We are having Thanksgiving at our house this year, and every year it's such a rush to make the gravy! I actually do not even like turkey gravy, I much prefer chicken gravy.

Anyway, I was thinking of roasting a chicken (or chicken parts) a few weeks ahead of time, making the gravy, (I do not use giblets so no problem there) and then freezing it.

Has anyone done this, and will the quality greatly suffer? Will is defrost and reheat OK? I don't like to use store bought gravy, they are much too salty and artificial tasting to me. (However, if anyone has a Great recommendation for a store bought one, I'll try it!)

Thank you!!

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There's been a grave misunderstanding

I've been making my gravy ahead for years, and it is so much easier that way. I plan to make it next week and freeze it. We're not hosting Thanksgiving but we're doing a mini Thanksgiving with relatives on the 15th, and I'm going to ask my SIL if she wants me to bring the rest on Thanksgiving.

I use a recipe that I got from Family Circle magazine in 2001, but I think Woman's Day has the same recipe on their page. I got to it from the yahoo page.

My Mom and I tried to do that a few years ago and it didn't come out nearly as good in our opinion. It just didn't have the same amt of flavor. Somehow using a whole bird (chicken or turkey) just makes a difference. Some may not notice, but we're a pretty particular family!

Since the turkey can rest, and still stay warm when covered with foil, for a very long time I would just make the gravy then. Or pull the turkey out a bit early and pour off most of the juice and make the gravy then.

Nothing the matter with making the gravy ahead of time. I know some people that make the entire meal the day before and just stick things in the oven to reheat on the big day. It's usually just the veggies that are getting cooked for same day use.
One of the people leaves the bird in whole for this because her family loves the presentation and the tradition of carving the bird at the table. Another does everything buffet style and she carves the bird up also the day before.