The Store-Bought Sauce Mix You Should Avoid At All Costs

Imagine the irresistible aroma of freshly baked chicken or buttery biscuits filling your kitchen — just begging for a delicious sauce to complete the dish. A great gravy should cascade over your meal like a velvety blanket, with smoky, spicy, and savory notes in every bite. However, if you're reaching for Pioneer Country Sausage Gravy mix, you might want to think twice.

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Pioneer has been crafting this gravy mix since 1851. Nevertheless, this particular product came in dead last in our ranking of 14 popular store-bought sauce mixes. When a brand boasts a history spanning over 170 years, you expect time-tested reliability. That's why the underwhelming performance of Pioneer Country Sausage Gravy mix is such a letdown. Its thin, watery consistency refused to thicken, and the flavor was disappointingly bland.

Our reviewer gave every mix a fair shake, preparing each packet according to its instructions, tasting it solo, and pairing it with complementary food. The ranking included a variety of store-bought sauces — everything from pestos to Alfredo to gravies. Factors like ease of preparation, consistency, cost, and taste were all weighed. 

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Why making your own country gravy is worth the effort

Here's the good news: You can make your own country gravy and it isn't nearly as intimidating as it sounds. Homemade gravy starts with just a few simple ingredients: butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a pan and whisk in flour until smooth. Then, slowly add milk while stirring to create a creamy sauce. The best part? You can customize this base to your liking. 

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If you're short on time and determined to salvage that store-bought mix, consider upgrading it. For example, prepare the Pioneer Sausage Gravy packet as directed, then add fresh-cooked sausage to enhance the flavor with its rich fats and slightly briny kick. But what makes a gravy truly "upgraded"? Some swear by using flavored stock instead of milk; Others suggest adding a splash of wine with a generous amount of butter or beefing up the flavor with a little powdered mushroom. 

Our best tip is to make a small test portion first. Scoop some into a bowl, experiment with the seasoning, and adjust to taste before committing to the whole batch. Since how we perceive flavor can change based on subtle factors, a little taste test goes a long way toward perfecting your sauces and gravies. 

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