Sauce vs. Gravy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 6, 2023
Sauce is a thick liquid served with food to add moisture and flavor; gravy is a type of sauce made from meat juices and thickened with flour.
Difference Between Sauce and Gravy
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sauce is a broad term that refers to a wide range of liquid or cream-based mixtures used to complement or enhance the flavor of food. Gravy, specifically, is a type of sauce that derives its flavor primarily from meat drippings and is thickened with flour, cornstarch, or other agents.
While sauces can be made from almost any combination of ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, dairy, and herbs, gravies are traditionally made from the juices of cooked meat or poultry, often combined with a stock, and thickened. Sauces may be served cold or hot and can range in texture from thin to very thick, whereas gravy is typically served hot and has a pourable consistency that clings to food.
In terms of preparation, sauces can be an integral part of a dish's creation, cooked separately, or even served raw, like a salsa. Gravy is generally made in the pan after the meat has been cooked, incorporating the bits left behind to deepen the flavor, and is simmered until it reaches the desired thickness.
The diversity of sauces is vast, with examples ranging from sweet dessert sauces to complex savory reductions. Gravy, by contrast, has a narrower definition and is more closely associated with comfort foods and traditional roasts, and it is usually savory with variations based on the type of meat used.
The terminology can also differ regionally, with some cultures using the term "gravy" for certain tomato-based sauces, while others reserve "sauce" for more refined or liquid condiments. Regardless, both are used to enhance the moisture and flavor profile of a meal.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Thick liquid condiment
Sauce made from meat drippings
Base Ingredients
Can be anything (fruit, vegetables, dairy)
Meat juices, stock
Thickening Agent
Varies widely (flour, eggs, butter, starches)
Typically flour or cornstarch
Texture
From thin to very thick
Generally a medium, pourable consistency
Serving Temperature
Can be served hot or cold
Usually served hot
Compare with Definitions
Sauce
A liquid or semi-liquid substance served with food to add moistness and flavor.
She topped the pasta with a rich tomato sauce.
Gravy
A sauce made from cooked meat juices, often thickened and seasoned.
She ladled hot gravy over the mashed potatoes.
Sauce
An integral component of many cuisines around the world.
The stir-fry was incomplete without a drizzle of soy sauce.
Gravy
Derived from the drippings of roasted meat or poultry.
He made a rich gravy from the beef drippings.
Sauce
In cooking, a sauce is a liquid, cream, or semi-solid food, served on or used in preparing other foods. Most sauces are not normally consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to a dish.
Gravy
Gravy is a sauce, often made from the juices of meats that run naturally during cooking and often thickened with wheat flour or corn starch for added texture. The gravy may be further coloured and flavored with gravy salt (a simple mix of salt and caramel food colouring) or gravy browning (gravy salt dissolved in water) or ready-made cubes and powders can be used as a substitute for natural meat or vegetable extracts.
Sauce
A flavorful liquid or semisolid condiment or mixture of ingredients served as a topping or other accompaniment to food.
Gravy
The juices that drip from cooking meat.
Sauce
Stewed fruit, usually served with other foods.
Gravy
A sauce made by thickening and seasoning these juices.
Sauce
Something that adds zest, flavor, or piquancy.
Gravy
Money, profit, or benefit easily or illicitly gained.
Sauce
(Informal) Impudent speech or behavior; impertinence or sauciness.
Gravy
Payment or benefit in excess of what is expected or required.
Sauce
(Slang) Alcoholic liquor.
Gravy
A thick sauce made from the fat or juices that come out from meat or vegetables as they are being cooked.
Sauce
To season or flavor with sauce.
Gravy
A dark savoury sauce prepared from stock and usually meat juices; brown gravy.
A roast dinner isn't complete without gravy.
Sauce
To add piquancy or zest to.
Gravy
(Southern US) A pale sauce prepared from a roux with meat fat; a type of béchamel sauce.
There are few foods more Southern than biscuits and gravy.
Sauce
(Informal) To be impertinent or impudent to.
Gravy
Sauce used for pasta.
Sauce
A liquid (often thickened) condiment or accompaniment to food.
Apple sauce; mint sauce
Gravy
Curry sauce.
Sauce
Tomato sauce (similar to US tomato ketchup), as in:
[meat] pie and [tomato] sauce
Gravy
Unearned gain.
Sauce
Alcohol, booze.
Maybe you should lay off the sauce.
Gravy
Extra benefit.
The first thousand tickets and the concessions cover the venue and the band. The rest is gravy.
Sauce
(bodybuilding) Anabolic steroids.
Gravy
To make gravy.
Sauce
(art) A soft crayon for use in stump drawing or in shading with the stump.
Gravy
The juice or other liquid matter that drips from flesh in cooking, made into a dressing for the food when served up.
