How To Make Instant Pot Beef Stew: 8 Tips And Tricks

The only beef I have is with this instant pot beef stew recipe. While creating this recipe, you will experience the meat’s flavour and tenderness.

Instant pot beef stew is an ideal meal for every month’s season. Especially enjoyed in winter, this bowl of goodness feels like a warm embrace against the cold weather. Some people even savour every bite of this pot beef stew while watching the rain dance against the window during the rainy season.

A staple in many households, beef stew is served as dinner in many families. This instant pot of a wholesome meal is rich in nutrition and easy to make. Many of these ingredients can be found in your fridge right now.

What is Beef Stew?

For some beginners racking your brain into what is a beef stew. It might look all fancy on the outside but truly effortless to make. Known as a bowl that can put you in high spirits, beef stew is a pot filled with great beef and vegetables enjoyed with some bread and your favourite people.

Origin of The Mighty Beef Stew

The birth of stew goes back to the primitive tribes. As soon as they learned that water could be boiled and some food could be eaten better when simmered, stew came to life. We can’t even imagine their surprise at discovering what we call stew today.

The recipe for beef stew has been part of the history of many famous cooks and cookbooks. “Apicius de re Coquinaria” is one of the historical cookbooks that give you a taste of stews from the fifth century. Even some french cookbooks of the 13th century had recipes for stews, known as “Le Viandier.” Stew was a mighty meal even then and so is now, especially beef stew.

How to Cook?

Soon to be the star of your meal, this instant beef stew is no appetizer but the main course. Let’s get to some stewing.

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Ladle
• Chef’s knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Large plate
• Tongs
• Vegetable peeler

Ingredients

• 2 cups of beef
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3 medium carrots
• 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 cup of frozen peas
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• Fresh Coriander

The Making Process

1. Grab your instant pot, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and put the instant pot on saute mode. Divide the beef into two batches.
2. Put the first batch of beef in the instant pot and sprinkle some salt and pepper on it. Sear it until it starts caramelizing.
3. Once done, put them aside on a plate.
4. Repeat the process with the second batch of beef in the pot and remove it from the pot using a tong on the plate.
5. Dice 1 medium onion into small pieces and mince some garlic cloves. Put the vegetables into the beef stew instant pot and let it cook for 3 minutes. Do remember to stir while cooking.
6. Peel the carrots and potatoes and cut them into big pieces.
7. Add the bay leaf, thyme, and tomato paste to the onions and cook it until the paste turns from bright to dark red.
8. Put the beef broth in three instalments with minute differences. 1/2 a cup of broth and then stir for one minute; repeat it twice.
9. Add the Worcestershire sauce too.
10. Once the sauce has been added and mixed properly, put back the vegetables and beef in the pot and give it a good stir.
11. Close the lid and keep an eye on the valve; it should be set to seal.
12. Set the cooking time for 25 minutes on high pressure. Usually, it takes at least 10 minutes in the pressure cooker.
13. After the cooking time is up, let it release. Take 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and add water to make a slurry.
14. Open the lid of the instant pot, and remove the bay leaf. Put in the frozen peas later and separately to avoid them from getting mushy.
15. Mix in the slurry. Turn on the saute mode and stir to incorporate the slurry into the stew.
16. Let the stew simmer and occasionally stir until it turns the perfect amount of thickness.
17. While stirring, be careful not to break the vegetables.
18. Take a spoon and taste, and season accordingly.
19. Add the chopped coriander as garnishing to your perfectly cooked beef stew.
20. Oh! Remember to enjoy the best beef stew while it’s hot.

Tips And Tricks

1. Take your time to cook the beef and get it to a perfect brownish colour.
2. Use wine if you want to.
3. Wash the vegetables properly twice, once before peeling and once after.
4. Please don’t add the peas with the vegetable; add them later to prevent them from getting all mushy.
5. Use vegetables,s and we mean generously. Adding healthy vegetables to the beef stew only adds flavour.
6. Let the instant pot naturally release to get the best texture in the meat.
7. Once you are about to add the cornstarch slurry, make sure that the stew is hot. For you to get the best thickness, it should be hot. You can even adjust the cornstarch slurry according to the consistency you want. I would suggest going double.
8. Cook the beef soup around when you are about to eat so you can enjoy a warm bowl of instant beef stew.

Ways To Serve Beef Stew

As beef stew is the hero of your meal, what makes it the best instant pot is the side characters. Check them out.

1. French Baguette

The pairing of french Baguette and this beef stew recipe can never disappoint you.

2. Cornbread Muffins

We never thought of this pairing until we tasted it for itself. The sweetness and chewiness perfectly go with the instant pot.

3. Dinner Rolls

It’s starchy, soft, and buttery and compliments the beef stew recipe.

4. Green Salad

If adding carbs to your instant pot feels too much, we can always choose a healthy alternative. An instant pot of beef stew and green salad is quite refreshing when put together.

5. Mashed Potatoes

What’s better than one comfort food or two? Mashed potatoes with the instant pot it doesn’t get better than this.

6. Sticky Rice

If you want an Asian twist to your dinner table, stick with some sticky rice and enjoy that instant beef stew to the fullest.

Storage And Reheating

Storage of instant beef stew is as easy as storing it. Take an airtight container and fill it with the leftover stew keeping 1 inch of space.

