I am looking to make a vegetable soup and the recipe calls for a pressure cooker to cook the meat in so it is tender. I have a crock pot but I do not want it to take all day to make the meat. Can I just cook it in some beef broth for a while in a regular pan?
To make cheaper cuts of meat tender, the tissues in the meat need to be broken down. This usually requires a long cooking time at a low temperature or cooking under pressure to speed the process up. If you brown the meat and then simmer it for a long time in juices or liquids such as broth it will get tender but you can’t rush it or boil it or it will be tough.
if you chop the meat up first, you can cook it in a pan. Brown it on high then reduce heat and add the broth or water and let simmer about 30 minutes. Add the rest of your ‘stuff’ and cook at least another 30 minutes.
Not to get it tender. To get it tend you’ll need to roast it slow or in a crock pot.
OTOH, what’s up with trying to make chuck roast tender. You’re making a vegetable soup. Frankly, unless you’re going to make vegetarian vegetable and add the beef right before serving, the meat’s not going to matter much whether you slow cook or brown.
Chuck roast is my favorite. I sear it in a bit of oil, cover it with water, add three bay leaves, a sliced onion and salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat and let simmer until it is as tender as you want. Usually a couple of hours.
But if you want to make soup, cut it into cubes. Add a bit of oil to your soup pan and sear these. Then add water and the salt, pepper and bay leaves. Simmer until tender. Add your veggies and cook until done. Sounds good.
a slow cooker is the only way I know how. Simply throw it in while you are sleeping, get up and add the veggies after you cut or pull apart the meat