Beef Stew, Instant Pot

also called instant pot beef stew · pressure cooker beef stew · beef stew under pressure

Also written for Slow Cooker (3 to wash), the plain way (2 to wash).

The table

No flour on the beef. It settles on a sealed base and scorches so the stew is thickened at the end
3 lb(1.4 kg; cut in 2-in cubes)beef chuckseason, drybrown 12 min, in two batchessoften, deglaze the base clean35 min high pressure, natural release 15 minadd the vegetables, 4 min, quick releasethicken, lid off
2 tspkosher salt
1 tspblack pepper
2 Tbsvegetable oil
2 large(chopped)yellow onions
4 cloves(minced)garlic
1 Tbstomato paste
1 cup(240 mL)dry red wine
2 cups(475 mL)beef stock
4 sprigsthyme
4 large(cut in 2-in lengths)carrots
2 lb(900 g; quartered)Yukon Gold potatoes
2 Tbs(16 g; slaked in 2 Tbs cold water)cornstarch
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.15 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2season, dry

3brown 12 min, in two batches

goes in with what step 2 made

4soften, deglaze the base clean

goes in with what step 3 made

535 min high pressure, natural release 15 min

goes in with what step 4 made

6add the vegetables, 4 min, quick release

goes in with what step 5 made

7thicken, lid off

goes in with what step 6 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 1 hr 28 min2 of 6 steps give no time
Needs you
about 20 min
If you get it wrong
Narrow — the vegetables get four minutes and a quick release; a potato left in for the beef's time comes back as soup
What you'll wash
Two things — the Instant Pot, a cup to slake the cornstarch in
Does it keep
3 days — the beef improves and the potatoes, already soft out of the pot, go grainy by the second day

  1. season, dry

    not timedfrom the start

  2. brown 12 min, in two batches

    12 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. soften, deglaze the base clean

    not timed12 min in

  4. 35 min high pressure, natural release 15 min

    1 hr 2 minwalk away12 min in

  5. add the vegetables, 4 min, quick release

    6 minwalk away1 hr 14 min in

  6. thicken, lid off

    8 minneeds you(we think)1 hr 20 min in

You'll need Instant Pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Beef Stew, Instant Pot
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: beef, dinner, one-pot, stew, potatoes, instant pot, pressure cooker
>> counters: Instant Pot
>> dish: beef-stew
>> kit: Instant Pot
>> aka: instant pot beef stew, pressure cooker beef stew, beef stew under pressure
>> pairs-with: dinner-rolls
>> servings: 6
>> time: 1 hr 45 min
>> slack: narrow — the vegetables get four minutes and a quick release; a potato left in for the beef's time comes back as soup
>> washing-up: the Instant Pot, a cup to slake the cornstarch in
>> capacity: 3 — the Instant Pot's base, brown
>> keeps: 3 days — the beef improves and the potatoes, already soft out of the pot, go grainy by the second day

No flour on the beef. It settles on a sealed base and scorches so the stew is thickened at the end.

>> step: season, dry
Season @beef chuck{3%lb}(1.4 kg; cut in 2-in cubes) with @kosher salt{2%tsp}, @black pepper{1%tsp} and leave it dry.

>> step: brown 12 min, in two batches
Brown @&(~1)seasoned beef{} in @vegetable oil{2%Tbs} on sauté in an #Instant Pot{} for ~brown{12%min}, in two batches with room around every cube.

>> step: soften, deglaze the base clean
Soften @yellow onions{2%large}(chopped), @garlic{4%cloves}(minced), @tomato paste{1%Tbs} with @&(~1)browned beef{}, then pour in @dry red wine{1%cup}(240 mL) and scrape the base until nothing is stuck to it.

>> step: 35 min high pressure, natural release 15 min
Pressure cook @&(~1)pot{} with @beef stock{2%cup}(475 mL), @thyme{4%sprigs}, lid on and valve sealed, ~come to pressure{12%min}, then ~pressure cook{35%min} on high and ~natural release{15%min}.

>> step: add the vegetables, 4 min, quick release
Add @carrots{4%large}(cut in 2-in lengths), @Yukon Gold potatoes{2%lb}(900 g; quartered) to @&(~1)stew{}, seal it again for ~pressure cook{4%min} on high, and ~quick release{2%min} the moment it beeps.

>> step: thicken, lid off
Thicken @&(~1)stew{} on sauté with @cornstarch{2%Tbs}(16 g; slaked in 2 Tbs cold water) for ~thicken{8%min}, lid off, until it coats a spoon.