No roast dinner is complete without a good slathering of gravy, but sometimes it can be difficult to achieve the perfect consistency. Sometimes it can be too thin and runny, and other times too thick and lumpy.
To help home cooks achieve the perfect gravy for their roast dinners, the experts at BBC Food revealed a simple addition could be the answer. In an Instagram post from November 2025, shared how you can easily correct any gravy woes. The secret ingredient is probably already in your kitchen cupboard.
BBC Food wrote in the caption: “Thin gravy is sad and not a vibe for your roast dinners. Follow these instructions and you’ll have the right consistency every time.”
The secret to a perfect gravy? Cornflour.
When demonstrating how to achieve the best gravy possible, BBC Food said: “Thin gravy is really not a vibe. Mix two tablespoons of cornflour with two tablespoons of cold water.
“You want to make sure that all the cornflour dissolves so there are no lumps. Get your gravy on a medium-high heat and start adding in the slurry.
“You’ll soon notice that the gravy will start to thicken. Don’t be tempted to put the cornflour straight into your gravy, it’ll end up lumpy and that is not what we’re going for.”
If you’re having some trouble and accidentally end up with thick gravy, the experts shared a rescue remedy.
BBC Food continued: “If you overthicken it, you can just add in boiling water a tiny bit at a time and keep whisking, and that will loosen it back up.”
