The general recommended cooking time for beef stew in a slow cooker is:
- On low heat: 7 to 8 hours (sometimes up to 10-12 hours in some recipes)
- On high heat: 3 to 6 hours
Most sources agree that cooking on low for about 7 to 8 hours produces tender meat and well-cooked vegetables. Cooking on high can reduce the time to around 4 to 6 hours but may require more stirring and checking for doneness. Additional tips include searing the beef before slow cooking to enhance flavor and adding thickening agents like flour or cornstarch towards the end of cooking if a thicker stew is desired. Some recipes also recommend adding peas in the last 5 to 15 minutes of cooking. In summary, cooking beef stew in a slow cooker typically takes:
- 7 to 8 hours on low
- 4 to 6 hours on high
These times produce tender, flavorful beef and well-cooked vegetables suitable for stew.