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If you want a simple meal that won't keep you chained to the kitchen, the you need to learn how to cook a pot roast. A wide variety of recipes exist for pot roasts. This page will cover how to choose a roast, season it, prepare vegetables, prepare the sauce and cook the roast.
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Pot Roast Tips
- Pot roasting is also known as moist roasting.
- Chuck and round roasts are good for pot roasting.
- Season the meat by rubbing it with salt and pepper.
- Add vegetables to complete your meal.
- Most of the seasonings will be found in the sauce or liquid.
- Cooking pot roast on the stove is faster than in a crockpot
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Introduction
- A roast is a thick cut of meat that is suitable for roasting. It can either be dry roasted, which is done in an oven, or moist roasted, also known as pot roasting and braising.Cook's Illustrated: An Illustrated Guide to Beef Roasts This page will cover moist roasting. For dry roasting, check out Mahalo's How to Cook Roast Beef.
Chuck
- The chuck section includes part of the neck, shoulder blades, and upper rib area of a steer. This area has a lot of connective tissue. Most chuck and round cuts can be used interchangeably in pot roast recipes, but require some adjustment in cooking times. However, chuck cuts have more fat (which means more flavor).Beef It's What's For Dinner: Types of Beef Cuts
- Chuck-eye roast is similar to ribeye roast because it comes from the center area of the ribs (1-5), but it is not as tender.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Chuck It is also known as boneless chuck fillet, boneless chuck roll, chuck tender and Scotch tender.
- Chuck shoulder roast has very little fat and is boneless.Meals for You: Guides to Meat Cuts It is also known as English roast and boneless chuck roast.
- Chuck 7-bone roast gets its name because it contains a bone that looks like a 7.Cook's Illustrated: An Illustrated Guide to Beef Roasts It is very popular for pot roasting.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Chuck It is also known as center cut pot roast.
- Top blade roast is also known as flatiron roast, top chuck roast, blade roast, chuck roast first cut, lifter roast and triangle roast.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Chuck
- Under blade roast is also known as bottom chuck roast, California roast, inside chuck roast and boneless roast bottom chuck.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Chuck
Round
- The round is the back section of the steer and is located behind the loin. Most chuck and round cuts can be used interchangeably in pot roast recipes, but will require some adjustment in cooking times.Beef It's What's For Dinner: Types of Beef Cuts
- Top round roast is more tender than bottom round roasts but not as tender as rib roasts. It has a rich beefy flavor.Rocky Mountain News: Bone Up on Beef for Perfect Roasts (December 12, 2007) It is a very common choice in supermarkets.Cook's Illustrated: An Illustrated Guide to Beef Roasts
- Bottom round roast is tougher and drier than top round roast.Rocky Mountain News: Bone Up on Beef for Perfect Roasts (December 12, 2007) It can have very little flavor and a rubbery, chewy texture.Cook's Illustrated: An Illustrated Guide to Beef Roasts
- Eye round roast is boneless and can be tough, especially if not moist roasted.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Round It is a moderately priced roast that is good for casual gatherings.Beef It's What's For Dinner: Types of Beef Cuts
- Rump roast is a moderately priced roast that is also good for casual gatherings.Beef It's What's For Dinner: Types of Beef Cuts It should be moist-roasted. It may also be called "bottom round rump roast," or "round roast" but should not be confused with "bottom round roast."Cook's Illustrated: An Illustrated Guide to Beef Roasts
- Round tip roast is a moderately priced roast that is good for casual gatherings.Beef It's What's For Dinner: Types of Beef Cuts It is more tender than other round cuts.RecipeTips.com: Cuts of Beef - Round
Step 2: Season the Pot Roast
- Because the meat will be roasted in liquid, pre-cooking seasoning usually consists simply of rubbing the meat with salt and pepper.MarthaStewart.com: Pot Roast However, there are a couple of variations to this:
- Rub the surface with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon crushed dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary.About.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables
- Rub roast with 1/2 cup vegetable oil and roll in mixture of 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon crushed garlic, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning. 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons dried oregano, 2 tablespoons dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes.All Recipes: Italian Roast Beef I
- Rub both sides of the roast with a mixture of 2 teaspoons salt and 2 teaspoons cumin.Food Network: Pot Roast Recipe
- Rub surface of the roast with a mixture of 1 cup salt, 1/4 cup black pepper and 1/4 cup garlic powder (store unused portion in airtight container).Food Network: Pot Roast Recipe
Step 3: Prepare the Vegetables
- Vegetables are optional, but a great addition to your pot roast. What kinds and how many can vary depending on personal taste and the occasion. Here are just a few of the possible vegetables you can add. Amounts are based on adding 2 to 3 vegetables to your roast.
