How long to cook beef stew on stovetop

Beefy, hearty, savory, and oh-so comforting. These are the elements of an old-fashioned beef stew, which is commonly comprised of carrots, potatoes, garlic, herbs, and beef stew meat.

And speaking of stew meat, MasterClass states that a variety of beef cuts may be used, but some of the more common ones are sirloin, round, brisket, and chuck. According to Serious Eats, chuck meat is cost-effective and has plenty of connective tissues and fatty areas, which makes it a popular choice for beef Irish stew recipes.

How to make beef stew on the stove

Steak School adds to this by stating that the collagen in chuck meat becomes gelatin during a low and slow cooking process, which also helps to flavor the sauce or broth that it's simmered in.

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Per The Kitchn, meats that require longer cooking times, including sirloin, can end up tough and chewy.

Meanwhile, tougher cuts, such as chuck, get really tender during the cooking of a stew. Therefore, skip the lean meats and go for cuts that are more tough.

But how long should you cook beef stew?