Marianne Martinez
Slow cookers, or crock pots, are a great way to cook tender steak. The low heat setting is the best way to allow the slow cooking process to produce the most tender steak. While some people prefer grilling or searing steak, the slow cooker is a great way to turn cheaper, tougher cuts of meat into tender, soft and delicious meals. It's also a convenient way to cook, as it requires very little preparation and can be left to cook while you go about your day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 3-8 hours |
| Ingredients | Steak, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, butter, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, broth, French onion soup mix, olive oil, red wine, vinegar, beef stock, tomato paste, rosemary, soy sauce |
| Crockpot preparation | Line crockpot with a bag or liner or spray with non-stick cooking spray |
| Steak preparation | Pat steak dry with paper towels, season with salt and pepper |
| Crockpot contents | Sliced onions, broth, Worcestershire sauce, seasoned steaks, French onion soup mix, minced garlic, butter, thyme |
| Cooking | Cover crockpot and cook on low for 5.5-8 hours |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Crockpot steak and gravy
Ingredients
- Steak
- Steak sauce
- Garlic
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- Beef stock or broth
- Onion soup mix
- Worcestershire sauce
- Red wine (optional)
- Vegetables (optional)
Method
- Prepare the crockpot: For easy clean-up, line your crockpot with a slow cooker bag or liner. Alternatively, lightly spray the bowl with non-stick cooking spray or coat lightly with oil.
- Season the steaks: Place the steaks on a clean work surface and pat dry with paper towels. Season the steaks generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Add ingredients to the crockpot: Add half of your steak sauce to the crockpot before placing the steaks inside. Then, top the steaks with garlic and the remaining sauce.
- Prepare the gravy: In a separate bowl, mix together beef stock or broth, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and red wine (if using).
- Cook the steak: Place the lid on the crockpot and cook the steak on low for 5-8 hours, or until the steak is cooked to your liking. The longer you cook it, the more tender it will be.
- Optional: If you are adding vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, or onions, you can cook them in the crockpot with the steak. Cut the steak into pieces and place them on top of the vegetables. Pour the gravy mixture over the steak and vegetables before cooking.
Tips
- For a thicker gravy, use cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca starch. Mix with water and add it to the crockpot towards the end of the cooking time.
- If using a tough cut of steak, add acidic ingredients like red wine or vinegar to help break down the fibers and make the meat more tender.
- Adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. Add more red pepper flakes or jalapenos for spice, or use less garlic or thyme for a milder flavor.
Pan Pizza: Avoid Soggy Crusts
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Seasoning and prep
Start by preparing your crock pot. For easy clean-up, line it with a slow cooker bag or liner. If you don't have one, you can lightly spray the bowl with non-stick cooking spray or a thin layer of oil.
Now, it's time to season your steaks. Place the steaks on a clean work surface and pat them dry with paper towels. Generously season both sides of the steaks with kosher salt and ground black pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste preferences. If you like your steak with a kick, add some extra red pepper flakes or jalapenos. For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of garlic or thyme used.
Some recipes suggest searing the steaks before placing them in the crock pot. To do this, heat some vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear the steaks for about 5 minutes on each side. Alternatively, you can sear both sides in a hot pan for just 1-2 minutes per side before transferring them to the crock pot.
Next, prepare your crock pot's base layer. Scatter sliced onions, garlic, and other vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or peppers at the bottom of the slow cooker. You can also add mushrooms, either fresh or from a can of condensed mushroom soup. Then, pour in your choice of liquid. This can be beef or chicken broth/stock, red wine, vinegar, or a combination of water with bouillon and cornstarch. You can also add a splash of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce to enhance the flavor. If you want a thicker sauce, create a slurry by mixing cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca starch with water and adding it to the crock pot.
Cast Iron Scallops: A Quick, Delicious Dinner
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$125.99 $149.99
Cooking times and temperatures
The cooking time for steak in a crock pot depends on the heat setting and the desired level of tenderness. For a low heat setting, cook the steak for 5½ to 7½ hours or until the steak is cooked to your liking. If you prefer your steak very tender, you can cook it for up to 10 hours on low heat. On the other hand, if you are short on time, you can cook the steak on high heat for 3 to 4 hours. However, cooking steak on high heat for too long may result in a less tender steak. One user reported cooking their steak on high for 45 minutes, then changing to low for 3 hours, and finally switching back to high for the last hour. This resulted in a perfectly tender steak.
The ideal temperature for cooking steak in a crock pot is around 145°F, according to the USDA. This temperature ensures that the beef is safe to consume. A meat thermometer can be used to confirm that the steak has reached the desired temperature.
It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the cut of steak used. Tougher cuts of steak may require a longer cooking time to break down the fibers and make the meat tender. Additionally, the use of acidic ingredients like red wine or vinegar can help to tenderize the meat and reduce the cooking time.
Selling Copper Pans in Stardew: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Adding vegetables
When adding vegetables to your crock pot steak, it's best to use potatoes, carrots, onions, peppers, and mushrooms. You can also add corn, kale, asparagus, and tomatoes for extra flavour and nutrition.
Before adding the vegetables to the crock pot, it's important to prepare them properly. First, wash and cut the vegetables into desired sizes. You can also pre-cook the vegetables in the microwave with some water until they are almost tender, which should take about 20 minutes. This step is especially important for harder vegetables like potatoes and carrots, as it ensures they are cooked through and not too crunchy.
Once the vegetables are prepared, you can add them to the crock pot. Place the vegetables at the bottom of the pot and layer the steak on top. This order ensures that the steak is cooked evenly and remains tender.
For a heartier meal, you can also add a cup of low-sodium beef broth to the crock pot. This will create a rich jus that complements the steak and vegetables. However, if you prefer a thicker gravy, you can reduce the amount of broth and add more steak sauce or condensed soup.
Finally, cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 5 to 10 hours, depending on your desired level of doneness for the steak. Cooking the steak on low heat for a longer period will result in a more tender texture.
Aluminum Steaming Pans: Good for Baking?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tougher cuts of steak
If you are using a tough cut of steak, such as flank steak, you can add acidic ingredients like red wine or vinegar to the crockpot to help break down the fibers and make the meat more tender. You can also sear the steak in a hot pan before placing it in the crockpot. This works well with cuts such as London Broil.
For tougher cuts of steak, it is recommended to cook them low and slow. This can be anywhere from 5 to 10 hours, depending on the recipe and your desired level of doneness. The longer cooking time will help to break down the meat and make it more tender.
Some examples of tougher cuts of steak that can be used in a crockpot include top round, bottom round, and chuck eye. These cuts are economical and will become tender and tasty when slow-cooked.
Overall, the crockpot is an excellent method for cooking tougher cuts of steak, allowing you to transform cheaper cuts of meat into flavorful and tender meals with minimal effort.
Deep Dish Pan Pizza: Pizza Hut's Secret Menu
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
First, prepare the crock pot by lining it with a slow cooker bag or spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. Season the steaks generously on both sides with salt and pepper and place them in the crock pot. Add your desired ingredients and cook on a low setting for 5-8 hours.
You can add a variety of ingredients to the crock pot, such as onions, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and seasonings like rosemary, thyme, or red pepper flakes. You can also add a slurry of cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce.
Tougher, less expensive cuts of steak are ideal for the crock pot because the slow cooking process helps to break down the fibers and make the meat more tender. Examples of suitable cuts include chuck, chuck eye, and flank steak.
Cooking steak in a crock pot typically takes between 5 and 8 hours on a low setting. For a faster option, you can cook the steak on a high setting for 3-4 hours, but the steak may not be as tender.
