Making a simple and tasty gravy to top your favorite mashed potatoes, roast beef, or chicken isn’t as hard as you think it is! Most gravies are made using the same basic ingredients including butter, flour, broth, and seasonings. While all-purpose flour is the most common thickener for gravies, however, Bisquick can be used as an easy substitute. Bisquick is a convenience baking mix that contains flour and other ingredients like baking powder and shortening. In this guide we will go over how to substitute Bisquick for all-purpose flour when making gravy so that you can add a delicious topping to your favorite dishes.
What is Bisquick
Bisquick is a pre-mixed baking mix created by General Mills in 1931. It is a combination of flour, shortening, salt and baking powder. Bisquick is used for a variety of items from biscuits to pancakes, and it can even be used to make a roux-based gravy. Let’s explore how Bisquick can be used to make gravy and the potential benefits of doing so.
Ingredients of Bisquick
Bisquick is a baking mix made of flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening. It was first introduced by General Mills in 1930 and quickly became a kitchen staple.
The exact ingredients vary by brand, but generally Bisquick Mix contains: Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Iron, Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Folic Acid), Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil, Leavening (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Baking Soda), Dextrose.
Because it is a combination of ingredients that would normally require separate measuring or mixing for pastry-making, Bisquick eliminates the hassle of measuring out multiple ingredients for cakes and pancakes. This makes it easier than ever to whip up a quick breakfast in moments – perfect for busy mornings!
In addition to being a ready-made baking mix for muffins or pancakes, Bisquick can also be used to thicken gravies – making it the perfect pantry staple! To use Bisquick as a thickener substitute for flour in gravies just add one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Substituting Bisquick for Flour
Bisquick is a baking mix that can be used to make pancakes, waffles, and biscuits, as well as a substitute for flour in certain recipes. While it is not recommended to use it as a substitute for all-purpose flour in baking recipes, it can be a viable option for recipes that require thickening, such as gravies or sauces. In this section, we will discuss the pros and cons of substituting Bisquick for flour in these recipes.
Pros and Cons of using Bisquick
Using Bisquick in place of flour for making gravy can be convenient and time-saving, but there are pros and cons to consider when substituting Bisquick for flour in your sauces or gravies.
Pros:
-The standard ratio of Bisquick to liquid is 2:1, which makes it easier to create a thicker sauce.
-Bisquick contains baking powder, so it helps dishes rise and turn out with a nice golden color.
-It also helps broth thicken faster, and won’t leave grainy lumps in the gravy like regular flour.
Cons:
-Bisquick contains more fat than all-purpose flour, so it will make your gravy greasy.
-Excess fat can make the sauce less flavorful than its traditional counterpart.
-If you don’t use enough liquid with the Bisquick, your sauce may not thicken properly and clump up as it cools.
How to use Bisquick in Gravy
Bisquick is a versatile pantry staple that can play a role in several recipes, including gravy. A combination of flour, shortening, and seasonings, Bisquick not only simplifies your prep-time but also helps you create smooth and creamy gravies.
To make it really simple for you to use Bisquick for your gravies, here are a few tips:
-Make sure that Bisquick does not have lumps in it. Make sure the mixture is lump-free before adding to pan greases; otherwise you may have lumps in the gravy.
-When using Bisquick instead of plain flour, reduce your fat content by half — if the recipe calls for one tablespoon of butter or oil per tablespoon of flour, use only half a tablespoon of butter or oil with every tablespoon of Bisquick. This will reduce calories without compromising flavor.
-Adjust cooking time as needed — when substituting this convenience mix for plain flour in gravies, you may need to extend cooking time slightly to get desired thickness and creaminess.
-Add extra seasonings as needed – While seasoned Bisquik already contains flavors such as onion powder and black pepper, additional seasoning work well too – such as some minced rosemary or thyme – to quickly pump up the flavor profile.
