How to Thicken With Corn Starch for Beef Stew

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You're preparing a hearty pot of beef stew. It's got good flavor, only information technology'south nevertheless kind of runny even after a long simmer-sesh. Naturally, you want your stew to be thicker than a regular sometime bowl of soup—that's one of the principal differences between the two dishes, after all. So how exercise you get the glossy, rich results you want? Here's how to thicken stew (it'due south piece of cake, promise).

How to Thicken Stew in 3 Easy Ways

Before yous decide on a thickening method, take stock (heh) of the type of stew you're cooking. Is it meat-based (like chicken or beef)? Is it mean to be more saucy, or chunky? And are there any dietary restrictions? Adjacent, you can pick your thickening agent.

How to Thicken Stew With Flour

Flour is a traditional thickener for stew, and information technology tin can be added in a few dissimilar ways. You'll want to use nearly 1½ teaspoons of flour per loving cup of liquid added to the stew.

• If the stew is meat-based, you can add together the flour when you sear the meat (aka before adding any liquid). This will non only cook off the raw-flour taste and lend body to the stew; information technology also helps the meat develop a tasty golden crust. Dredge the meat in enough flour to glaze information technology earlier searing in the pot you're making your stew in.

• Make a roux by combining equal parts flour and butter. Melt the butter in the pot over medium heat, then whisk in the flour and melt until it's gilded dark-brown and smells nutty. The liquid for your stew can then be added and whisked to combine.

• If you're not searing the meat showtime, you can add together the flour in a slurry: Mix equal parts common cold water and flour, stirring until it's thoroughly combined with no clumps. So, slowly pour the flour slurry into the simmering stew, stirring to preclude lumps. The stew should then be brought to a boil to cook the flour and activate the starch.

• Make a beurre manié, which is French for "kneaded butter." It's a mixture of equal parts soft butter and flour, similar to a roux but information technology gets added after the liquid (and is less likely to clump). But mix equal parts butter and flour in a small bowl until it'south the texture of playdough, then add to the stew in pocket-size additions until it's thickened to your liking.

How to Thicken Stew With Cornstarch

Cornstarch will thicken stew like to flour, simply has the added benefit of being flavorless and won't cloud the liquid equally much. It'due south also gluten-gratis but has to be added carefully to avoided gloppy lumps. One tablespoon cornstarch per cup of liquid will give you lot a medium-thick stew that's non overly gummy.

• Brand a slurry by combining equal parts cold h2o and cornstarch in a small bowl, and whisking thoroughly to combine. Cascade the slurry into the stew while it'due south simmering, whisky constantly while bringing information technology to a full boil. Eddy the stew for at least a minute, to ensure the cornstarch is activated (otherwise, it won't thicken properly).

How to Thicken Stew With Arrowroot

Arrowroot is nearly identical to cornstarch, just information technology's smoother and even clearer. It'due south as well gluten-free, but shouldn't be used in stews containing a lot of dairy (or information technology might get slimy). Like cornstarch, utilize about i tablespoon per cup of liquid added to the stew.

• Brand a slurry by combining equal parts cold water and arrowroot in a small basin, and whisking thoroughly to combine. Pour the slurry into the stew while information technology'due south simmering, whisky constantly while bringing it to a total boil. Eddy the stew for at to the lowest degree a infinitesimal, to ensure the arrowroot is activated (otherwise, it won't thicken properly).

How do you thicken stew in a slow cooker?

No thing what thickener you choose for your stew, they all crave high estrus to really practise their job. Just what if you're making stew in a slow cooker, where you have less control over the temperature (and information technology's not super-hot to begin with)? Here's how to thicken stew in a slow cooker.

1. Prop the lid: Since the lid of the dull cooker traps evaporating liquid, the moisture content remains the aforementioned. But if you lot prop the lid slightly with a wooden spoon or chopstick, some of the liquid has a chance to misemploy, which will thicken the stew slightly.
2. Puree the soup slightly: If you're making a vegetable stew, you tin can use an immersion blender or regular blender to puree some of the mixture. This will thicken the stew slightly without calculation whatever additional ingredients.
3. Apply less liquid: If you know yous want the final dish to exist on the thicker side, y'all can slightly reduce the corporeality of liquid from the offset. (And if it looks as well thick, you tin can always add more liquid every bit needed.)

RELATED: How to Thicken Sauce in 7 Succulent Ways

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Source: https://www.purewow.com/food/how-to-thicken-stew

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