To ask you how I can fix this?

[gchali]

I think I've had a cooking disaster

I just put a beef stew on low in my slow cooker to cook overnight and the recipe said to add 5tbsp of flour which I did, but now the stew is an awful pale colour and I don't know how to fix it

Can I salvage it or is it ruined? I've tried to Google it but it's not giving me any answers.

Years ago people used gravy browning to darken stews. If it is cooking overnight I think it will probably go darker

@Anordinarymum I did a bit of Bisto granules but it didn't do much. I am really hoping it darkens overnight because it looks really unappetising at the moment!

If it’s still pale in the morning throw in some gravy granules.

That's a lot of flour! How many people is this for? Like PP said, the colour shouldn't be a massive issue - gravy browning is used to make that nice brown colour but it's literally just a colouring.

@Anordinarymum Ah sorry I misread your post and thought you said gravy granules

@BurningMam I know, I should have stopped myself from adding so much but I just did it without thinking

So it’s not even started cooking yet? Leave it be.

Are you sure you were meant to add all that flour? I usually coat the meat in flour first but that’s all

@HeddaGarbled It is now, it's on low. I hope it goes darker

How did you add the flour? Dusted the meat, then browned it?

@BadDucks Yes that's what the recipe said

[quote gchali]@Anordinarymum Ah sorry I misread your post and thought you said gravy granules [/quote]
Gravy browning comes in a bottle. People used to put it in Christmas cakes to darken the mixture as well. You only need to use a tiny bit. I have no idea what is in it. I had a bottle of it in my cupboard for years :( I threw it away when I couldn't get the top off ha ha

This conversation is making me feel peaceful.

As you were

Also you could try adding a tin of chopped tomatoes for some colour. I always add a tin when I make a casserole.

@grassisjeweled I browned the meat off in a pan, added to SC, adding veg mixed together then adding stock and flour with some tomato paste

Does anybody know if a bit of Worcester sauce would do anything to the colour?

Probably would need too much to make a difference and the the taste would be over powering

@BadDucks I'm such an idiot I hope I haven't ruined it

I’m sure it will taste fine just going to be pale looking! To be honest I gave my slow cooker away as I never mastered the art of it and everything I made in it came out bland and colourless.

@BadDucks I love mine couldn't be without it now

Yòu could always remove as much of the liquid as you can and start again with stock instead. Then tomorrow just thicken at end of cooking time with some gravy granules instead.

Leave it be until the morning. It’s cooking it slowly so it will take time to look as you’d expect.

@Anordinarymum isn't gravy browning that bistro stuff in a pack and it's powder?

I've not seen bottles, do tell me what that is!

OP it'll be fine by morning, or add gravy browning which I clearly don't know about!

Bisto not bistro

[quote Bookworming]@Anordinarymum isn't gravy browning that bistro stuff in a pack and it's powder?

I've not seen bottles, do tell me what that is!

OP it'll be fine by morning, or add gravy browning which I clearly don't know about!
[/quote]
No it is not Bisto. Gravy browning is a liquid in a bottle. It has no taste but it colours anything very dark !

My mother always used it in Christmas cakes and so did I. It works in stews like a dream.

I'm gonna google it !