A woman has shared a simple hack for draining off the juices from a roast chicken or turkey, and it’s sure to come in handy for anyone making a roast dinner on Christmas Day
Ian Craig Social Newsdesk Content Editor
16:25, 17 Dec 2025
Is there anything better than a roast dinner? (Stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
There’s nothing quite like a roast, and Christmas dinner feast is surely the ultimate example. If you’re opting for traditional turkey this year, one TikTok user has shared a brilliant technique for draining off the juices to create a flavoursome gravy.
While it’s bound to impress guests gathered around the table on Christmas Day, this method can be employed at any time and isn’t limited to turkey alone. TikTok user Lisa, who frequently posts videos about life with her French bulldog Mabel, alongside various other content, left viewers astounded with a brief 10-second clip demonstrating her ingenious approach.
The caption read: “How to get all the chicken juices from the tray.” The video shows Lisa removing a roast chicken in a bag on a metal tray from the oven and positioning it over a saucepan. She then pierces a hole in the corner of the tray with a knife, allowing the juices to flow out into the pan below.
Finally, she tilts and rotates the tray towards the hole, ensuring all the juices drain completely, reports the Express. Whilst Lisa demonstrates the technique with chicken, it works equally well with your festive turkey.
TikTok users were left impressed by the hack. One commented: “As a professional chef… I have NEVER thought of this and I’m so glad I’ve seen this! THANK YOU!”
Another person remarked: “I’m 36 and only just learnt this,” before noting: “Definitely using this method from now on.”
Another exclaimed: “Seriously? Really? For real? IT’S THAT EASY AND I’M ONLY FINDING OUT NOW,” accompanied by three crying emojis. They continued: “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.”
Someone else commented: “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.”
Another person shared: “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 separate user described the trick as an “absolute game changer.”
Content cannot be displayed without consentSimple turkey or chicken gravy recipe
This straightforward recipe from BBC Good Food demonstrates how to create a quick and easy gravy using the juices from your turkey. The method works equally well for chicken gravy.
According to BBC Good Food: “This simple gravy complements delicately flavoured turkey meat and is quick enough to make at the last minute.” The recipe serves eight people and can be frozen for reheating at a later time.
Ingredients
2 tbsp plain flour700ml turkey stock2 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.
Dining and Cooking