How to Make Beef Stew Tender

Classic beef stew with Asian seasonings is great to serve with noodles and rice. This beef stew recipe has both instant pot and slow cooker methods. Wanna know how to make beef stew tender in an instant pot? 

Love Asian food? Check out these Vietnamese spring rolls, zucchini mushroom chicken and orange chicken recipes. 

What is beef stew? 

Beef and vegetables are cooked at low temperature and simmer for a few hours. Nowadays, most people like to use instant pot and slow cooker to make beef stew because the beef is tender, easier and convenient. 

In this beef stew recipe, I am going to share how to make beef stew tender in an instant pot. I have tried both slow cooker and instant pot methods. Slow cooker helps warm up my cold house. However, using a slow cooker normally takes 5-6 hours to make beef stew. 

On the other hand, instant pot pressure cooker not only cooks faster, but it actually cooks the meat really tasty because it keeps the juice inside the meat and the beef is very tender and moist. 

What are the ingredients for beef stew? 

Western and Eastern have different ways to make beef stew. Western normally use potato, tomato, celery, onion, carrots and beef to make beef stew. Eastern beef stew often use daikon, carrots and Asian spices like braised beef and radish. 

This beef stew recipe, I mainly use carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, celery, beef and beef broth which is more western style. However, I use some Asian seasoning such as five spice powder, soy sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar, salt, garlic and ginger. 

Cooking tips for how to make beef stew tender in an instant pot: 

• Browning the beef on both sides this helps to retain juice inside the meat. 
• Try to push down the ingredients if too full.
• Put all the ingredients and mix well with the sauce.
• Press the manual button and adjust time for 60 minutes and natural release pressure. 
• Use a strainer to remove the fat. 
• Push the sauté button and add cornstarch mixture. Slowly and gently mix until it thickens. 

FAQs: 

What kind of beef do you use? 

For this kind of beef stew I normally use chuck beef roast boneless because it is easy to find in regular grocery stores and the price is good.

Can I use fresh tomatoes? 

Yes, sure. Sometimes, I will add both fresh tomatoes and canned tomatoes. 

What can I serve the beef stew with? 

We usually serve them with noodles or rice. 

Can I use regular potatoes? 

Yes, you can use regular potatoes. If you use regular potatoes, use 3 medium sized potatoes. However, we really like this kind of medley potatoes. They taste really good. 

Instructions for how to make beef stew in instant pot: 

Preparation: 

1. Wash and cut 5 sticks of celery into chunks. 

2. After, wash 10 medley potatoes and cut them into half. 

3. Peel an onion and cut into chunks. 

4. Next, wash, peel and cut 4 small carrots into chunks. 

5. Then, cut 3-4 pounds of boneless chuck beef roast into chunks. 

Cooking:

6. Push the sauté button,  pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, add 3 cloves of garlic and 3 slices of ginger into the instant pot. 

7. The following step, browning the beef both sides. 

8. After browning the beef, put them into the instant pot. 

9. Add the cut celery into the pressure cooker.

10. Then, add onion and carrots. 

11. The following, add the cut medley potatoes. (Try to push down the ingredients if too full.)

12. Pour a can of beef broth (14.5 oz) and a can of Italian style tomato (14.5 oz) into the instant pot. 

13. Add 1/4 teaspoon of five spice powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt (add to your taste), 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce. 

14. Mix it well. Close the lid and vent. Press the manual button, adjust the time for 60 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure. (The size of my instant pot is 6 quarts.)

15. In a container, add 4 tablespoons of cornstarch and 5 tablespoons of water. Mix it very well. 

16. When the beef stew is done, use a strainer to remove fat. Push the sauté button and add cornstarch mixture. Slowly and gently mix until it thickens.

Or, you can take out the vegetables and beef. Then, add the cornstarch mixture. Stirring the sauce until its thicken. Then, put back the beef and vegetables. This way, you don't need to worry about the beef will break easily. 

Enjoy this simple yet delicious slow cooker and instant pot tender beef stew recipe! Also, check out these Taiwanese beef noodle soup, Vietnamese beef pho and beef ho fun noodle soup recipes. 

Instructions for how to make beef stew in slow cooker: 

1. Wash and cut 5 sticks of celery into chunks. 
2. After, wash 10 medley potatoes and cut them into half. 
3. Peel an onion and cut into chunks. 
4. Next, wash, peel and cut 4 small carrots into chunks. 
5. Then, cut 3-4 pounds of boneless chuck beef roast into chunks. 
6. Turn on the slow cooker to a high setting, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, add 3 cloves of garlic and 3 slices of ginger into the slow cooker. 
7. Put the beef roast into the slow cooker.
8. Add the cut celery, onion, carrots and medley potatoes. 
9. Pour a can of beef broth (14.5 oz) and a can of Italian style tomato (14.5 oz) into the slow cooker. 
10. Add 1/4 teaspoon of five spice powder, 1/4 teaspoon of salt (add to your taste), 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce. 
11. Mix it well and Cover the lid. Let it cook until it's boiling and turn to a low setting. Let it cook for 5-6 hours.
12. In a container, add 4 tablespoons of cornstarch and 5 tablespoons of water. Mix it very well. 
13. When the beef stew is done,  use a strainer to remove fat. Pour the cornstarch mixture. Slowly and gently mix until it thickens. Or, you can take out the vegetables and beef. Then, add the cornstarch mixture. Stirring the sauce until it thickens. Then, put back the beef and vegetables.This way, you don't need to worry about the beef will break easily. 

You May Also Like These Recipes: 

• CHINESE MUSHROOM CHICKEN 
• GOBO SOUP
• CHINESE BROCCOLI WITH OYSTER SAUCE
• HONG KONG BORSCHT SOUP

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