Meat balls in stew?

[~max~]

Hi all! I'm about to start making a beef stew in my slow cooker, but as they only had one pack of diced beef in the shop, I also got a pack of beef meat balls. Can I put them in at the same time as the diced beef, or will they just crumble and overcook? Many thanks!

[funnygirl]

I am sure the meat balls will distintigrate!!
Cannot you put them in later?

[~max~]

That's what I thought too funnygirl! lol I was thinking of putting them in later, but I'm not sure how loong they would take to cook on medium?


Or maybe I should just leave them out and make spicy tomato sauce to go with them for tomorrow! lol

[sasha1]

hi it depends if the pack is cooked meatballs or non cooked if not then would be best to put those meatballs in about 10 mins before finished cooking stew to warm them through&serve or if you will let it stew for while just cook it then before you serve add pack of mb then warm and serve. they are already cooked so may crumble if cook them for long time. hope this helps

[~max~]

Thanks Sasha. They're raw. Do you think 10 minutes would be enough? I was thinking more of an hour or so....

[mccfluff]

i normally fry meatballs then put them in the sauce at last min to warm them through properly, not sure that i'd include them with your stew!

[filthiestfis]

It seems that Gravitate is infiltrating into some of the more popular categories on here. Great!

[~max~]

Ok gravitate...that was a nice story (?!!?!).

Anyway....I think I'm gonna leave them out and reserve them to make pasta in a few days. Don't wanna waste them if they disintegrate! I just put in more potatoes and carrots, it'll be fine. :O)
Thanks everyone (well...) for your answers!