What Is Stew Meat? Everything to Know About Different Cuts
Plus, what to make with it besides stew.
What Is Stew Meat? Everything You Need to Know About Different Cuts
During the cold winter months, nothing beats the comforting warmth of a hearty stew. Ree Drummond puts it perfectly: “There’s just something so comforting about a pot of thick, glossy stew simmering on the stove for hours.” Absolutely!
So, you’re making your shopping list to prepare your favorite Pioneer Woman beef stew with potatoes, only to notice it calls for stew meat. But what exactly is stew meat? This ingredient is a staple in many classic beef recipes and is often conveniently labeled as such in stores. But what if it isn’t?
Since stew meat doesn’t appear on a detailed beef cuts guide, you might wonder what to do if your grocery store has every beef cut except stew meat. Don’t worry—you’ll find all the answers here! Keep reading to learn what stew meat is, the best alternatives for it, and creative ways to use it beyond just stew.
What Cut of Beef Is Stew Meat?
Stew meat is typically made from inexpensive beef cuts that have tough connective tissues, such as chuck roast and bottom round. It’s often a mix of cuts (which explains why it’s not labeled as a specific type) and is pre-packaged into small pieces. The key to making stew meat tender is cooking it low and slow, which breaks down the connective tissue. This long cooking process is also one of the best ways to thicken a stew and highlights the difference between a stew and a soup.
What Cuts of Beef Are Best for Stew?
If you can’t find pre-packaged stew meat at the store, opt for cuts commonly used in pot roast recipes: chuck roast, bottom round, or brisket (the fattier “second cut” of brisket is ideal). You can ask the butcher to chop the meat into two-inch chunks for you or do it yourself at home.
Ree Drummond’s favorite cut for stew is chuck roast. She says, “It has wonderful marbling throughout the meat, and when given an ample amount of time to cook, chuck roast winds up being tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.”
What Else Can I Make with Stew Meat?
Stew meat can be substituted in recipes that call for small pieces of chuck roast or similar cuts. Some examples include Texas chili, beef noodle casserole, beef and noodles, or beef burgundy. Many slow cooker beef recipes also work well with stew meat, as the slow-cooking method enhances the flavor and tenderness of these tougher cuts.
For more delicious ideas and recipes, check out NhaSpace.
