The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

During the winter months, we love to make warm and hearty meals. Our slow cooker beef stew is just that! It has all the wonderful flavors you would expect and more with tender chunks of beef and vegetables to create one of the best comfort food recipes on a cold day.

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (1)

If you love athick and hearty slow cooker beef stew, this is the recipe for you! One thing we love about the cold wintertime is that you can never get enoughslow cooker recipes.

This is the best slow cooker beef stewyou will ever try (and it’s so easy!). This is an easy beef stew recipe that will come together in minutes.

While it cooks throughout the day it develops all the wonderful old fashioned beef stew recipe flavors you expect to taste.

If you are looking for a recipe to throw in the crock before work, this slow cooker beef with onion soup mix is exactly what you need!

You will be excited to race home for dinner after work and have it ready to eat.

How to make Slow Cooker Beef Stew:

Crock pot beef stew ingredients:

  • Beef stew cubes
  • Carrots (you could also use baby carrots)
  • Red potatoes
  • Bay leaf
  • Dry onion soup mix
  • Cream of mushroom soup
  • Tomato sauce
  • Frozen green peas

If you do not have the cream of mushroom soup you can replace it with cream of chicken, just know it will alter the taste of the stew a bit.

You can also make your own Cream of Mushroom soup – just check out this recipe here.

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2)

Kitchen items needed to make this crock pot beef stew:

  1. Crock pot / slow cooker (THIS one is my favorite to use)
  2. Non-stick cooking spray
  3. Small-sized mixing bowl

Pro-tip: Be sure you start this wonderful beef stew early enough as it does take most of the day to cook and develop all of those lovely flavors!

This is also a great recipe to make if you will be gone all day since it can cook for up to 10 hours in the slow cooker.

If you have an Instant Pot, be sure to check out this Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe!

Related Article: These Slow Cooker Beef Gyros are prepped in under 30 minutes!

How do you make this savory crock pot beef stew?

Begin by spraying the bottom of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, or if you prefer easier cleanup, check out these amazing slow cooker liners. I am always a fan of less work after a making a delicious meal.

Then, place the beef cubes on the bottom of the slow cooker, then add in the carrots you have chopped, and diced red potatoes and then top it off with the bay leaf.

Now, in a small mixing bowl, add in one package of onion soup mix (the ounces may vary depending on the brand you use), cans of cream of mushroom soup, and tomato sauce, and frozen peas.

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (3)

Mix everything together well and then pour it over top of the beef and veggies, trying to spread it as evenly as possible.

If desired, you can place a bay leaf on top for added flavor, but it’s not necessary.

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (4)

Then, simply put the lid on the slow cooker and turn it on low and set the timer between 7-10 hours.

If you need to, it can cook on high for 5-6 hours, but we prefer the low and slow method (the meat just falls apart after cooking for that long!).

We LOVE to serve rolls with our stew, perfect to dip and even clean up your bowls with! If you like to make your own, check out our 30 Minute Dinner Rolls.

Tips for this easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe:

  • This meal can easily be made into a freezer meal. To make this a freezer meal, place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag (or another freezer-safe container). Mix contents together in the bag and zip bag closed. When ready to eat, remove the bag from the freezer and thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours. Then spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and the pour contents of bag into the slow cooker. And simply cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).
  • No worries if you don’t have beef stew cubes at your grocery store – you can buy your favorite beef roast and cut it into bite-sized pieces yourself.
  • I prefer to add double the meat, just to make it even more hearty.

Love cooking as much as we do? Join our FREE private Facebook Group: Six Sisters’ Dinner Club!

Make this Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe your own:

You can add whatever veggies you like! Here are a few suggestions:

  • Green beans
  • Veggie mix
  • Corn
  • Green Peppers
  • Red Peppers
The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (5)

More Slow Cooker recipes to try:

  1. EASY SLOW COOKER BEEF LASAGNA RECIPE
  2. SLOW COOKER KOREAN BEEF TACOS
  3. SLOW COOKER BEEF MINESTRONE SOUP
  4. SLOW COOKER ITALIAN ROAST BEEF SANDWICHES
  5. SLOW COOKER COCA-COLA BBQ ROAST BEEF
  6. SLOW COOKER 8 CAN TACO SOUP
  7. SLOW COOKER CHEESY BEEF AND POTATOES
  8. SLOW COOKER CHICKEN STEW

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (6)

Serves: 6

The Best Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

5 from 3 votes

One of the easiest recipes I have ever made – and it's super hearty and filling! This also can be made into a freezer meal and is so nice to pull out of the freezer on a day when you don't have time to cook.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

PrintPin

Ingredients

  • 1 pound beef stew cubes
  • 4 large carrots (sliced)
  • 4-6 red potatoes (cut into large cubes)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix (about 1 ounce packet)
  • 2 cans cream of mushroom soup (10.75 ounces each)
  • 1 can tomato sauce (8 ounces)
  • 1 package frozen green peas (10 ounces)

Instructions

  • Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.

