How do I make a beef stew in a slow cooker?!
How do I make a beef stew in a slow cooker?
I have beef stew meat and lots of fresh and frozen veggies. I also have beef broth and lots of seasonings. How exactly do I put this all together? Should I brown the meat first?
How long do I cook it all? On what setting? How much broth do I use?
Thanks for your help.
Answers:
The easy way is to coat the cubed meat in cornflour and fry it until you seal the sides. Drain away the excess oil. Add to slow cooker. Add water and stock (optional). A few hours later, add the veggies. Stew for 1-2 hours more.
Slow cooker should be on high but not boiling over.
CROCK POT BEEF STEW
2 lbs. stew meat in 1" cubes
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. beef broth
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic or chopped onion
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. paprika
4 sliced carrots
3 diced potatoes
1 stalk celery, diced
Put meat in crock pot. Mix flour, salt and pepper and add to meat and stir to coat meat. Add remaining ingredients and stir to mix. Cover and cook on Low for 10 to 12 hours or on High for 4 to 6 hours. Stir well before serving
Here is a good recipe for you.
You can brown the beef first, but it isn't required. Sometimes I do, sometimes, depending on time, I don't, although I think it does make the gravy richer.
From Diana Rattray.
INGREDIENTS:
3-4 large carrots, peeled,sliced or into chunks (I like chunks)
3 potatoes, cut in 1-inch pieces
2 pounds beef stew meat in 1-inch cubes (season, flour and brown the beef if desired)
1 cup beef broth (1 1/2c is better)
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
salt to taste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
3 onions, quartered (smallish or med onions)
1-2 celery rib, cut up
PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker in order listed. Stir just enough to mix mix seasonings throughout. Cover and cook on LOW for 10 to 12 hours. (High abt 6-8 hrs)
Vanilla,
What I usually do is I'll get up in the morning and put the beef in the slow cooker with water over the beef. Make sure the beef is completely submerged so that is has water all day. I turn it on high to start the boiling process, but just as soon as it starts boiling, I switch it down to low or medium. I let it cook all day to make the beef really tender. Then when the beef if at desired tenderness I start adding my veggies and my spices and things. Wait until everything cooking becomes soft and mash-able. I some times put potatoes in the stew and let them get really soft to the touch of a fork. If you want it to taste more beefy I would add the beef bouillon cubes when you get it turned down on low or medium, or just add the beef broth.
I hope this helps. And I hope it turns out really good. Please send me an Email letting me know how it turned out. And you can send me some :D