Sauce
(dated) Cheek; impertinence; backtalk; sass.
Gravy
Liquid dressing for meat, fish, vegetables, etc.
Sauce
Vegetables.
Gravy
Basically the juices that drip from cooking meats
Sauce
Any garden vegetables eaten with meat.
Gravy
A sudden happening that brings good fortune (as a sudden opportunity to make money);
The demand for testing has created a boom for those unregulated laboratories where boxes of specimen jars are processed lik an assembly line
Sauce
To add sauce to; to season.
Gravy
Typically served with meat, poultry, and potatoes.
The roast turkey was accompanied by a boat of sage gravy.
Sauce
To cause to relish anything, as if with a sauce; to tickle or gratify, as the palate; to please; to stimulate.
Gravy
Can be refined through straining or blending to achieve the desired texture.
For a smoother gravy, she strained it through a fine mesh.
Sauce
To make poignant; to give zest, flavour or interest to; to set off; to vary and render attractive.
Gravy
A staple in traditional home-cooked meals.
Their family recipe for gravy has been passed down for generations.
Sauce
(colloquial) To treat with bitter, pert, or tart language; to be impudent or saucy to.
Sauce
(slang) To send or hand over.
Sauce
A composition of condiments and appetizing ingredients eaten with food as a relish; especially, a dressing for meat or fish or for puddings; as, mint sauce; sweet sauce, etc.
High sauces and rich spices fetched from the Indies.
Sauce
Any garden vegetables eaten with meat.
Roots, herbs, vine fruits, and salad flowers . . . they dish up various ways, and find them very delicious sauce to their meats, both roasted and boiled, fresh and salt.
Sauce
Stewed or preserved fruit eaten with other food as a relish; as, apple sauce, cranberry sauce, etc.
Sauce
Sauciness; impertinence.
Sauce
A soft crayon for use in stump drawing or in shading with the stump.
Sauce
To accompany with something intended to give a higher relish; to supply with appetizing condiments; to season; to flavor.
Sauce
To cause to relish anything, as if with a sauce; to tickle or gratify, as the palate; to please; to stimulate; hence, to cover, mingle, or dress, as if with sauce; to make an application to.
Earth, yield me roots;Who seeks for better of thee, sauce his palateWith thy most operant poison!
Sauce
To make poignant; to give zest, flavor or interest to; to set off; to vary and render attractive.
Then fell she to sauce her desires with threatenings.
Thou sayest his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings.
Sauce
To treat with bitter, pert, or tart language; to be impudent or saucy to.
I'll sauce her with bitter words.
Sauce
Flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food
Sauce
Behave saucy or impudently towards
Sauce
Dress (food) with a relish
Sauce
Add zest or flavor to, make more interesting;
Sauce the roast
Sauce
Can be sweet or savory, used in a variety of dishes.
The vanilla sauce was perfect with the bread pudding.
Sauce
Often used as a base, dip, or topping in culinary applications.
For the appetizer, they provided a tangy barbecue sauce for dipping.
Sauce
Made from a variety of methods, including simmering, emulsifying, or blending.
He emulsified olive oil and vinegar to create the salad sauce.
Common Curiosities
How is gravy different from other sauces?
Gravy is made from meat juices and thickened with flour or cornstarch.
Is gravy always made with meat?
Traditional gravy is meat-based, but vegetarian versions can be made with vegetable stock.
Are all sauces cooked?
No, some sauces, like salsas or aiolis, can be prepared raw.
What defines a sauce?
A sauce is a liquid, cream, or semi-solid food served with or used in preparing other foods.
What is a mother sauce?
A mother sauce is a base sauce used to make numerous derivative sauces.
Can a sauce be used as a gravy?
Some sauces can be used similarly to gravy if they complement the dish's flavors.
What are some classic types of gravy?
Classic types include brown gravy, chicken gravy, and turkey gravy.
Can sauces be part of a diet plan?
Yes, there are sauce variations to suit various dietary requirements.
Do all cultures use the term 'gravy'?
No, the term and its culinary application vary by culture.
Are sauces integral to a dish?
Some dishes are built around the sauce, while others use it as an accompaniment.
Is gravy always thick?
Gravy is generally thickened, but its consistency can vary from thin to very thick.
How do you thicken a sauce?
Sauces can be thickened with a roux, cornstarch slurry, reductions, or emulsifications.
Can gravy be made ahead of time?
Yes, gravy can be made in advance and reheated, possibly with added broth to thin if needed.
How can I make gravy without lumps?
Whisk flour slowly into the liquid and cook until it thickens to prevent lumps.
Can a sauce be sweet?
Yes, there are many sweet sauces, such as chocolate sauce or caramel.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
