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Credit:
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The design of this fat separator makes it shine. It's easy to control pouring and draining. Cleanup is a cinch. Comfortable handles seal the deal. Read More
Among spout-style separators, this one is a top pick for its effectiveness. With the help of a plug, it creates pressure, drawing liquid to the spout. Read More
One of the better options on the market, the Cuisipro separates fat extremely well resulting in a great yield. Read More
Vondior's gravy separator strains and separates well, even though the measurements are slightly off and tough to read. Read More
This four-cup fat separator by Bellemain is a decent buy if you pour slowly and carefully while using it. Read More
There's nothing sexy about a fat separator. In fact, it’s quite possibly one of the least glamorous kitchen tools. No one really wants to think about fat that much, but these gadgets seriously come in handy when you don’t have time to manually defat your broth or pan juices. Think about a busy Thanksgiving Day: Everyone is already bustling around the kitchen to get dinner ready, there’s no way you have time to pop your turkey stock in the refrigerator and wait for the fat to solidify (not to mention that there’s probably no room in the fridge anyway!). To make sure your gravy isn’t slick with fat, use a fat separator—like our top pick OXO Good Grips Good Gravy 4-Cup Fat Separator (available at Amazon for $27.15) —which allows you to separate liquids and fats almost immediately.
It’s really just about simple physics: Fats and liquids don’t mix. Given a few minutes’ time, the fat will float to the top because it’s less dense than water. These gadgets take advantage of that and pour from the bottom, making it easier to get flavorful liquid without a ton of excess fat. The best ones even have strainer tops that are designed to filter-out aromatics like chopped onions, carrots, or peppercorns. Here are the best time-saving fat separators.
Very effective at separating fat
Very little waste with yield
Somewhat slow to drain
Slightly inaccurate measurements
Easy to use
Good straining
Separates fat well
Markings are difficult to read
Slightly inaccurate measurements
Decently accurate measurements
Liquid easily spills over the top
Small profile good for storage
Easy to clean
Inaccurate measurements
Doesn't hold a full four cups
There are two types of fat separators: spout-style pitchers and bottom-drainers. They both work the same way, although their draining methods differ. After you pour your stock or sauce through the strainer (which is designed to catch aromatics like chopped onions or peppercorns), give it a minute to allow the fat to rise to the top. With the pitcher design, you simply pour the liquid through the spout, which pulls from the bottom of the receptacle. For the bottom-drainer types, you pull a lever to drain the liquid directly through a hole in the bottom. With both methods, you stop pouring before you reach the floating fat, leaving it behind in the separator.
Lindsay is a professional chef, recipe developer, writer, and developmental editor. After years of working in restaurant kitchens, she turned to writing to share her passion for local, organic, and seasonal ingredients with home cooks and food enthusiasts.
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