Southern beef stew is a simple concoction that benefits most from the slow, even cooking of a slow cooker. You can put all of the ingredients for this dish into the slow cooker in the morning, and when you return from work, dinner will be ready. Another benefit to this method of cooking is that you can save money by purchasing cheaper cuts of stew meat. They will soften over the long cooking process.
Instructions
1. Spray the frying pan with a light coating of cooking spray and place it on the stove over high heat.
2. Place the stew meat into the frying pan and allow to brown over high heat on all sides. You do not have to cook the meat all the way through; it will finish cooking in the slow cooker.
3. Place the slow cooker lining inside the slow cooker.
4. Put the browned meat, stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, celery, onions, thyme and flour into the slow cooker.
5. Plug in the slow cooker. Cook the stew, covered, on high heat for four hours or on low heat for eight hours.
6. Use a meat thermometer inserted into the meat to test that it is at least 160 degrees F. When the meat is done, the stew is finished, but longer cooking will allow the flavors to develop. Serve hot with salt and pepper, if desired.
Tags: slow cooker, high heat, cooking slow, cooking slow cooker, into slow