This trick from J. Kenji Lopez-Alt makes beef stew quicker, easier, and more delicious.

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

For years, I’ve found the process of makingbeef stewmonotonous and annoying.

Iloveeating it, but cutting up and browning all those cubes of meat can be tedious and messy.

A close-up of a bowl of beef stew showing chunks of tender beef, carrot rounds, and potato chunks

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

It always felt like it took forever.

So when I discoveredJ.

So, he knows a thing or two!

A bowl of beef stew from overhead, showing a rich broth, chunks of beef and potatoes, and rounds of carrot

Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock

The Easy Trick for Better Beef Stew

This tip is simple, but genius.

This moisture creates steam and prevents that gorgeous brown crust from forming.

“It’s also relatively economical,” she adds.