Can I rescue this slow cooker beef stew?

[atticusclaw2]

Ive made a beef stew in the slow cooker and its really tough and chewy. Its been on for a couple of hours on high and then three hours on low.

If I leave it on for longer (DH won't be home for a couple of hours yet) will it get better or worse? I'll turn it off now if its just going to get chewier and chewier.

[Micah]

Leave it on low for as long as possible, it will get better.

Beef stews need at least 8 hours on low to cook properly :)

[atticusclaw2]

Oh that's good news!

[Sparkletastic]

What cut of beef? If stewing steak leave it longer on low. Can only get better. Can you add some ingredients to make it more appealing? Maybe dumplings for the squidgy factor?

[mrsmeerkat]

It isn't on long enough yet. Don't open the lid again til you are ready to eat as it will slow down cooking

[atticusclaw2]

"irish beef diced casserole steak" according to the packaging.

It tastes really good, its just the meat is too chewy which makes it unappealing.

[atticusclaw2]

It has dumplings and pearl barley already.

[Sparkletastic]

Ah in that case keep the faith - should be lovely after another couple of hours

[atticusclaw2]

Fab - I'm glad I didn't bin it!

[PhoenixReisling]

Did you wear it prior to slow cooking it? If you didn't I find that it takes longer.

[PseudoBadger]

See this is why I don't understand the point of slow cookers?! I do at least one beef stew a week with braising steak and it takes 3 hours at gas mark 2 (browning and bringing to the boil 1st on the hob). What am I missing?

[ethelb]

It may get tender yet! But make sure you don't brown it next time.

[atticusclaw2]

DH has just polished off two helpings without any complaint. I have been on the phone to my parents trying to explain their pensions to them and there's hardly any left!

[IHeartIona]

avoid high for stews, low makes the meat nice and soft.

Pseudobadger - slow cookers cost about a penny per hour to run, and you can go out and do stuff without needing to watch the oven.

[Wolfiefan]

Pseudo it is really convenient to bung food in slow cooker and clear out for 8 hours. I don't like leaving the oven on. I drop kids off for school, start cooking and can cleanup before breakfast. Result. Plus the meat melts in your mouth. Yum!

[SanityClause]

I always find the meat done in a slow cooker is oddly tough and dry, even when it's been cooked forever.

I love the idea of bunging it all in a pot and coming back to the delicious smells of a beautifully cooked stew, but the reality is somewhat different, in my experience.

[SSargassoSea]

It might be that the meat has not been hung. So use a good butcher for meat.

[cdtaylornats]

Once it's cooked in a slow cooker you can leave it on low for hours - handy if you're cooking for people who aren't arriving to a schedule.

[iklboo]

I usually put a beef casserole on for a few hours the night before, switch off & let it 'rest' then reheat thoroughly the next day. The meat melts in the mouth.

Did you wear it prior to slow cooking it - epic autocorrect . So THAT'S why Lady Gaga was wearing that meat dress!

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

PhoenixReisling

Did you wear it prior to slow cooking it?

What do you wear it with?

[atticusclaw2]

Nothing but a nice full bodied red wine