I made a stew in my cooker but it was very watery .. why?

[hughjarssss]

What didnt I do that I should have?

That should havae read 'my slow cooker'

Well I would need to see the recipe to be able to tell you. What did you use to thicken it?

you only need about half the water as you do for casseroles in the oven. Sometimes its difficult if you want to entirely cover meat. What I do then is half an hour before I serve, remove lots of the liquid and thicken it on the stove with cornflour.

Not as much water evaporates in a slow cooker so you need to start with less. And you can thicken it towards the end.

I didnt use anything to thicken it which may have been the problem!

I browned the meat with the onions and put it in the slow cooker. Added all the veg then covered the whole lot with water.

Did I use too much water? I thought I had to cover the meat and veg?

If you used carrots then that could be part of the problem - they make things much more watery.

I did use carrots

Do you mean it tasted watery or it was actually watery?

Did you really use water an dnot stock?

If I am doing slow cooker I always start it off on the stove and brown the meat, add flour and cook for a bit then stock/wine/wahtever to make a thick juice prior to putting on slow cooker

It alwasys turns out too runny so I just put back on stove and reduce a bit

I'm not doing a good job of explaiing myself am I?

I didnt use water I used stock. It didnt taste watery but it was very very runny.

When should I add the flour?

I would have cooked it all day, as you did, then an hour before serving thicken with cornflour, with just a drop of water, mix thoroughly, then would be just right when served.

Thanks cherry, how much cornflour do you use?

2 heaped teaspoons in a cup,drop of water.

Fab! Thanks Cherry!