Beef stew is the ultimate comfort food There’s nothing better than coming home to a steaming bowl of tender beef, carrots, potatoes and savory gravy on a chilly day But sometimes, beef stew can turn out thinner than intended. A thin, watery stew just doesn’t have the same satisfying mouthfeel.
Not to worry! There are several easy ways to thicken up beef stew so it’s rich thick and comforting. In this complete guide, I’ll walk you through the best methods for thickening beef stew whether it’s on the stovetop, in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Why Beef Stew Can Turn Out Thin
Before jumping into solutions, let’s first look at some of the common reasons beef stew ends up too thin:
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Not enough simmering time. Beef stew needs ample time for the juices from the meat and vegetables to meld together into a luscious gravy. Simmering with the lid off towards the end helps thicken it up.
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Added too much liquid. It’s easy to overestimate the amount of broth or water needed. Using less liquid from the start prevents a thin stew.
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Improper slow cooker technique. Slow cookers trap in moisture. For thicker stews, prop up the lid at the end to let steam escape.
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Cut vegetables too small. When veggies are diced too small, they can turn mushy and thin out the stew as they cook. Larger pieces hold their shape better.
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Not enough starch. Flour, cornstarch or other starches help bind the liquid to create a nice, thick gravy.
Thicken Beef Stew on the Stovetop
For thinning beef stew on the stovetop, these three techniques work extremely well:
Simmer with Lid Off
Letting the stew simmer uncovered for 15-30 minutes at the end allows moisture to reduce down into a thicker gravy.
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Stirring in a couple tablespoons of instant mashed potato flakes absorbs liquid and thickens the stew nicely.
Flour Slurry
Whisk 1-2 tablespoons of flour into 1/4 cup broth from the stew until smooth. Stir into stew and simmer for 5 minutes.
Start with a smaller amount of potato flakes or flour slurry, then add more if needed.
Thicken Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker
Got a watery slow cooker beef stew? Try these fixes:
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Prop up the lid with chopsticks for the last 30-60 minutes of cooking.
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Mash some of the stew vegetables with a potato masher or immersion blender.
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Stir in a flour, cornstarch or potato starch slurry during the last 30 minutes.
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Mix in 1-2 tablespoons instant potato flakes or oatmeal in the last 30 minutes.
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Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons flour over the top of the stew and stir well.
Thicken Beef Stew in the Instant Pot
To thicken up Instant Pot beef stew, you can:
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Simmer with the lid off or ajar at the end of the cook time.
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Quick release the pressure and simmer uncovered for 5-10 minutes.
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Use the sauté function to simmer and reduce the liquid.
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Add a slurry at the end and use sauté to thicken.
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Mash some of the vegetables before serving.
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Mix in instant potato flakes after pressure cooking.
Slurry Ratios for Thickening
When making a slurry, use these rough ratios as a starting point:
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Flour: 1 1/2 tablespoons flour per 1 cup liquid
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Cornstarch: 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch per 1 cup liquid
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Arrowroot: 1 tablespoon arrowroot per 1 cup liquid
Mix the slurry well in a small amount of cold water or broth before stirring into the hot stew. For best results, bring the stew back up to a boil after adding the slurry to fully activate the thickening power.
Tips for Thickening Beef Stew
Follow these tips for lush, thick beef stew every time:
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Cook with less liquid than you think you need.
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Simmer uncovered at the end to reduce liquid.
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Use seared, well-browned meat for more flavor.
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Cut veggies larger so they don’t disintegrate.
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Sprinkle meat with flour before browning to help thicken.
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Add thickeners like potato flakes gradually until desired consistency.
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Bring stew back to a boil after adding slurry for full thickening effect.
With this wide range of techniques, you can easily rescue a thin beef stew and bring it to the perfect rich, gravy-like consistency. Simmering uncovered, instant mashed potatoes, flour and starch slurries are all simple, effective solutions. Follow these tips, and you’ll never have to settle for thin, lacking beef stew again.
