BEEF STEW DOs
Do Choose the Right Beef
Sometimes grocery stores try to get away with packaging up their old, toughest meat with some potatoes and carrots and calling it a stew pack. What you want to choose is USDA Choice tender, grass-fed beef with fat marbled throughout. It’ll raise the quality and flavor of your dish tremendously.
Do Sear the Beef
You should never throw your raw cubes of beef into the stew pot. You must sear the cubes first in a pan to brown them and begin building that rich flavor. It’s important not to brown them too lightly—sear them until there’s a dark crust on each side of the meat cubes. You’ll probably have to sear the cubes in batches to get the desired result. Too many cubes in the stew pot at once will result in grey meat instead of darkly seared.
Do Deglaze the Pan with Wine
After searing the meat, that pan contains valuable juices and browned bits you must save! Pour red wine into the pan after removing the meat, keeping the burner on low. Scrape the browned bits with a wooden spoon, letting the wine simmer and reduce.
BEEF STEW DON'Ts
Don’t Add the Veggies Too Soon
Mushy veggies will ruin your stew. Hearty veggies like potatoes, carrots, and turnips should be added halfway through cooking, while more tender veggies like peas and corn should be added about ten minutes before turning the burner off.
Don’t Rush the Stewing of the Stew
Your beef stew needs at least two hours, sometimes three, on a low burner, so the meat is tender, and the flavors mingle. This isn’t a dish to rush; it’s a dish to make on a lazy weekend so you can enjoy the smell as it stews.
Don’t Stew the Stew Too Long Either
There is a sweet spot here! It might seem that cooking your beef stew on low for 8 hours will make it even better, but that is not true at all. Your beef will be tough if you don’t cook it enough and it will be tough if you cook it too much. It’s just science, take it from us! We recommend doing a taste test or two throughout the cooking process to gauge the progress.
Don’t Forget the Crusty Bread
A rustic loaf of French or country bread is a must-have for sopping up the delicious juice left in your bowl after your stew is devoured.
Do Enjoy your Leftovers
Beef stew is one of those dishes that often tastes better the next day, after the flavors mingle in the fridge overnight. Making enough for leftovers is a must!
All in all, the best beef stew starts with the best beef. Get our USDA Choice Grass Fed and Grass Finished Stew Meat delivered straight to your door overnight for free on orders of $99+. Enjoy!
