpot because it was pretty rough. But then again, thats one of the things that slow cookers are excellent for. cooking cheaper cuts of meat.
It seems that the slow cooker can turn any piece of meat into something super tender and tasty. But also, be forewarned. Get a really cheap cut, like the one I showed you above. You might need to cook it for more than 8 hours.
It took about 9 and a half hours to cook this cut to my liking. The lid was only lifted once, so there wasn’t much time for the water to evaporate, and I didn’t add any more water. Nothing burned either, just FYI on all that.
If you have to watch your sodium intake, there are options for you on this recipe too. You can see in the picture above that there is a Healthy Request version of the Golden Mushroom. I dont think theres a low sodium version of the cream of onion BUT there is one for Cream of Celery
You can also make your own Onion Soup Mix. All Recipes has a good one that would take too long to mix up. You can also find a low-sodium and sometimes a sodium-free version at many health food stores. If you cant find it that route, there are a few options on Amazon. This one has the best ratings