Using cornflour as a thickener
Cornflour is an ideal thickener if youre a coeliac or simply intolerant to gluten, because as the name suggests, it is made from corn. Be aware, though, that it produces a slightly more gelatinous texture than flour, so don’t overdo it or you’ll end up with a slightly gloopy sauce. It also works well for healthy cooking as it doesn’t add as many calories to a dish.
Try this in our ultimate makeover: chicken pie recipe.
Using flour as a thickener
Flour can be used in three ways:
1. It can be added to the meat as its being fried, before liquid is added, and this way it will thicken a stew as it cooks. We use this method in our beef & vegetable casserole recipe.
2. Flour can be mixed with a little cold water to make what is unattractively called a ‘slurry’, which is then stirred to disperse it and stop it forming clumps – a technique called ‘slaking’. After adding to the stew, its brought to the boil to cook out the flour taste and allow the starch to swell. Try this using 1 tsp flour at a time, incorporating each lot before adding another.
3. Alternatively, you can mix equal quantities of flour and butter (and/or oil) together to make a paste called ‘beurre manie’. Whisk bits of the resulting paste into the hot stew where they will dissolve and disperse the flour. (This works better if you have lifted the meat or veg out of the gravy or sauce, first.) Use 1 tbsp flour and 1 tbsp butter to start and whisk it in bit by bit, then make more if you need to. Make sure you boil the liquid for a couple of minutes to cook out any raw flour. Use this method in our coq au vin recipe.
Stew Recipes : How to Thicken Beef Stew Gravy
FAQ
Is cornstarch or flour better for thickening stew?
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comWhat do you prefer to use for thickening your stew, corn starch or …Jul 31, 2019 — Flour. Stew tastes better with age as the flavors need time to bloom. Cornstarch has a limited lifetime in its role as a thickening agent. It simply…
Is it better to thicken sauce with flour or cornstarch?
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Roux:Combine equal parts fat (butter or other oil) and flour in a saucepan, and cook over medium heat until a paste forms. This can then be whisked into the sauce to thicken it.
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Slurry:Mix flour with a small amount of cold water to create a smooth paste, then whisk into the simmering sauce.
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Flavor and Texture:Flour-thickened sauces can have a richer, more complex flavor and a creamier texture.
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Note:Flour requires more time and attention to cook out the raw flour taste, especially when using a roux.
What if my stew is too watery?
How to thicken stew: Simmer it uncovered to reduce the liquid; blend in a slurry or roux; or add in potatoes to soak up some of the excess liquid.Jan 10, 2025
How do you thicken a watery slow cooker stew?
If all else fails, reach for instant tapioca, a great no-fuss thickener that can be stirred in at the start (we love using tapioca in fruit pies too).Apr 26, 2023
How can I thicken my beef stew?
To thicken your beef stew, mix a tablespoon of cornstarch or flour with a small amount of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into your stew. Allow the stew to simmer for a few minutes to let the thickener work its magic. Alternatively, you can mash up some of the cooked vegetables in your stew for a more natural approach.
How to thicken beef stew without cornstarch?
One way to thicken beef stew without cornstarch is by using flour as a thickening agent. When you’re simmering your stew and want to give it a thicker consistency, simply take a small amount of flour and whisk it into a paste with some water.
How do you thicken a stew with flour?
There are two ways to thicken a stew using flour: The first is to make a slurry, which is a mixture made up of equal parts flour and cold water whisked together until smooth. (Ree uses this trick to thicken her beef stew with mushrooms.)
Can tomato paste thicken beef stew?
Yes, tomato paste can be a great way to thicken your beef stew. It not only adds thickness but also a rich depth of flavor. To use it, mix a tablespoon of tomato paste with a little broth or water before incorporating it into the stew.
What if beef stew is too thick?
If your beef stew is too thin or watery, don’t worry. It’s easy to adjust the thickness. You can mix a thickening agent in a bit of cold water, then add that to the stew while stirring continuously. Pour it slowly so that it doesn’t become too thick.
How do you thicken beef stew with mushrooms?
(Ree uses this trick to thicken her beef stew with mushrooms.) Add the slurry to the stew, stirring constantly to prevent lumps, and then bring the stew to a boil for a few minutes to give the slurry time to work its magic.