The Best Fat Separators

What are Fat Separators?

Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner is a long, complex process. Maintaining all of your kitchen accessories for completing this task is the first step in the preparation process. You think you have all the tools necessary to begin work on your masterpiece, but you have forgotten the fat separator. What is a fat separator? A fat separator is a tool that is used to whisk away fat from gravy. This strainer is an important tool in the production of smooth gravy. Gravy is made from the drippings of a turkey, the main course in a balanced Thanksgiving dinner.

As a compliment to turkey drippings, gravy is made by adding flour, salt, pepper, and milk. The addition of these products smooth out the gravy, minimalizing unwanted chunks or elements in your gravy. This process is not fully complete until all the fat is removed. The fat that comes from a turkey is not supported in a balanced diet nor does it make up for good values of daily fat intake.

Fat separators come in many different styles and can perform additional tasks for producing the gravy you desire. Below we'll list some of the different fat separators on the market and go on to describe the different elements you should look for in a fat separator. We'll also discuss price points, finding the best models for your money.

List of Fat Separator Products:

Fat Separators Buying Guide: At First Glance

Skimming through the list of products above, the user will find that they have relatively one thing in common: they look similar. Most fat separators are designed with the same specific task in mind, making different models and brands often difficult to distinguish from one another. Most fat separator models will come in to different sizes: 2-cup and 4-cup capacity. These are designed on the consumer preference basis, merely holding more gravy in the container for the larger size option. The differentiation between sizes does not make one any better than the other, so that should not factor into a purchasing decision.

The first glance will also showcase some important elements included with the separator. Added elements include stoppers, handles with grips, and separated inner chambers. All of these features will be discussed more below, but they will differ on a brand to brand basis. It is important to go over the product inclusions and features before purchasing, because the first glimpse lacks the intel you need for purchasing.

Material Make-Up

The contents that comprise fat separators are the most important considerations for purchase. Most will contain a clear basin that has measurement numbers inscribed into it. This helps to limit your production amounts and prepare on a meal-to-meal basis. The basin is usually made out of strong plastic or glass. The hard-plastic models will be a little cheaper, but the difference between that model and a glass model is not substantial enough to warrant a choice over glass. The glass models are perfect for carrying out the fat separation process. Glass retains heat at a higher rate than hard plastic would. Heat retention is essential to helping the fat rise and separate from the gravy, making glass the clear choice.

Models will also feature a rubberized or plastic handle. The rubberized models are added to heat reduce the heat transfer to the handle, playing an essential role in handling capabilities. Plastic attracts heat at a higher rate, but the cooking process should always involve a protective handling measure like an oven pad. This makes the handle a case for personal preference. Neither handle directly affects the production process and neither provides any advantages to the fat separation.

The spout is the last essential piece in the visible make-up puzzle. Most spouts curve like a plant watering can and will extend upward and outward from the basin. The length of the spout is important because it needs to extend higher than the basin. This extension prevents from over-flow concerns and creating an additional mess. The spout also plays a vital role in heat retention. This makes a large spout, with an angle less than 45 degrees, the preferred purchase choice. This will help retain heat within the basin and allow the fat removal process to proceed uninterrupted. Exceeding 45 degrees in angle will create for additional opportunities for the gravy to pour out and interrupt the process. The longer, the better with spout selection.

Additional Features

With all cooking devices, they are some that come with add-ons or additional features. One of the most important features is the spout stopper. Spout stoppers help reduce creation of the messes we described above. They also help lock the heat in at a productive rate. They can act as an additional filtration system for fueling the fat removal process. Only a few models come equipped with these stoppers, but they represent a good investment for the models that lack their inclusion.

A second is the separator that is tiered in nature. There are comprehensive models that will perform all the steps of the fat removal process for you. They come with built-in strainers and filters to help sift through the good and bad materials in your gravy. These models feature a leveling look that stacks these additions slightly above one another. Other models will feature separate strainers and pieces for you to use after the initial fat separating process. This creates a few extra steps for you. The price range for these two model types is only a few dollars in difference, making the complete, comprehensive model the right purchase choice.

Extra features are also in production and found on some of the most recent models on the market. They often carry a price, but the features described above are the ones to pay attention to.

Top Rated Fat Separators

If you're looking into finding the best rated fat separator, you should probable check out the Bellemain 4-Cup Separator/Measuring Cup with Strainer & Stopper / 1 Liter Capacity. We looked at various sources of reviews and found this one to have the best mix between review count and average rating stars.

Bellemain 4-Cup Separator/Measuring Cup with Strainer & Stopper / 1 Liter Capacity

The Lowest Price We Could Find

Often, going for the best price is a simple but good option. With a price of $11.18 (last checked this morning), we do not list any other fat separator cheaper than the Norpro 3023. Just remember that it's not always the best option to go for the cheapest one.

Norpro 3023

The Fat Separator With the Most Reviews