  • Place beef cubes at the bottom of the crock pot. Layer carrots, then potatoes, placing bay leaf on top.

  • In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour over beef and veggies.

  • Cover with lid and cook on low 7-10 hours (you could cook it on high for 6-7 hours, but I highly recommend the low and slow method).

Notes

How to make this into a freezer meal:

  • Before cooking, place all ingredients in a resealable gallon-sized freezer bag. Mix together and zip bag closed.
  • When ready to eat, remove from freezer and thaw in fridge for 24 hours. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and pour contents of bag into slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 7-10 hours (or HIGH for 5-6 hours).

Nutrition

Calories: 372 kcal · Carbohydrates: 50 g · Protein: 29 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 3 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g · Cholesterol: 52 mg · Sodium: 1953 mg · Potassium: 1725 mg · Fiber: 9 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 8885 IU · Vitamin C: 42 mg · Calcium: 85 mg · Iron: 5 mg

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

  • Mixing Bowl

  • Non-stick Cooking Spray

Recipe Details

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

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The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (7)

Join The Discussion

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  1. Michelle says:

    do you add water for the soups as you were making them and then add? just want to be sure!

  2. Camille says:

    Hi Michelle! Don't add any water for the soups! :) Just dump in the can of condensed soup and the packet of onion soup mix. :) Quick and easy!

  3. Anonymous says:

    im making mine too, but the beef not tender its hard and it still says it has 2 1/2 hours to go hmmm

  4. Crystal says:

    It says 1 (8 oz) can tomato SOUP.....did you mean 1 (8 oz) can tomato SAUCE? I could only find tomato soup in a 10 3/4 oz can but tomato sauce comes in an 8 oz can. I just want to be sure before I make it.

  5. Anonymous says:

    How fun to have so many close relatives to share ideas with. You are all blessed.

    Juliesews

  6. Anonymous says:

    This recipe looks amazing. found it on pinterest. Making it tomorrow morning!

    I just thought i'd remind people that when using a crock pot to NOT open it. until it says to. Opening it ruins the process and will take longer to cook....

  7. Rebekka says:

    I wasn't crazy about this...I'm sorry. It could be because I had to make sure my tomato soup and cream of mushroom was gluten free....sigh*

  8. AliciaMonique says:

    How many servings does this make? About 12 or so?!
    This looks sooo delicious, can't wait to try!!! :)

  9. Missy says:

    Loved it!! Yummy, Thanks
    I did use only 1/2 can of tomato soup and a can of El PATO (Spicy) tomato sauce to give it a Kick!!
    I would not recommend this to a family w/kids or you can do what I did which was to add a little sour cream to cool it down . I cooked it for a full 9 hours and the meat was very tender as well as the carrots and potatoes.

  10. Unknown says:

    Made this tonight. 11 hours in crock pot. Perfection. Tender, perfect beef. Soft potatoes. My husband said it needed salt but I don't think so. This recipe is so easy. We'll be making this once a week fer sher.

  11. Maryjo Mcgraw says:

    Made this tonight and it was good! We will definitely make it again. It was very easy to throw together.

  12. Aundrea Azelton says:

    Not a fan of this recipe. Way too thick and too creamy, not the consistency I look for in beef stew. I added Worchestershire for taste as it was a bit bland and tasted artificial, I suppose thats to be expected as the base came out of a can. It filled our bellies is all i can say that is positive.

  13. April says:

    Hardly ever comment on recipes, in fact I think yours are the only ones I do! I thought this was excellent, just "the one" I was looking for! Awesome! Thank you! Followed exactly except I had half a bag of frozen green beans to use up!

  14. Six Sisters says:

    We'll have to try adding green beans! Great way to get our daily veggies in! Thanks for your nice comment! You made our day! -The Six Sisters

  15. Dave Mills says:

    I added 4oz fresh sliced mushrooms (because I like mushrooms). This recipe was simple and delicious. I'm a real fan of thick stews.

  16. Pam Walk says:

    The recipe says tomato "sauce", not tomato soup. This was wonderful. I also added mushrooms.

