Slow Cooker beef

[sandybeaches74]

Hopefully someone can help me out! Normally I'm a fairly good cook but whenever I put beef in the slow cooker (regardless of the cut), it ends up falling apart but really dry and chewy. It's driving me mad, I spend all day looking forward to it and it's a disappointment every time!

I sear the meat before adding to the pot with some stock and red wine.

Any help much appreciated!

What cut of meat are you using?

Fat usually helps, it might be too lean
If it is, then I add some pancetta

You need a fattier cut of meat, something like shin of beef. Not braising steak as that's too lean and will go dry.

Alternatively, a whole piece of beef such as brisket.

Today I used a fatty piece of topside but I've used brisket as well, turns out the same!

I cook housekeepers cut 4 hours on low. Always turns out lovely.

I wouldn't use wine in a slow cooker. It doesn't get hot enough to burn off the alcohol.
Not sure if that's the issue with your Beef though

Ditch the slow cooker and use the oven.

I’ve tied all sorts of recipes in the slow cooker and they are all flavourless or watery or both.

Slow cooked in the oven tastes a million times better. I don’t even find the slow cooker that much more convenient tbh either.