The easiest way to use up a half gallon of milk is by making a freezer friendly bechamel white sauce. This large batch or quanity of sauce will come in handy for quick weeknight meals, dips, and even fancy date night dinners.
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What is a bechamel white sauce?
Bechamel sauce is used notably many times in traditional French and Italian dishes. It is a white sauce traditionally made with butter, flour, and milk.
A blond roux is made by cooking butter and flour. The roux helps thicken the milk when it’s added. Herbs, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and other seasonings can be added to enhance the flavor of the white sauce.
How to use a bechamel sauce in recipes?
Making bechamel sauce in a large batch is the best way to always have on hand an amazing creamy sauce. Add this white sauce as a base for your next pasta dish, mac and cheese, lasagna, casserole, queso, or pizza sauce. Bechamel white sauce can also be made vegan, dairy free, and gluten-free using alternative ingredients.
What kinds of dairy and non-dairy milk be used for bechamel white sauce?
Dairy milk options in bechamel sauce are skim, 2%, whole, and half-half. If you are using skim you will need to add more flour to thicken it up better about ¾ cup. If are using half-half because it’s thicker than whole milk, you have the option of reducing the flour by 2-3 tablespoons or adding water to thin out the sauce.
Non Dairy milk options include almond, cashew, oat, rice, or soy milk. These no dairy milk options will be thin, adding more flour or thickener about 2-3 tablespoons additional will be needed to get that thick white sauce texture.
What ingredients can be added to season a bechamel white sauce?
Herbs, nutmeg, salt, pepper, and other seasonings can be added to enhance the flavor of the white sauce.
Ingredients
Cold Milk - Half a gallon of whole milk to make a rich velvety sauce. Cold milk helps prevent lumps.
Butter - Salted butter or unsalted adding 1 teaspoon of salt.
Flour - All-Purpose flour is best.
You can salt, pepper, nutmeg, or herbs to enhance the flavor. I like to keep it plain with no additional seasoning to keep it versatile when adding it to future recipes.
See the FAQ section for vegan and gluten-free alternatives.
Step by Step Instructions
- Add butter to the pot set on medium heat
2. Fully melt the butter.
3. Add flour to the melted butter.
4. Whisk butter and flour to form a Blond Roux. Mix for about 3 minutes
5. Raise temp to medium-high and add about half the amount of milk.
6. Whisk for about a minute, then add the other half of the milk.
7. Mix every 30 seconds to 1 minute for a total of seven minutes. You will see it start to thicken.
8. Remove for the heat and cool fully.
9. You are ready to pour into the mason jars or storage containers.
10. Cover with an airtight seal. Refrigerate or Freeze.
FAQ & Tips
What oil can be used for vegan or non dairy bechamel white sauce?
I neutral tasting oil would be a great alternative for vegan or non dairy bechamel. Including avocado, vegetable, canola, or safflower. Olive oil can also be used but has a stronger flavor. Another alternative is vegan butter, there are so many amazing options in the grocery store.
What is are other gluten-free alternatives used for flour when making bechamel white sauce?
The best gluten-free thickener options are Gluten Free Flour blend (with rice and starch), Rice Flour, and Tapioca Starch. If using rice or tapioca starch use half the amount of flour the recipe calls for.
How long can you store bechamel white sauce in the refrigerator?
Bechamel white sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How long can you store bechamel white sauce in the freezer?
Bechamel white sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to defrost bechamel sauce stored in the freezer?
To fully thaw bechamel sauce it can take about 1 day in the refrigerator. For the quick thaw method place the frozen container in cool water. Replace the water every 20 minutes and it should be fully thawed in under an hour and a half.
What dishes can you make with a large batch of bechamel white sauce?
Bechamel white sauce can be used in pasta dishes, mac and cheese, lasagna, casserole, queso, vegetable sides, or as a pizza sauce.
How much does it cost to make a large batch of bechamel white sauce?
To make a large batch of bechamel white sauce can cost as little as $6.00 USD. This recipe makes four 16oz portions to freeze. If you shop sales and choose store brands it can be lower or higher depending on the area you live.
Bechamel White Sauce (Large Quantity Batch)
Equipment
- 5 Quart Heavy Bottom Pot
- Wire Whisk
- 4 Storage Containers with Lids 16oz size
- Spoon or Ladel
- Canning Funnel
Ingredients
- 1 Half Gallon of Cold Milk (8 cups)
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Butter (2 sticks)
Instructions
- In heavy bottom pot on medium heat melt butter.
- Whisk in flour, making your blond roux.
- Stir almost constantly for about 3 minutes.
- Add in cold milk about half the amount, then whisk for a minute.
- Add the other half and whisk every 30 seconds to 1 minute. About seven minutes.
- Whisk until thick and see light bubbles.
- Remove from heat and cool or you use it right away.
- Portion cooled sauce into airtight storage container.
- The finished bechamel can be refrigerated or frozen.
Skye MacAllister
Good recipe but it is bechemel OR white sauce. "Bechemel white sauce" is redundant.
Andrea Johnson
Thank you for stopping by and finding this béchamel or white sauce recipe.
Skye MacAllister
You're a doll. Have a blessed Christmas. God's richest blessings on you. 🙂