  17. bhelgeson says:

    I made this today and it was amazing. I did want it a little more "soupey," so instead of the 2 cans of cream of mushroom, I did one can of cream of mushroom and one can of water. Also, I didn't use the full 10 oz bag of frozen mixed vegetables (thats what I had on hand instead of peas), only a small part of the bag. It was a boyfriend pleaser for sure. Thank you!

  18. Christine says:

    Are you supposed to use condensed cream of mushroom soup? Or just regular cream of mushroom soup??making this now so please answer quickly!

  19. Cyd says:

    Just a can of Campbells cream of Mushroom soup!

  20. Jessica says:

    This has been my go to recipe for years ever since I found it on Pinterest. I haven't made it in awhile and was so excited about it. Just thought I'd share! ?

  21. Cyd says:

    Thanks Jessica!! Glad you like it and thanks so much for stopping by our blog! Have a great week!! :)

  22. Alyssa says:

    My family LOVED this recipe! I did change a few things. I put a lot of salt &pepper on the meat, replaced the peas with corn, and I also added a can of beef broth after the initial 8 hours and let it cook another 45 minutes. Mainly because it wasn't juicy enough, but that could've been because I cut up a lean roast I had in the freezer instead of buying stew meat. Either way delicious recipe and can't wait to make it again!

  23. Linda Fairless says:

    The recipe says 1 (1oz) pkg of dry onion soup mix. There are 1.9 oz in the pkg. Do you just use 1 oz of the pkg?

  24. Cyd says:

    Sorry about that, you can add the whole package of the onion soup mix. If you are afraid it will be too strong, you can add half and then part way through cooking add the rest if you feel you want it for more flavor. We added the whole package.

  25. Missy says:

    I made this yesterday, we all absolutely loved it! I did use celery in place of the peas. A keeper recipe for sure.

  26. Ally says:

    Made this last week & it turned out great! So much flavor. My bf loved it too, thanks for sharing :)

  27. Kay Crawford says:

    Can I replace the cream of mushroom with cream of chicken?

  28. Cyd says:

    That should be fine but it will alter the taste a little because cream of chicken and cream of mushroom have a totally different taste.

  29. Stephanie says:

    This is my favorite stew to make! Such a comfort food. Thanks for the recipe. I'm glad fall is on the horizon so I can make it more often.

  30. Amber says:

    What would you recommend to replace the cream of mushroom?

  31. Cyd says:

    You could use some beef broth and then thicken it a little with cornstarch or flour/water mixture like you would for gravy. That would add a lot of delicious flavor.

  32. Karen says:

    not tomato soup,,tomato sauce

  33. Karen says:

    so you don't mix it all up before cooking?

  34. Bonnie says:

    Wow!! Great beef stew. So easy to make. My family loved it. Going put some in the freezer. I used the whole can of tomato soup and replaced peas for celery. Delicious!!!

  35. Cyd says:

    Some ingredients you place right in the slow cooker. Others you mix in a bowl and then add it in. It's all in the directions. Hope this helps!

  36. Trina says:

    Please clarify if it is tomato soup or sauce that is used.

  37. Wanda says:

    Awesome! Very good taste.

  38. Jen says:

    When do you put the peas in?? I am cooking it right away in crockpot not freezing

  39. Cyd says:

    We put the peas in with all of the other ingredients. You can also use frozen peas in this recipe. Just add them in frozen.

  40. Inge says:

    Should the stew meat be browned before putting in crockpot?

  41. Cyd says:

    The stew meat does not have to be browned before putting in the slow cooker.

  42. Inge says:

    Thanks for the quick response. It is expected to be cold this week. Will definitely make this dish.

  43. Yvonne says:

    I started this before I left for work yesterday when I got home it was done and it looked just like the picture. It calls for no salt. It was so bland. It needs a lot of salt.

  44. Alice says:

    I forgot the frozen peas! Can I used canned?

  45. Cyd says:

    Canned peas will work too.

  46. Cynthi says:

    that's how I make it...with cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom

  47. Cynthi says:

    i use just one packet

  48. Linda says:

    Can you use cream of celery instead of the cream of mushroom I am making it now

  49. Linda says:

    I made this tonight and I wouldn't change this recipe for nothing my niece loved it and so did I

  50. Cyd says:

    Hi Linda. Thanks for taking the time to leave us a comment on the beef stew. So glad you and your niece loved it. Have a great week.

  51. Cyd says:

    Oh no! Just seeing this now. Cream of celery should be fine. :)

  52. Danielle says:

    Hello, I am not a fan of beef could you substitute pork or chicken for this recipe?

  53. Cyd says:

    You can substitute any meat of your choosing.

  54. Sarah says:

    Can you make this in the instant pot?

