slow cooker help! need to thicken

punto123

hi there whats the best and cheapest way to thicken a stew that is made in a slow cooker, many thanks

ubamother

I do different things depending on what I've got
a handful of oats or oatmeal
some cooked mashed potato mixed first with some of the sauce from the pot, or even some instant potato flakes if you have them in
cornflour flaked with a little cold water
flour and butter/fat mixed well together and then plopped in in dribs and drabs (I find this needs longer to thicken the sauce though, and if not well cooked through can make the sauce taste a bit floury

tanith

Do you have any cornflour? if so just mix a few tsps in a cup with cold water and add to the stew and stir.. you can do it with ordinary flour but I think it leaves a taste and also clouds the gravy... I use some Bisto gravy powder and cornflour to thicken my stews...

Penny-Pincher!!

Just mix a tablespoon of flour (either) with a little water so its like a glue texture...stir it in and it should thicken immediately.

HTH

PP
xx

punto123

thank you all for your help i am going to make my first stew tomorrow when i pick up my slow cooker, any ideas on simply recipe for a newbie at cooking , also how many days can you keep a stew ?, many thanks

Pink.

Hi punto,

I normally use cornflour mixed in a little water to thicken stew but I've also used potato or veg mashed down to thicken the gravy and barley or lentils are a good addition and great at absorbing any excess liquid.

These threads have more ideas that may help:

slow cooker help! need to thicken

Please help me thicken my soup!

Help!! Can You Thicken A Casserole Without Using Cornflour


I would keep stew for two to three days at the most in the fridge, but it also freezes well if you want to keep it for longer. These threads have lots of recipes for stew that should be easily adapted to your new slow cooker:

Just the weather for stew

SC stew help for bloke please

Making Stew (tips please)

help me out im making a stew?

Chicken Casserole

Slow Cooker Beef Casserole

Beef casserole

lamb casserole

Made me a casserole tonight

I'll add your thread to one of the above threads once you've had some more replies, to keep the suggestions together.

Pink

Gloomendoom

If you use the flour/cornflour method, be sure to give it time to cook or you can taste it on your tongue... if you know what I mean.

As an alternative, if it's too runny, I sometimes add a bit of rice or couscous.

spike7451

The late & great Chef,Keith Flloyd, often used 'SMASH' potatoe's to thicken stews.I have tried it & it works great!

punto123

many thanks to every ones help so far

pigpen

I use bisto.. and occasionally a hand full of lentils