{"id":327,"date":"2020-02-22T22:13:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-23T05:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/?p=327"},"modified":"2020-11-10T06:36:12","modified_gmt":"2020-11-10T13:36:12","slug":"beef-stew-in-the-pressure-cooker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pressurecookingtoday.com\/beef-stew-in-the-pressure-cooker\/","title":{"rendered":"Old-Fashioned Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This easy-to-make <\/em>Pressure Cooker Beef Stew<\/em><\/strong> is the perfect cold-weather comfort food. You can have this <\/em>hearty stew on the table in under an hour from start to finish<\/em><\/strong>, but it\u2019ll taste like you let it simmer all day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This Pressure Cooker Beef Stew is a classic, old-fashioned recipe, based on a stovetop version my mom cooked for me growing up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best thing is that you can make it any time you\u2019re craving something warm and hearty, since this Instant Pot Beef Stew recipe has just a 12 minute cook time and will be on your table in under an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update: <\/strong>This was my most popular recipe I created in 2019<\/a>, so I wanted to update it with new pictures and a video to show how easy it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Make Beef Stew in the Instant Pot or Any Brand of Electric Pressure Cooker <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This Pressure Cooker Beef Stew recipe<\/strong> works in ANY brand of electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot<\/a>, Ninja Foodi<\/a>, or Power Pressure Cooker XL<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took my mom\u2019s original recipe and simplified it a little. I prefer to use small new potatoes to skip the peeling and dicing, and I cut my carrots and celery into larger pieces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What Meat Is Best for Beef Stew?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I often use chuck roast for beef stew recipe, though I\u2019ll also use a round steak or rump roast if it\u2019s on sale. Both cuts are fairly inexpensive, trim up easily, and result in tender beef stew meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Really it\u2019s about personal preference: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u27a1\ufe0f Chuck roast has a little higher fat content than rump roast, which gives you a more flavorful stew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u27a1\ufe0f Round roasts or rump roasts have less marbling, which can make it easier to trim up each bite to discard the meat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever type of roast you use, be sure to dice it into uniform-sized pieces for even cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Make a Flavorful Beef Stew in the Pressure Cooker<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The #1 thing you can do for a flavorful stew is to brown the beef! <\/strong>Especially when you’re in a hurry, it can be tempting to just throw everything in the pot to cook. However, you miss out on so much flavor this way!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you brown the beef and saute the onions, you\u2019ll add beef broth to the pan. Then give the bottom of the pot a good stir to loosen all of the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. The more browned bits, the more flavorful the stew will be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca1 TIP: <\/strong>If the browning is moving too quickly, add oil or broth.
if you\u2019re near the end of the browning process, just add the broth. If you still have a good amount of beef to brown, add another tablespoon of oil and adjust your Saute setting to a lower heat level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Flour Your Beef Before Cooking<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In traditional stew recipes, it\u2019s common for the uncooked stew meat to be dredged in flour and browned before adding the liquid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DON\u2019T DO THIS IN YOUR PRESSURE COOKER!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flouring the beef before cooking in the pressure cooker can lead to a thick, flour-y build up on the bottom of your cooking pot\u2014resulting in a Burn notice and a ruined stew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Overhead<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to Cook Stew with Frozen Beef<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To make Pressure Cooker Beef Stew with frozen beef, you\u2019ll need to add at least 5 minutes to the High Pressure cook time. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideally, you\u2019ll want your cubed beef to be frozen flat and evenly. If it\u2019s frozen in a big clump, it\u2019s much, much harder to ensure the outside and insides are cooked evenly, and you’ll need to add more minutes to the cook time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since frozen beef doesn\u2019t brown as evenly, I just skip that part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After pressure cooking, you can use an instant-read thermometer and test a few pieces to ensure they\u2019re above 160\u00b0F. If not, return the lid and cook at High Pressure a few minutes more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do not add the veggies until AFTER the meat is cooked through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brown<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What to Do If the Meat Isn\u2019t Tender Enough?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The meat in Pressure Cooker Beef Stew should be cooked tender by the time the first 10-minute cook time ends. If you like a fork-tender beef, you may want to add a few extra minutes to the cook time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recommend tasting the beef to ensure it\u2019s cooked as tender as you like it. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your meat seems a little chewy after pressure cooking, return the lid and cook at High Pressure for another 3 to 5 minutes before adding the vegetables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Once you add the veggies, you\u2019re limited on how long you can pressure cook things before the veggies turn to mush.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Beef<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Should I Use Flour or Cornstarch to Thicken Beef Stew <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can use either flour or cornstarch in this recipe! Whichever way you choose to go, be sure to mix it with cold water first to avoid clumps. And ALWAYS add the thickener after pressure cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since I grew up eating stew thickened with flour, that\u2019s how I wrote this recipe. Stir together the flour and cold water into a slurry. Stir the flour mixture until smooth, add a little of the warm broth from the stew to the flour slurry, and stir some more until smooth. Then pour this whole mixture back into the pressure cooking, again stirring constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you prefer cornstarch thickeners, go for it! (Bonus: it makes the stew gluten free!) Start with 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water and add to the cooking pot. Select Saute and simmer until the stew thickens.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, the stew will thicken as it cools, so you don\u2019t want to overdo it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Adding Red Wine to the Beef Stew<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In traditional stews, acidic red wine is used to flavor and tenderize the stew meat during the hours it simmers on the stove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substitute \u00bd to 1 cup of red wine for the same amount of beef broth. (If you\u2019re interested in a recommendation, Cook\u2019s Illustrated recommends<\/a> a $10 bottle of C\u00f4tes du Rh\u00f4ne instead of traditional cooking wine in this recipe.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Potatoes Should I Use?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love to use little new potatoes because they keep their shape and have a smooth texture when cooked. Even better, there\u2019s no need to peel them and there\u2019s minimal chopping! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you can use russet potatoes without any change to the cook time. Substitute about 2 cups of chopped russet potatoes in this recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pressure<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Long Can You Store Leftovers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Leftover stew can be stored in your fridge for three to four days. <\/strong>If you\u2019d like it to keep longer, you\u2019ll need to freeze it. I prefer to freeze soups and stews in individual portions for a quick and easy meal.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’d love to know\u2014what are your favorite winter-time comfort foods?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FOR MORE FROM PRESSURE COOKING TODAY
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\ud83e\udd58 Browse our collection<\/strong> of the best pressure cooker \/ Instant Pot recipes<\/u><\/a>.

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\ud83e\udd67 If you\u2019re interested in more than just Instant Pot recipes,<\/strong> follow us at Barbara Bakes<\/u><\/a>. There we post amazing breakfasts<\/u><\/a>, breads<\/u><\/a>, and the best dessert recipes<\/u><\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n