5 Tips for Slow Cooking Beef
Cooking can be quite a chore. That’s why a lot of people like getting help from others, such as getting help from someone like Chris from Daring Kitchen. But if you are slow with cooking then you definitely need to try slow cooking. It might sound a little difficult but slow cooking is in fact a much easier way of preparing home cooked meals that brim with flavor right to the top.
Now slow cooker can be used to cook a number of different meals including chili, casseroles, vegetable stews, and whatnot. But one of the most popular meals cooked in a crock pot is beef.
If you’re slow cooking beef then make sure to follow the tips below to create tasteful, meaty meals:
Cut right
Slow cooking is a process of hours which is why it is perfect for beef. Make sure to use tough cuts when you’re cooking beef in a slow pot. This is important as it will really accentuate the juiciness and tastefulness of the beef even if it is highly concentrated. The minimal time for slow cooking is 3 hours which really chops down the hardness of the meat and makes it soft, chewy, and tender.
Light fry
This is a trick not many people know but is super useful and effective. Sure slow cooking is time-taking and really enhances the flavors of the beef but what you can do to add that extra tinge of tastefulness is to lightly fry the beef in a pan aside, until it is brown. This will allow the beef to cook well and the meal would turn out to be more delectable than ever.
Less meat, more veggies
Meat is a really strong ingredient. So when you slow cook beef, its taste and flavor becomes extremely overpowering in the meal, often dominating the whole dish. This is why it is important to use less red meat and more veggies when you are slow cooking. The veggies will inevitably pick up the meaty flavor all the while making the dish more nutritious.
Lean meat
Always cook with lean meat or meat without layer of fat. This is important because the fat is hard to cook let alone, chew. It prevents the meat from absorbing all the spices and sauces, leaving it flavorless. It is important to use many different flavours like paprika before starting the cooking process. Remember, there are many different paprika types so make sure you use the right one for your dish! Also, make sure to use lean meat even if you are slow cooking it.
Leave the lid
Most cooks are fidgety. It is a common habit to dip in a spoon to taste the sauce or pick out a piece of meat to check whether or not it is tender. But when it comes to slow cooking beef, it is highly essential to let the lid be since the whole magic of slow cooking lies in the steam and the covered pot.
Slow cooking is perfect for new parents as it doesn’t require constant attention. You can try different types of slow cooked beef recipes to encourage your children’s necessary protein consumption, at least once or twice a week.
14 Comments
Susan Aguilar
Cooking beef in the slow cooker at my house is actually a treat for my family. The smell resonates through the air all day and it seems to make everyone hunger for the meal when it’s ready – and when it is ready, the meat is tender, the spices and vegetables have cooked to perfection. It’s like magic! I love using my slow cooker. 🙂
MD Kennedy
Great tips, and exactly what my husband does. Yes, he is the one who makes stew in our family – a great kokkinisto!
kate g
I use my slow cooker a lot, mainly because sometimes I don’t have a lot of time to cook regular meals. I have never browned the meat first, but it makes sense and I will try that next time. I already do the other tips, but sometimes at the end of cooking I do let it cook down for a little with the lid off if there is too much liquid or a gravy is too thin.
Jeanine Carlson
I’m with you! I love cooking beef in my slow cooker. And now I have an Instant Pot so I make even more great meals!
Linda Manns Linneman
These are some great tips. I love cooking with my slow cooker. Great healthy meals and so much easier. Thank you so much for sharing
Mia Rose
We do stew and beef for stir fry in the slow cooker and it comes out tender and tasty. I like your idea for using more vegetables and less meat as we are trying to include more vegetables for a healthier diet.
Lauryn R
These are great tips, thank you so much for sharing! I always sear my roast and other big cuts of meat before I put them in the slow cooker, it turns out so much better. 🙂
Tamra Phelps
My grandma used to lightly brown meats on the stove before slow cooking them, or even just baking them. It just tastes better.
Alice F.
Thank you for the great suggestions and tips. We love slow cooking and especially cooking beef. There is nothing better smelling than cooking beef in a slow cooker; the house smells devine.
Richard Brandt
And this is why beef’s for dinner! I like your advice of more veggies and less meat – it’s a healthier diet in the first place!
Shakeia Rieux
These are great tips! I haven’t cooked beef in a slow cooker, but I will try it.
JASON JENNINGS, Sr.
it sounds good
Stephanie Z
Thank you for all of these tips. Using tough cuts when cooking beef in a slow pot is good advice.
Calvin
Nice basic tips, by folllowing you can make even the cheapest cuts tender and good