Comments on: Crockpot Beef Stew

By: RG

RG — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:41:40 +0000

Hi Lauri, you are absolutely correct, the vegetables are overcooked when you prepare this dish in a crock pot, start it in the morning and want it to be ready when you come home from work. Some people will blend some of the vegetables into the stew to help thicken the sauce and it can be quite tasty.

If you have the time, you can remove the meat and hour or so before it is done, strain the vegetables, return the liquid and meat back to the pot and add fresh vegetables and cook for an hour or until the fresh vegetables are done. It adds an extra step but your vegetables will be perfectly cooked.

So it really comes down to convenience and texture and your schedule. Another alternative if you have the time is to make the stew in the traditional way not using a crock pot. You can see a good recipe for this at my blog post for Beef Stew at http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/blog/meat-recipes/beef-stew-recipe/

This recipe describes how to start with aromatic vegetables, removing them after all the flavor has been cooked out and replacing them with new vegetables. Also, be sure to check out my article on How to Make a Great Stew Recipe at http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/stews.htm

Hope this helps,

By: Lauri

Lauri — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:18:37 +0000

How are the vegetables NOT overcooked if you cook the entire dish (meat, veggies & seasonings) for 6 hours?? Even if you are simmering it…. Thanks.

By: dmsee

dmsee — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:40:43 +0000

This stew looks great!!! Is it true if you cook meat in a slow cooker you can’t over cook it. Even if you leave it cooking 1-2 hours over the cooking time? Hope you answer this question for me. Thanks

By: Alan Bickel

Alan Bickel — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:44:57 +0000

RG - One of the things I miss most these days in my hectic life is a good home cooked meal. I rarely find time to make a ‘real’ dinner for my wife and I, and when I do, it’s certainly not a pot roast simmere for hours and hours. I’ve got an interesting suggestion that some folks might find a little weird, but I assure you, it’s magic. Try replacing half of the beef stock with2 cups Dr. Pepper, ordinary soda, and instead of Worcestershire, add a Tsp. of Anise, whole, in a sachet. The result is a slightly sweet, but still very savory beef dish that tastes great.
In practice, the extended cooking time breaks down the syrupy, sugary soda and lends a lovely deep brown caramel color to the whole dish.

By: Adena

Adena — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:45:39 +0000

Your beef stew recipe is most amazing so I’m really looking forward to the crock pot version. Just a note though, don’t serve it with a fork and a spoon, serve with a fork and lots of crusty bread to soak up the extra liquid.

YUMMY!