How to......
How to cook delicious slow simmered beef dishes
The weather is cooling down, so it’s time to warm up with delicious beef meals. Making succulent winter beef dishes is simple. A couple of easy steps, then it’s in the oven and dinner is done. Try our tips below for the perfect slow-simmered beef dish.
How to cook slow simmered beef meals
1. Match the beef cut to the cooking time you have available. Chuck and boneless shin/gravy beef offer the richest flavour and the most succulent meat. Topside round and blade are great choices if you're time poor as they cook quickly (see below chart for cooking times and temperatures).
2. Brown the beef in 2 or 3 batches. Keep the pan at a medium-high heat so the beef doesn't stew in it's own juices.
3. Simmer the dish gently for a rich flavoured beef dish. Controlling the heat is important – too low a heat and the dish will be flavourless, too high a heat and the mixture will boil resulting in less tender meat.
Suggested beef cuts and cooking times
Beef cuts (2.5 – 3cm cubes) Approximate cooking time Guide to cooking temperature
Chuck, boneless shin/gravy beef 2 – 2.5 hours 160 – 180’C
Topside, round or blade 1 – 1.5 hours 160 – 180’C