  55. Glenna Marky says:

    Amazing recipe I'm one of those little old ladies who can't spend a lot of time in the kitchen standing up for prep. I just use all frozen veggies dump and forget. My favorites.

  56. Suaan says:

    Hey! I love this recipe and have been making it for a while. I now have an instant pot and was wonderful if this recipe is able to be converted to the instant pot. Thanks!

  57. Susan says:

    Wondering the same thing!

  58. Cyd says:

    Here is a post the Six Sisters did on converting recipes to the instant pot. https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/how-to-convert-recipes-into-instant-pot-recipes/

  59. Jill says:

    This was delicious! We had it for Christmas Eve- so perfect after a busy day and evening church service. I used fresh potatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. I keyed it into MyFitnessPal and stayed in track with my macro goals. Best beef stew recipe anywhere !

  60. Cyd says:

    Hi Jill. So glad you liked the Slow Cooker Beef Stew. It's perfect for a cold winter day! Have a Happy New Year!!

  61. Jennifer Hanks says:

    Hey I was wondering do you actually make the onion soup mix like it says on the Lipton box or do you not? Trying to start this tonight but I want to do it correctly.

  62. Cyd says:

    I'm sure this reply is late. But you just sprinkle the dry onion soup mix into the recipe.

  63. Amanda says:

    Is there a way to get nutritional info on this recipe so those on Weight Watchers can configure points?

  64. Jen S says:

    This beef stew is best!! I love meals that are easy and delicious! Bonus points bc my kids love it too!!

  65. Cyd says:

    You can enter the ingredients into MyFitnessPal for nutrition information.

  66. Shirley Anderson says:

    Love your recipes but I joined weight watchers and need the nutrition for this stew.

  67. Cyd says:

    You can add the ingredients into MyFitnessPal and it will give you all the nutritional info you will need for this recipe.

  68. Kim says:

    Should I cook this on High if I want to eat it before 7 hours or cook on low for the whole 7 hours. I doubled the meat so I want to make sure it is cooked thoroughly and tender for dinner. Suggestion please.

  69. Cyd says:

    It will be fine on low for 7 hours.

  70. Laurie says:

    I'm confused because I clicked on the link that said "Instant Pot" recipe, but this is obviously for a slow cooker... Did I miss something?

  71. Cossette says:

    Making this today in hopes that it will be a quick and easy freezer meal for when baby arrives in 4 months. Need to start my list of quick and easy dinners, so that prepping freezer meals near the end will be a breeze :) planning on making this with 1/2 the amount of potatoes and one additional can of water as we like things more soupy. Otherwise all same ingredients. Usually use the instant pot pressure cook option but going to put it in early today and use the slow cooker function on low for 8 hours. Excited to come back on update on how it was!

  72. Molly says:

    Hi! Thank you for such and easy and delicious looking recipe! I see that it serves six, but roughly what is the measurement of a serving? Cup? Half cup? Thanks!

  73. Rebecca B. says:

    The flavor of this stew is exactly what I have in mind when I think of classic beef stew from my childhood. I like to buy a family pack of stew meat and a bag of potatoes and make 2 gallon sized ziploc bags full to stick in the freezer. Also love subbing frozen mixed veggies instead of just carrots bc that’s how I roll. Don’t forget the bay leaf! It makes a huge difference in flavor.

    The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (8)

  74. Momma Cyd says:

    That can vary with each individual. With stew a serving is at least a good cup.

  75. Dino Clark says:

    When do you stir this during the cook time or at the end ?

  76. Jill says:

    Looks delicious. Can this be made in an Instant pot and do you have directions?

  77. Momma Cyd says:

    We have a few instant pot beef stews.https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/instant-pot-beef-stew-recipe/https://www.sixsistersstuff.com/recipe/instant-pot-ground-beef-vegetable-stew-recipe/

  78. Jen W says:

    If not tender, keep cooking! Many a time did I think that my beef was never going to get tender. But this is a good example where patience is a virtue!

  79. JenD. says:

    This is the easiest & tastiest stew recipe around! Making it for my inlaws tonight. Even my super picky eaters request it! Only change is I add the peas in the last couple hours so they don't get too mushy. Serve with homemade bread & yum!

    The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (9)

  80. JoeD says:

    I added water to the condensed soup - think it will still come out okay?

  81. Laurie Haan says:

    Hi, I’m about to make this stroganoff recipe, and I realized I’m out of apple juice. Could I substitute applesauce for the juice? Or, could I use cranberry juice?

    The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (10)

  82. Momma Cyd says:

    We have not tried applesauce or cranberry juice. The cranberry juice would definitely give it a different taste. I would stick with applesauce watered down a bit.