When it comes to reheating, grab it from the refrigerator and transfer it to a pan. Please put it on the stove and let the meat cook for 7 minutes over medium-high heat until it starts bubbling. Use a spoon to stir to heat up properly during the whole process.

The Vegan Version Of Instant Pot Beef Stew

Who said vegan beef stew could not be comfort food? Don’t believe us? try it for yourself.

This vegan version of the instant beef stew will blow your mind and taste buds. 

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Chef’s knife and cutting board
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Ladle
• Large plate
• Tongs
• Vegetable peeler

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of soya chunks
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 3 medium carrots
• 4 button mushrooms
• 3 medium Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 cup of peas
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups of beef broth
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
• Fresh Coriander

Making Process

1. Grab your instant pot, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and put the instant pot on saute mode.
2. Wash and soak the soya chunks for 5 minutes. Drain the water from the soya chunks after they are semi-soft.
3. Dice 1 medium onion into small pieces and mince some garlic cloves.
4. Chop some mushrooms and put them into the instant pot. Stir properly.
5. Peel the carrots and potatoes and cut them into big pieces.
6. Add the bay leaf, thyme, and tomato paste to the onions and cook it until the paste turns from bright to dark red.
7. Put the beef broth in three instalments with minute differences. 1/2 a cup of broth and then stir for one minute; repeat it twice.
8. Add the Worcestershire sauce too.
9. Add the vegetables (not the green peas) and the beef back into the instant pot and stir it, mixing everything properly.
10. Close the lid and keep an eye on the valve; it should be set to seal.
11. Set the cooking time for 14 minutes under high pressure.
12. After the cooking time is up, let it release.
13. Meanwhile, make a slurry of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch by adding water.
14. Open the lid of the instant pot, and remove the bay leaf. Add the peas and stir.
15. Add the slurry. Turn on the saute mode and stir to incorporate the slurry into the stew.
16. Let the stew simmer and occasionally stir until it turns the perfect amount of thickness.
17. While stirring, be careful not to break the vegetables.
18. Take a spoon and taste, and season accordingly.
19. Add the chopped coriander as garnishing to your perfectly cooked beef stew.

Beef stew is packed with protein which is great for building muscles. Rich in Vitamin C and A, Fiber, Calcium, and Potassium, it even acts as a cure for that winter cold.

Difference between Beef Bourguignon and Beef Stew

Wine is the breaking point when making beef bourguignon or beef stew. As beef bourguignon is a french recipe, wine is the hero of the dish, whereas when it comes to beef stew, you can skip the wine.

The traditional beef stew is made from water, tomato sauce, broth, and onions; however, in beef bourguignon, you use red wine, and the broth is replaced with water and vegetables.

7 Leftover Beef Stew Ideas

If your tummy is full and doesn’t know what to do with the leftover beef stew, here are some creative ideas to avoid the beef stew from going to waste.

1. Pie

There is always time for pie and especially if it’s beef stew pie. Get some pastry, stuff it with the leftover beef stew, and get to baking.

2. Lasagna

Have you ever had a beef stew lasagna? Grab some pasta sheets and layer them with some beef stew and cheese to give it a fusion twist.

3. Bruschetta

If you want to up the game, make it into a fiesta bruschetta. Assimilate some leftover beef stew and top it with fresh salsa to give a different kick to your taste buds.

4. Risotto

Add them to your risotto and go, mamma mia! It goes well with black garlic risotto.

5. Fried Rice

We believe adding rice to leftover beef stews makes it much better, and if you are making fried rice, get ready to lick your fingers. Take a pan, stir fry the beef stew and add the rice.

6. Egg Benedict

Poach some eggs, take the toasted bread, and spread the beef stew on the crispy toast. What an easy and genius idea for breakfast.

7. Burritos

A classic margarita and some leftover beef stew burrito can never go wrong. It tastes delicious with homemade guacamole and sour cream. Truly a match made in heaven.

The Pros and Cons of Beef Stew

• Pro: Rich in nutrients, beef has B12 and Vitamin D, which are required by our body for proper functioning.
• Pro: Packed with protein, beef must be a part of your overall diet to have healthy muscles.
• Pro: Consumption of anything in large quantities is bad for your health; eating beef or lean beef in the right quantities can help you maintain your body properly.
• Con: As beef is red meat and rich in fat, overconsumption of beef can lead to major health problems. As fat is a nutrient, consumption in the right amount is a must.
• Con: Beef eaten in large amounts and cooked at high temperatures leads to harmful effects. When we add vegetables to the beef stew, we balance the intake of red meat and create a stew rich in all nutrients.

Key Takeaways

Our version of the instant pot beef stew is the best stew you would have ever had. Most beef stews are made for about 10-15 hours, so our instant pot is easy, time-saving, and equally delicious. So what are you waiting for? Put on your apron and get stewing.

FAQs

1. How to keep the beef tender in beef stew?

Using an instant pot doesn’t let the moisture escape, hemming in the tenderness of the beef in the stew.

2. Do we have to sear the meat?

It depends on how you like your meat. You can also put your meat directly to make the beef stew.

3. Why sear the meat?

Searing the meat of the stew retains more moisture and gives you that tender beef stew you seek. Caramelized beef is the secret to a wholesome and flavorful beef stew recipe.

4. Can we add other vegetables?

The best thing about instant pot beef stew is that you can use a variety of vegetables. We sometimes even use eggplant, mushrooms, butter squash, and sweet potatoes.