Help with Oxtail please

becky2812

I wanted to cook some oxtail (for the first time ever) today, in my slow cooker. the plan was to strip it off the bone, and use the meat tomorrow in a ragu sauce with pasta.
I put it on my slow cooker this morning, with half a bottle of red wine, and have just checked it. It's really tough, and i can't get it off the bone, even though it's cooked.

What do i do? Leave it in the slow cooker a few hours more, or give up?

I tried shin of beef the other week, and that was just as bad.

Thanks
Becky

jinky67

Are you putting them on HIGH or low setting?

I always use mine on high and have never had a problem with either

Also maybe a touch less liquid in the SC next time too

becky2812

Thank you

It's been on low, so i'll turn it up to high.

is it best to take some of the liquid out then? I'd presumed that if it was covered with liquid it would be more tender?!

flea72

i think i read somewhere, that the timings for a slow cooker were

for every hour something takes to cook in a normal oven, you would need to have a slowcooker on high for 4hrs, or on low for 8hrs

you do need to reduce the liquid too, as the more you add, the longer it takes to heat up, and adds to the cooking time - i usually half the quantity i would add, compared to making in the oven

F

becky2812

THank you. It's on high now, so will leave it on till bed time!!! The liquid is already hot now, so i'll take half out, and see how it goes. I really hope it works out ok, i want to try to use cuts like this as much as possible!

jinky67

Other may say different but I always cook things with bones in, on high

becky2812

Thank you for the replies. I stuck it on high for a few hours while i was out, just come home, and it was cooked lovely!! Have shredded the meat off the bones and fatty bits. I'll cook these in a ragu type sauce tomorrow and have it with pasta!!

Think i'll def buy oxtail again! Just have to make sure OH and DS Don't find out what sort of meat it is until after they've eaten it, and like it!!

roger_ramjet

I've just got into slow cooking oxtail - fabulous. Needs a long time, but really tasty. I have also started using cheaper cuts of meat (shin, brisket) - slow cooked in red wine and some root vegtables just taste superb. The other day I bought £5 of oxtail and about £6 of brisket, enough to do about 4 casseroles for a family of 3/4.