  83. Momma Cyd says:

    It should be fine, the stew may not be as thick.

  84. Emily Wright says:

    So excited to make this ! How would you adjust the recipe if adding more meat?

  85. Momma Cyd says:

    If it's just a little meat, you should be fine. But you may need to add more liquid if it's a lot of meat you want to add in

The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (11)

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Camille Beckstrand is married to Jared and they have 4 kids. She is a certified life coach that loves helping women become "unstuck" in their lives and is the host of the podcast "Moms On The Rise". She also loves a good true crime podcast, a big plate of cheesy loaded nachos, and going on adventures with her family.

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The BEST Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to tender beef stew? ›

The most important key to making stew meat tender is being sure to cook it for a long time. If you want super tender beef, you'll need to cook it on a low heat in a Dutch oven on the stove or a slow cooker for at least a few hours.

How to make the perfect beef stew and the common mistakes to avoid? ›

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Beef Stew
  1. Braising the Beef In Water.
  2. Using "Stew Meat"
  3. Not Searing the Beef.
  4. Including Thickeners.
  5. Overcooking the Veggies.
  6. Not Using Any Bacon.
  7. Forgetting the Acid.
  8. Serving It Right Away.

How to make beef stew more flavorful? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

Do you need to brown beef before slow cooker stew? ›

Browning Is Better

And if you dredge the meat in flour before you brown it, your sauce will thicken up to make a gravy. You should always brown ground beef or any ground meat in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker to prevent the meat from clumping up or from adding excess grease to your cooked dish.

How to make stew very tender? ›

Simmering the stew with the lid ON allows the connective tissues in the beef to break down. Removing the lid then continuing to simmer with it OFF allows the beef to finish becoming tender and thicken the broth.

What is the most tender meat to use for beef stew? ›

Next time you're shopping for stew beef, look at your options and see what cuts of meat will work best for your recipe. For example, chuck is a lean and tender cut of beef that works well in stew. However, if you would prefer a thicker and more flavorful stew, short ribs or oxtail may be better choices for you.

What can I add to my stew to make it taste better? ›

If so here are some tips for making your stews tasty and have your family begging you for more!
  1. Choose your ingredients wisely. ...
  2. Start off with a good flavour base. ...
  3. Add vegetables. ...
  4. Add flavourings to taste. ...
  5. Add Herbs and/or Spices. ...
  6. Spices: (Optional) ...
  7. Add stock or wine/beer. ...
  8. Add thickeners.

Should I add tomato paste to beef stew? ›

What does tomato paste do for beef stew? It definitely gives another layer of flavor and can thicken up your gravy. But it can also be very acidic so you might want to simmer finally chopped carrots in your sauce to give it some sweetness. And for me, there is nothing like fresh basil, parsley, and oregano.

When should I add vegetables to beef stew? ›

After about 1 1/2 hours of cooking, add roasted veggies and potatoes to the pot and finish cooking. Remove thyme and rosemary bundle and bay leaves, discard.

What is the best thickener for beef stew? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What vegetables can you add to beef stew? ›

Although I added carrots, little red potatoes, rutabaga and cremini mushrooms, you have plenty of options. Parsnip, turnip, pearl onions, squash and fennel will also work. Stir them in gently and immediately return the pot to the oven for the final hour of cooking.

What is the most flavorful meat for stew? ›

The best cuts of stew meat are lean with a high concentration of collagen-rich connective tissues—such as chuck or shoulder cuts—that also have some fat marbling for flavor. Lean cuts of meat come from parts of the animal that have lots of muscle, like the legs.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Should I flour stew meat before browning? ›

Consider Adding Flour

Melvin also recommends dusting the meat in seasoned flour before browning it. The flour will add body to the dish and help thicken up the sauce that comes together while the ingredients cook low and slow.

Do I need to cook onions before putting in slow cooker? ›

It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one. It can also be good to brown meat to give it some colour, but again, this is not essential.

How do you make beef stew meat not tough? ›

Cook it slow and steady.

This gives collagens in the tough muscle tissue time to melt and make the meat tender. Try tasting a bite after an hour, two hours, and three hours — you'll see how the meat goes from chewy to pretty good to fall-apart tender.

How to make beef tender like Chinese restaurants? ›

There are a few methods, but this is the easiest way:
  1. Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
  2. Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
  3. Rinse, pat off excess water.
  4. Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Feb 23, 2019

How long to cook beef stew until tender? ›

Add the beef, beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a slow simmer. Cover and cook, skimming broth from time to time, until the beef is tender, about 1½ hours.

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