Best way to make a quick slow cooker beef stew?

Question

I'm planning to do a beef stew tonight but I don't know if its better to brown the meat or just put it all in together. My mum always said browning makes it taste better but I'm a bit short on time today after doing the weekly shop at the supermarket.

Does it really matter if your in a rush and just want dinner to be ready for when the family gets home later? I want it explained clearly so their dinner turns out fine and they're isn't any fuss .

Answer 1

Hello Linda. To answer your question directly, no, it does not strictly matter if you skip browning when you are in a rush. Your dinner will still turn out safe and fully cooked in the slow cooker.

However, your mum is technically right about the flavor. Browning the meat creates what is known as the Maillard reaction, which adds a deeper, richer, savory depth to the overall stew. If you skip this step to save time, the stew will taste a bit lighter and more like a simple boiled beef soup, but it will still be completely fine for a busy weeknight.

If you decide to skip browning today to save time, you can easily compensate for the lost depth by adding a tablespoon of tomato paste, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, or a good quality beef bouillon cube into your slow cooker liquid. This helps make up for the flavor you miss out on by not searing the meat first.

Answer 2

It does not matter if you skip browning when you are in a rush. The slow cooker will cook the meat thoroughly over several hours without any extra steps. Your dinner will turn out fine and the family will have a hot meal waiting for them. You can always add a bit of extra seasoning if you feel it needs more flavor.

Answer 3

Skipping the sear is totally fine when you're pressed for time eh. I tried it last week before hockey practice and the stew still tasted great, just make sure to use enough broth.

Answer 4

If your in a rush its totally fine to just put everything straight into the slow cooker without browning. Your family wont notice a huge difference and there dinner will be ready on time. Sometimes you just have to skip steps when your busy and their still going to love it.

Answer 5

Oh I totally understand being short on time after grocery shopping!! Honestly, you can totally skip browning the meat if you are in a rush... your dinner will still turn out completely fine and delicious for the family!! I've done it loads of times when I'm running late, and nobody has ever complained. Just dump everything in the slow cooker and let it do all the work for you so you can relax instead of stressing out over the stove!!

Answer 6

just throw everything in liao, no time to sear when hungry crowd coming over. as long as charcoal/meat is tender enough its all good for a quick fix.