Are you tired of rushing to prepare dinner after a long day at work? Do you wish you could have a delicious and hearty meal waiting for you when you get home?
Look no further than beef stew! And the best part? You can prepare it the night before and let it sit in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it the next day.
In this article, we’ll show you how to make a rich and flavorful beef stew that’s perfect for a cozy night in. So, grab your slow cooker and let’s get started!
How To Prepare Beef Stew The Night Before?
Preparing beef stew the night before is a great way to save time and ensure that you have a delicious meal waiting for you when you get home. Here’s how to do it:
1. Cut up your vegetables: The night before, cut up your potatoes, carrots, and onions. Place them in a plastic container filled with water and let them sit overnight.
2. Marinate the meat: In a plastic storage bag, marinate the stew meat with Worcestershire sauce and herb seasoning. Place it in the refrigerator overnight.
3. In the morning: Put the raw beef in the bottom of your slow cooker. Drain the vegetables and pour them on top of the beef. Add stewed tomatoes and tomato juice. If you like your stew a little spicy, add a chopped jalapeno pepper or two.
4. Cook on low: Set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours. The beef will cook completely and be very tender.
5. Thicken the stew: To thicken the stew, you can add a bit more flour or cornstarch. Alternatively, slowly stir in 1/4 cup water for a thinner and smoother broth.
6. Serve and enjoy: Once the stew is done cooking, remove the bay leaves and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with some crusty bread or over rice for a hearty meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
To prepare beef stew the night before, you’ll need the following ingredients:
1. Beef: Use pre-cut boneless beef stewing cubes or chuck. Avoid anything extra lean.
2. Olive oil: For sautéing.
3. Onion and celery: Sweet (Vidalia) onions are our favorite, but yellow or white work too.
4. Potatoes and carrots: Our star veggies. Yukon gold potatoes are the variety we picked since they’re waxy and hold up great for slow cooking.
5. Beef broth: For that deep, rich flavor.
6. Tomato paste: The concentrated taste adds a special something-something.
7. Worcestershire sauce: The key to giving the sauce a really deep and satisfying umami flavor. Don’t skip it!
8. Salt & pepper: It’s important to be fairly generous with stews and soups.
9. Bay leaves: Very fragrant and a favorite in stews.
10. Cornstarch: It’s optional, but it will thicken it up.
11. Stewed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes: For added flavor.
12. Herb seasoning: For marinating the beef the night before.
13. Jalapeno pepper (optional): If you like your stew a little spicy.
With these ingredients, you can make a delicious and hearty beef stew that is perfect for a cozy night in or to feed the whole family.
Preparing The Beef
When it comes to preparing beef for stew, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, always wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before handling any raw meat. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria.
Secondly, it’s important to thaw your meat properly. Never defrost meat on the kitchen counter as this can lead to bacterial growth. Instead, thaw your beef in the refrigerator or microwave (at reduced power setting).
Once your beef is thawed, you can marinate it for added flavor. In a plastic storage bag, marinate the beef with Worcestershire sauce and herb seasoning. Place it in the refrigerator overnight.
When you’re ready to make your stew, put the marinated beef in the bottom of your slow cooker. Add your drained vegetables and any other desired ingredients such as stewed tomatoes and tomato juice. Set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours and let it cook until the beef is tender.
If you want to thicken your stew, you can add a bit more flour or cornstarch. Alternatively, slowly stir in 1/4 cup water for a thinner and smoother broth.
And there you have it! With these simple steps, you’ll be able to prepare your beef for stew the night before and have a delicious meal waiting for you when you get home.
Chopping The Vegetables
Chopping vegetables can be time-consuming and tedious, but it’s an essential part of preparing beef stew. To make the process easier, cut up your potatoes, carrots, and onions the night before. This will save you time in the morning and ensure that your vegetables have a chance to soak in water overnight, which will help keep them fresh and crisp.
