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Slow cooker beef stew is one of my absolute favorite meals from childhood. Just thinking about it makes me smile (and hungry!). The mix of beef and vegetables just hits the spot, especially on a cold day.
I've mentioned this before, but honestly, I'd like to sing it from the mountaintops - I LOVE my slow cooker! If you don't have one, you need one. There's a reason that the Crock Pot is my go-to gifts for newlyweds and my adult girlfriends - it's a lifesaver. When I was a kid, I'd come home from school and I'd open the door to the most amazing smells coming from my mom's slow cooker. She'd fire it upbefore she left for work so that we'd have a hot, hearty meal for dinner. One of my favorites was always her slow cooker beef stew. During the brutal Connecticut winters, this stew would warm the soul.
Besides being easy to make, this recipe is also a crowd pleaser. Everyone in our family enjoys this slow-cooked beef dish with all of the vegetables tucked in with it. When I was a kid we'd serve this stew with a loaf of crusty bread and it was a true feast. Nowadays I try to make more gluten-free meals so we skip the bread and use a little rice flour instead of traditional wheat flour for thickening. I think it actually turns out better when prepared gluten-free.
Here's the recipe for my mama's Slow Cooker Beef Stew
5 from 1 vote
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Courseslow cooker
CuisineAmerican
Servings6-8
AuthorRuth V.
Ingredients
2lbsof stew beefor use leftover sirloin tips, too
1 to 1 ½cupsof sliced carrots
2-3stalks of celerysliced or chopped
1medium white or yellow onionchopped or sliced to preference
In a large skillet, add some canola or vegetable oil and heat on medium.
Place the flour in a large zipper plastic bag, enough to coat all the meat.
Place the meat in the bag after trimming excess fat, and shake or roll to coat the meat on all sides.
Add the meat to the skillet and brown on all sides.
When the meat is browned, add about a cup of the beef broth to the skillet and the juices will thicken.
Pour all the meat into a large slo-cooker, add the carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and the remaining beef broth, and stir. You can add a bit more water or broth if you prefer, mixed with a little flour.
Lay the string beans on the top, season as you wish with salt, pepper, and dried or fresh parsley and cover the slo-cooker.
Set on HIGH for 5-6 hours, or LOW for 8-10 hrs.
Serve with crusty bread if desired.
If you need more dinnerideas,here are a few recipes to try:
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Easy Chicken Dinner Ideas
5 Ingredient or Less Dinner Ideas
Dinner Recipes Using Ground Beef
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Comments
Cindy Brookssays
I love my slow cooker, too! I use it 3-4 times a week when we have sports practices and games. Thanks for the recipes.
Omgosh this sounds amazing!! So perfect for this snowy weather we are expecting!! Nothing like great belly warming meals 🙂
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Deborah Dsays
I will definitely make this stew.
Reply
Linda Mannstsays
This sounds so good. I can't wait to make this for the family. Great recipe
Reply
Miasays
I am also a big slow cooker fan because of the convenience and with the right recipes the food is always so delicious. I like this recipe for stew which is one of my favorites for these cold winter nights.
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Stacey Robersonsays
This looks delish! I love using my slow cooker for soups and stews. So easy and hardly no cleanup.
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rochelle haynessays
This looks nice love to try this
Reply
G Ksays
I love stew and this one looks simple and delicious.
Reply
Rosiesays
I love his beef stew recipe. I'm shopping for a slow cooker now! I'd love to make this recipe.
Reply
rosa rogerssays
These look great..My daughter just got me a slow cooker can't wait to try these recipes...Thank you
If the food has cooled, it is not safe to eat after sitting in the crockpot all day. How long is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for? It all depends what you are cooking if you are cooking soup you could put the cooker on low for 8 to 10 hours if you are cooking meat 10 to 12 hours to 24 hours .
If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking. Don't add too much liquid, because as the food cooks, it produces its own liquid.
The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.
Can you overcook something in a slow cooker? Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.
The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.
The Two-Hour Rule: According to food safety guidelines, cooked food should not be left in the temperature danger zone (between 40°F/4°C and 140°F/60°C) for more than two hours [1]. This includes the time the stew is left out at room temperature.
But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.
Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).
Can you overcook stew in a slow cooker? A slow-cooked stew is pretty forgiving, but cooking beyond the point of tenderness can dry out the meat as well as the cooking juices and sauce. If serving is delayed, switch your slow cooker to warm until you're ready to eat.
The secret to tender beef stew is to keep the pot at a gentle simmer the entire time so the connective tissues in the beef have a chance to break down and soften.
The addition of the vinegar adds subtle acidity that balances well with the soy sauce and the honey giving this otherwise super hearty beef stew a nice lightness to it.
The choice becomes easier when you realize that simple baking soda can be an ideal meat tenderizer that helps to bring out all the aromas and flavors in every sizzling beef stew or charburger.
The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. It's important to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipe to ensure that the meat is cooked to the correct doneness.
My beef is still tough, what do I do? Keep cooking! If the beef is still tough after 2.5 hours of cooking, it needs to cook for longer. Make sure the sauce is still bubbling very gently (you should be able to see bubbles appearing in the sauce; if not, the heat is too low and the beef will take a lot longer to cook).
Due to the nature of a slow cooker, there is no need to stir the food unless it specifically says to in your recipe. In fact, taking the lid off to stir food causes the slow cooker to lose a significant amount of heat, extending the cooking time required. Therefore, it is best not to remove the lid for stirring.
Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.
You could, but it probably wouldn't be good. You want to cook stew meat long enough for the meat to become tender, but even when immersed in liquid, if it cooks too long it basically just loses all its texture and disintegrates.
People do this all the time, but many aren't truly confident that it's 100 percent safe — I, for one, am one of those people. So I did a little digging to get the hard facts. The truth is, yes, leaving the slow cooker on and going about your day is safe, as long as you are using the appliance properly.
Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.
Introduction: My name is Dean Jakubowski Ret, I am a enthusiastic, friendly, homely, handsome, zealous, brainy, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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