Stew

A stew is a combination of solid <a href="/facts/Food/RgNq6NAK">food</a> <a href="/facts/Ingredient/llUca77D">ingredients</a> that have been <a href="/facts/Cooking/YWVfGWD1">cooked</a> in <a href="/facts/Soup/BxjPaEp0">liquid</a> and served in the resultant <a href="/facts/Gravy/c7QHErMX">gravy</a>. Ingredients can include any combination of <a href="/facts/Vegetable/j3AlDG64">vegetables</a> and may include <a href="/facts/Meat/DUHTTM1d">meat</a>, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as <a href="/facts/Beef/yAvkT7Nq">beef</a>, <a href="/facts/Pork/TuIYFNeU">pork</a>, <a href="/facts/Venison/nJS8stYJ">venison</a>, <a href="/facts/Rabbit_as_food/8jQGWcQD">rabbit</a>, <a href="/facts/Lamb_and_mutton/IqmfKI1j">lamb</a>, <a href="/facts/Poultry/u8hUQ64j">poultry</a>, <a href="/facts/Sausage/Ls1TRwlH">sausages</a>, and <a href="/facts/Seafood/geXBKfzJ">seafood</a>. While water can be used as the stew-cooking liquid, <a href="/facts/Stock_(food)/JNXhS57g">stock</a> is also common. A small amount of red wine or other alcohol is sometimes added for flavour. <a href="/facts/Seasoning/seFzEEhR">Seasonings</a> and <a href="/facts/Flavouring/sGR38zXy">flavourings</a> may also be added. Stews are typically cooked at a relatively low temperature (<a href="/facts/Simmering/HDKS8KNX">simmered</a>, not <a href="/facts/Boiling/BHxWzT2k">boiled</a>), allowing flavours to mingle.

Stewing is suitable for the least tender cuts of meat that become tender and juicy with the slow, moist heat method. This makes it popular for low-cost cooking. Cuts with a certain amount of marbling and gelatinous connective tissue give moist, juicy stews, while lean meat may easily become dry.
Stews are thickened by reduction or with <a href="/facts/Flour/dY1Lx5RQ">flour</a>, either by coating pieces of meat with flour before searing or by using a <a href="/facts/Roux/kg8hys26">roux</a> or <a href="/facts/Beurre_mani%25C3%25A9/DdBkbAU9">beurre manié</a>, a dough consisting of equal parts fat and flour. Thickeners like <a href="/facts/Cornstarch/ASblJB4P">cornstarch</a>, <a href="/facts/Potato_starch/23XN77x3">potato starch</a>, or <a href="/facts/Arrowroot/Dj3XrP7f">arrowroot</a> may also be used.

Stew open-in-new

Stew