When cutting your vegetables, aim for uniform pieces so that they cook evenly. You can use a sharp knife or a vegetable chopper to make the process quicker. If you’re using Russet potatoes, keep in mind that they’ll fall apart more easily, so you may want to use red potatoes instead. Baby carrots are a great option because they don’t require any chopping at all.
Once your vegetables are cut, place them in a plastic container filled with water and let them sit overnight. This will help prevent them from drying out and turning brown. When you’re ready to cook your stew in the morning, simply drain the vegetables and add them to your slow cooker on top of the beef.
By prepping your vegetables the night before, you’ll save yourself time and hassle in the morning. Plus, your stew will be packed with fresh and flavorful veggies that have had a chance to soak up all the delicious flavors of the marinade and broth.
Assembling The Stew
Assembling the stew is the crucial step in preparing beef stew the night before. To start, make sure you have all your ingredients ready to go. Cut up your vegetables the night before and marinate the meat in Worcestershire sauce and herb seasoning. In the morning, put the raw beef in the bottom of your slow cooker. Drain the vegetables and pour them on top of the beef, followed by stewed tomatoes and tomato juice.
Make sure not to overcrowd the pot; cook the meat in batches and make sure it caramelizes on all sides. If you’re using ground beef, there is no need to cook it ahead of time, just crumble it up or break off bite-size chunks and add it in raw. Otherwise, precook it and add it in afterward.
Set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours. The beef will cook completely and be very tender. To thicken the stew, you can add a bit more flour or cornstarch. Alternatively, slowly stir in 1/4 cup water for a thinner and smoother broth.
Once the stew is done cooking, remove the bay leaves and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve with some crusty bread or over rice for a hearty meal. You can also freeze any leftovers in sandwich-size containers for easy reheating as single meals. With these simple steps, you can enjoy a delicious and comforting bowl of beef stew without any hassle!
Storing The Stew Overnight
If you plan on storing your beef stew overnight, it’s important to do so safely to avoid the risk of foodborne illness. First, let the stew cool down to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. This will help prevent condensation from forming inside the container which can lead to bacterial growth. Make sure the container is sealed tightly and place it in the refrigerator as soon as possible, ideally within two hours of cooking.
It’s important to note that leaving your beef stew out overnight at room temperature is not recommended. According to the USDA, any food left out for more than two hours should be discarded. Even if you reheat it to kill bacteria, there may be toxins produced by the bacteria that reheating cannot destroy. Therefore, it’s best to err on the side of caution and refrigerate your beef stew promptly after cooking.
When reheating leftover beef stew, make sure it reaches a temperature of at least 165°F to ensure any bacteria that may have grown are killed off. You can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave, but make sure to stir it frequently and check the temperature often.
By following these guidelines, you can safely store and reheat your beef stew so that you can enjoy it for days to come.
Cooking The Stew The Next Day
If you’ve prepared a large batch of beef stew the night before, you may find yourself with leftovers that you can enjoy for the next few days. The good news is that beef stew can be reheated and enjoyed even on the second day. Here’s how to cook the stew the next day:
1. Reheat the stew: Take the leftover stew out of the refrigerator and transfer it to a pot. Place it on the stove and turn on the heat to medium-low. Stir occasionally until the stew is heated through.
2. Add more liquid: As the stew heats up, you may notice that it has thickened up a bit. To thin it out, add a bit of water or broth. This will also help to rehydrate any vegetables that may have dried out.
3. Adjust seasoning: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning as needed. You may need to add a bit more salt or pepper, depending on your taste preferences.
4. Serve and enjoy: Once the stew is heated through and seasoned to your liking, it’s ready to be enjoyed. Serve it with some crusty bread or over rice for a comforting meal.
It’s important to note that each time you reheat the stew, some nutritional value may be lost. Therefore, it’s best to only reheat what you plan on eating and not keep reheating the same batch over and over again. Also, make sure to thaw frozen stew before reheating to ensure even warming throughout. With these tips in mind, you can enjoy your delicious beef stew for days to come!
