Penny Lane

Cooking beef stew

How do you know when stewing beef is done? I am not an expert on stews and on more than one occasion when I was making it meat was not cooked through, even when I followed instructions on cooking time. How do you when it's definitely cooked?

amber

Take a chunk of meat out and cute it in half

Katelyn O'Drane

meat thermometer , 165

Misty D

I cook the heck out of it, until it's falling apart.

Mumzle

if you can break it with a spoon it's done. just press a piece of meat against the inside of the pan with a wooden spoon and it should split easily.

Crystal Jacques

I personally use the fork method if it falls apart when you put a fork in it, it's done

Crystal Jacques

How long are you cooking your stew for and what temp are you cooking it at. I always cook mine for 6-8 hours in the slow cooker on low or 4-6 hours in the over in a covered cast iron dutch oven, but I can't remember the temperature.

Penny Lane

Thanks for the tips!

Penny Lane

I usually take one piece and check but sometimes I do that 5 times when cooking, but probably I do the first check too early in my cooking @Misty Cook the heck out of it 🤣 I like that

Penny Lane

I cook it on the stove and it takes about 2 -2.5 hours

Crystal Jacques

How are you judging doneness? through temperature, color, or the fork method?

Penny Lane

When I think it's nearly done I usually take out a larger chunk of meat and slice it, so that's why I was wondering is there a better method. How do you know it's done?

MrsJ 03

Stewing beef is best done in a slow cooker for at least 6 hours so all the tendons break down and leave soft meat. You could also do it in the oven covered, on low heat for 6 hours.