Easy hack for draining juices from roast turkey or chicken even pro chefs didn't know

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Reach Daily Express
Wed Dec 17 21:36:00 IST 2025
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There are few things better than a roast, and surely the Christmas dinner is the absolute pinnacle of the form? And if you're going for the traditional turkey this year, one TikTok user has revealed an amazing trick for draining off the juices to use to make a delicious gravy.

And, while it's sure to amaze anyone sitting around the dinner table on Christmas Day, you can use this trick any time, and not just with turkey. TikTok user Lisa, who regularly shares videos about her life with French bulldog Mabel, as well as a range of other content, amazed viewers with a quick 10-second clip showing her clever trick. It featured the caption: "How to get all the chicken juices from the tray."

In the video Lisa can be seen taking a roast chicken in a bag and on a metal tray out of the oven and placing it on top of a saucepan. She then pokes a hole in the corner of the tray with a knife so the juices can drain out into the pan. Finally, she tips and rotates the tray towards the hole so all the juices drain out.

Although Lisa is using a chicken in the video, the trick will work just as well with your festive turkey.

TikTok users were amazed by the trick. One said: "As a professional chef... I have NEVER thought of this and I'm so glad I've seen this! THANK YOU!"

Another said: "I'm 36 and only just learnt this," adding: "Definitely using this method from now on." And someone else wrote: "Seriously? Really? For real? IT'S THAT EASY AND I'M ONLY FINDING OUT NOW," followed by three crying emojis. They added: "I have been cooking roasts for my family for three or four years now. Also been burning myself for my family for three or four years now."

Another said: "This is genius, so simple, and I am now wondering why I've burned myself and had to clean up the juices from the work surface so many times lol." And someone else wrote: "Honestly, this is so obvious but was never obvious to me. Especially last week when I was pouring the juices into a jug and burnt myself."

A different user called the trick an "absolute game changer."

How to make turkey or chicken gravy

This simple recipe from BBC Good Food explains how to make a quick and easy gravy with the juices from your turkey. The recipe will work just as well for chicken gravy.

BBC Good Food says: "This simple gravy complements delicately flavoured turkey meat and is quick enough to make at the last minute." The recipe is enough to serve eight, and can be frozen to re-heat later.

Ingredients:

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  • 2 tbsp plain flour
  • 700ml turkey stock
  • 2 tbsp marsala (optional)

Method

  • Once you have drained the turkey juices into a pan as explained above, spoon about 4 tbsp turkey fat into the pan.
  • Set it over a low heat on the hob and stir the flour into the juices to make a paste.
  • Gradually add the turkey stock to the pan, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom.
  • Once all the stock has been added, keep stirring until the gravy comes to the boil.
  • Add the marsala, if using.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer gently for five minutes, or until thickened to your liking.
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