Length of cooking time for stews and sauces
Let's say you're cooking a beef stew. The tough cut of beef needs time to soften and the onions and carrots will need time to soften. What other processes take place that require time? Or once each ingredient has had enough time to break down enough is that complete?
As an example this recipe for curries instructs a total simmering time of 1.5 hours? Given that the ingredients are just spices and vegetables, does anything take place beyond the first 10-15 minutes?
Best Answer
Sure, a few things happen (or, rather, continue to happen) after the first 10-15 minutes.
- Spices continue to release their flavor. Not a big consideration for finely ground spices, but something like whole coriander, cracked black pepper, or cinnamon bark will definitely have more to give at that point.
- Vegetables will continue to cook. More cell walls will break, softening the texture and releasing more flavor. Starches will break down into simpler carbohydrates, becoming sweeter. Various other compounds will break down as well.
- Water will boil off, concentrating the flavor.
- Flavors will diffuse in and out of the vegetables, making the broth taste more like the vegetables and the vegetables taste more like the spices.
- On the bottom of the pot, the high temperature may lead to a small amount of caramelization or Maillard browning.
Whether those are important or not depends on what you're going for. Fresh, summery vegetable stews don't need to cook for long, and benefit from careful texture control, while a smooth, melty ragout can't be rushed. Often you'll cook some of the stew for hours, then toss in more ingredients scant minutes before serving.
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How long should stew be cooked?
Rush the cooking process and the beef will be tough and chewy. Follow this tip: For really tender meat, cook the stew low and slow, for approximately two hours.How long is too long to cook a stew?
As much as we like the idea of a stew that sits on the stove all day long, too much time will result in dry beef and mushy veggies. It depends on how much stew you're actually making, but the sweet spot is about 2\u20133 hours.Why do stews take so long?
When using a common stewing beef such as a chuck roast it is necessary to cook the dish slowly in order to ensure the breaking down of these muscle fibers. The tenderizing process is necessary when using these cuts of meat.How long does it take stew beef to tender?
Stewing BeefEthiopian Beef Stew - English Video
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