- 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch piecesMarthaStewart.com: Pot Roast
- 8 ounces baby carrotsAbout.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables
- 4 to 6 white potatoes, peeled and cut into quartersMarthaStewart.com: Pot Roast
- 6 to 8 medium red potatoes, cut in halfAbout.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables Allrecipes: Campbell's Slow Cooker Savory Pot Roast
- 4 cloves garlic, whole and peeledAbout.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables
- 8 ounces small, whole fresh mushroomsBetty Crocker.com: Slow Cooker Garlic and Mushroom Beef Roast
- 1 small rutabaga or turnip cut into 2-inch piecesAbout.com: Yankee Pot Roast Recipe
- 1/4 cup sliced celeryAbout.com: Pot Roast with Garden Vegetables
- 1 yellow onion, choppedAllrecipes: Easiest Pot Roast Ever
- 3 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch piecesEpicurious.com: Pot Roast with Winter Root Vegetables Recipe
Step 4: Add Liquid
- Since your roast and vegetables will be cooking in the liquid, this is a great way to vary the taste of the meat. Some are as simple as adding a packet of dry onion soup mix, while others are more complex.Allrecipes: Marie's Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast Here are a few examples of different liquids you can use for your pot roast.
- 1 can of condensed cream of mushroom soup with 1 can of condensed beef broth.All Recipes: Awesome Roast Beef
- 1 can of tomato soup with a large onion, 2 dried bay leaves and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme.MarthaStewart.com: Pot Roast
- 1/4 cup water or beef broth with 1/4 cup dry red wine.About.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned, and 2 cloves of garlic with boiling water. Allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes and then add 1/3 cup fresh sage leaves, chopped.The Inadvertent Gardener: Slow-cooked Roast Beef with Fresh Sage and Dried Tomatoes (June 23, 2007)
- 2 cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup, 1 1/4 cup water and 1 package dry onion soup mix.All Recipes: Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- 1 1/2 cups water and 3 beef bouillon cubes.All Recipes: Italian Roast Beef I
- 1 can condensed beef broth, undiluted.About.com: Pot Roast with Garden Vegetables
- Combine 1 can mushroom soup, 1/4 cup red wine, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules into a bowl. Pour over roast and add 3/4 cup water.Food Network: Pot Roast Recipe
- Combine 1 thinly sliced onion, 2 bay leaves, 3-4 crushed beef bouillon cubes, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup with 1/2 cup Chardonnay.Food Network: Pot Roast Recipe
- Mix 1 can French onion soup, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 3/4 cup dry red wine and 6 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms.Recipezaar: Easy Crock Pot Roast Beef Recipe
- Mix and add 2 cans of French onion soup and 2 cans cream of celery soup.Recipezaar: Souper Easy Crock Pot Roast Recipe
Step 5: Cook the Roast
- Pot roast is traditionally cooked in one of two ways, in a slow cooker (crock pot) or on the stove-top. Below you will find instructions for both methods.
Slow Cooker
- Brown beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally.Betty Crocker.com: Slow Cooker Garlic and Mushroom Beef Roast (optional)
- Spray the inside of a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.Betty Crocker.com: Slow Cooker Garlic and Mushroom Beef Roast
- Place the vegetables into the slow cooker.
- Place the roast on top of the vegetables.About.com: Easy Beef Pot Roast With Vegetables
- Cover and cook for six hours on high or eight to ten hours on low heat.MarthaStewart.com: Pot Roast All Recipes: Awesome Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Remove from cooker.
- Allow meat to stand for ten minutes before slicing.The Inadvertent Gardener: Slow-cooked Roast Beef with Fresh Sage and Dried Tomatoes (June 23, 2007)
Stove
- Mix 1/4 cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together and pound into the meat.Epicurious.com:: Basic Pot Roast Recipe (Optional)
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a dutch oven or heavy skillet.About.com: Pot Roast with Garden Vegetables
- Brown meat on all sides.
- Add liquid and bring to boil.All Recipes: Italian Roast Beef I
- Reduce heat and let simmer for 3 to 4 hours.
- Add vegetables and cook for 30 minutes more or until they are done.About.com: Yankee Pot Roast Recipe
Pot Roast Variations
- Add some garlic and Italian red wine to make an Italian-style pot roast.About.com: Italian Roast Beef Simply Recipes: Italian Pot Roast Recipe
- Use figs and white wine to make your sauce and then season with rosemary.Epicurious.com: Fig and Rosemary Pot Roast Recipe
- Use short ribs instead of the traditional roast.Epicurious.com: Pot Roast with Caramelized Onions and Roasted Carrots Recipe
- Serve the roast with wide egg noodlesRecipezaar: Mushroom Pot Roast Recipe
- Use citrus juices such as orange and grapefruit to make the liquid.Recipezaar: Crock Pot Orange-Herbed Pork Roast Recipe
- Add butternut squash and tart apples.Recipezaar: Colonial Pot Roast Recipe
- Combine cola with spaghetti sauce or dry brown gravy mix, dry onion soup mix and condensed cream of mushroom soup.Allrecipes: Cola Pot Roast I Allrecipes: Cola Pot Roast II
- YouTube Video: Crock Pot Roast (Time: 4:46)
Other Recipe Variations
- Here are a few other pot roast recipes that you may want to try:
- Epicurious.com: Gordon's Pot Roast Recipe
- Recipezaar: Sam Arnold's Cowboy Pot Roast Recipe
- Allrecipes: Pot Roast with Spaghetti
- Food & Wine: Beer-Braised Pot Roast Recipe
- Food & Wine: Classic Pot Roast Recipe
Conclusion
- Now that you have mastered how to cook pot roast, you might want to check out some of the other crockpot recipes available on Mahalo. You might also be interested in How to Cook Roast Beef, How to Cook Prime Rib, How to Cook a Pork Roast and How to Make Gravy.
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