Slow Cooker Steak with Gravy - Recipes That Crock! (2024)

FAQs

What steak is best for slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can add raw steak to a slow cooker to cook it to your desired doneness level. Slow cooking steak is a convenient way to cook steak over several hours, tenderizing it and adding exceptional flavor along the way.

Can you overcook meat in a slow cooker? Yes you can. Using a slowcooker can still kill all the moisture in the meat if left too long. To avoid this it is best to monitor what you are making or add some extra moisture (like stock or sauce) to help buffer this.

Chuck steak was practically designed for slow cooking. It comes from the shoulder and upper arm of the cow, so it's done a lot of work over the life of the animal — with its abundant collagen, it's the type of cut that gets tough when grilled quickly, but becomes tender and juicier the longer you cook it.

Cut down your prep time

It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one. It can also be good to brown meat to give it some colour, but again, this is not essential.

Chuck roast and top round roast are good choices for the slow cooker, which allows them to tenderize over time.

Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.

Cook Low and Slow

Each slow cooker meal's cooking time differs depending on the meat and its weight. The low setting is important so you don't overcook it, potentially leaving you with a dry or tough meal.

The meat was overcooked: Slow cookers are known for their ability to tenderize meat, but if the meat is cooked for too long, it can become overcooked and tough. It's important to follow the recommended cooking time for your recipe to ensure that the meat is cooked to the correct doneness.

Gravy beef is a cut that comes from three main areas; the hind leg and the front leg (also known as shin) plus the neck area. It is rich in flavour and is traditionally used with the bone in for excellent stews and soups.

Does gravy beef get tender? ›

Gravy beef is a relatively lean cut of meat, which means it can be tough if overcooked. It is typically cooked low and slow for several hours until it becomes tender and flavorful.

Gravy Beef (and stewing steak)

Gravy beef comes from the shin area. It is a cheaper cut that will cook well in a shorter period of time (1.5 hours). When the bone is left in, Gravy beef is called Osso Bucco, which you might have seen in some Italian dishes.

It is rich in flavour and is traditionally used with the bone in for excellent stews and soups. Richly flavoured, it has little fat but contains a lot of connective tissue that softens during long, slow cooking.

The most common beef used for stew is chuck steak, also known as gravy beef or braising steak. Beef chuck comes from the forequarter of the animal consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm. It is easy to find and it's affordable, making it a great choice for your stew.

Under blade steak maintains its shape even when slow-cooked

But unlike most steak cuts, the under blade takes just as well to slow-cooking — this cut will maintain its integrity through the low and slow cooking process, per The Spruce Eats. Also known as a chuck flat, according to Beef.

Yes! Slow cooked steak is a wonderful way to make savory and tender fillets each time.