Learn the ins and outs of how to cook the perfect bottom round roast, including a delicious recipe! This affordable roast is ideal for weekends, roast beef, and is easy to cook.
Once you've mastered my bottom round roast recipe. Learn how to make my extraordinary beef smoked tri-tip recipe that is tender, juicy, and loaded with favor.
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Where does bottom round roast come from?
Literally from the bottom of the cow. The butt, if you will, or beef bottom.
See that black shaded area there? That's pretty much where the bottom round roast comes from.
This video explains a little bit about the bottom round cut.
But a bottom round roast is still beef, and if you cook it properly, it can taste delicious and fairly tender. Not as tender as a filet, but certainly tender enough considering the affordable cost of round roast. As a lean and economical cut, we can enjoy roast beef any day of the week. It stores well for easy meal prep like roast beef sandwiches and serves a crowd.
Slow cooking a roast
The best way to cook any cut of meat that tends to be on the tough side is low and slow. You can prepare it with a marinade ahead of time or a dry rub before cooking. However, if you are looking to slice it like roast beef, you must cook your roast in the oven. Please do not cook this delicious oven roast in a crockpot or instant pot.
I don't recommend cooking a round roast in a slow cooker or crockpot unless you are looking for a roast with more of a pot roast or pulled pork texture. Still delicious but a very different result but nothing like an oven roast or delicious roast beef.
So, we will cook our roast in the oven low and slow, as I mentioned. You can use a Dutch oven, cast-iron skillet, or roasting pan with a rack. You can sear the roast on the stovetop or in the oven. I find searing on the stove to be messy, so I prefer to start it on high in the oven to cook the outside quickly and seal in the meat's natural juices.
🌡️ Should you bring your roast to room temperature?
Some people recommend letting beef come to room temperature before cooking. I don't do this or like this theory (read why) so the longest I let the beef sit out is around 10 minutes. I open up the package, add a dry rub, and just let it sit for those few minutes so the Kosher salt in the dry rub can help brine the surface. You can also brine the roast in the fridge overnight. This is important to get that nice exterior crust that is packed with flavor.
⏲️ How long do you cook a roast?
I don't like to give a flat-out time for cooking a roast because so many factors affect the cooking time. Your elevation, your oven (and if it is calibrated correctly or not), how thick your particular piece of meat is, and more.
If we each buy a 2 lb roast, they will vary in length, thickness, and fat. And it is no surprise that a long thin roast takes less time to cook than a thick fat roast.
For cooking "low and slow," a good rule of thumb for bottom round roast cooking time per pound is 2 hours per lb. This rule is more of a guide to help you prepare sides and effectively plan your dinner.
“Roasting slowly is where all the good stuff happens,” says Jim Swenson, who has been executive chef at the National Press Club in Washington for 17 years.
But this is just a guide to help you estimate cook time. It would be best if you were diligent about checking the internal temperature regularly to ensure you don't over-cook your roast. Over-cooked meat of any type will be overly tough and dry. For that reason, I recommend using a good meat thermometer and check often. I usually start checking once I reach the "halfway" point of that rule of thumb time.
🔪 How do you cook a bottom round roast?
The instructions below tell you how to cook a bottom round roast medium-rare. It's the best way to preserve the tenderness and the flavor of the beef. If you don't like to eat it medium-rare, you can always reheat the pieces of the roast in a small amount of beef broth. This helps retain the tenderness and ensures the roast does not dry out.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F or 232°C.
- Remove the roast from the fridge and remove its packaging.
- Place the roast on a cutting board.
- Brush the entire surface of the bottom round roast with oil.
- Rub the entire roast with a dry rub (recipe below). Alternatively, you could use an overnight brine or marinade.
- Place the roast in a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet (or another oven-safe pan).
- Cook a short time to sear the outside.
- Reduce heat to 170°F or 77°C and continue cooking low and slow.
- Cook until it reaches your desired internal temperature.
- Slice and serve.
This will cook a bottom round roast to barely medium-rare. It should be flavorful and not tough. Again, it won't be as tender as steaks or other cuts of beef, but it won't be tough either. If you prefer a more medium or well-done cook to your roast, you can slice it and warm it in beef broth until it reaches your preferred level of done.
Other common roasts include the outside round roast, rump roast, chuck roast, eye roast, top round, and tip roast. All of these make great oven roasts when combined with a savory dry rub. And when paired with mashed potatoes smothered in delicious pan gravy, this roast beef shines. The perfect family dinner recipe!
🥗 What to serve with
And instead of mashed potatoes, you can go low carb and pair this with steamed vegetables or a combination of oven-baked veggies like asparagus, carrots, and onion.
💭 Helpful roasting tips
For the perfect bottom round roast, you should cook with the fat side up. As the roast cooks, the fat melts and runs down the sides of the meat. This helps provide moisture and flavor, which are so important for these more affordable cuts of meat.
When cooking roasts, we want that gloriously browned exterior, the crust, but still juicy inside. The rule of thumb for most roasts is to cook uncovered in a shallow pan. If your roast is on the smaller side, you should reduce the length of time on high heat from 20 minutes to 10 minutes.
Know your oven
This is so important for so many reasons! First, every oven cooks a bit differently, and you must adjust accordingly. Second, gas, electric, and convection ovens all vary. While gas and electric have similar cooking times, convection times are often reduced by 25% or more. Worse, some ovens run hot, some run cold, and only a few report internal cooking temperatures accurately.
When preparing a roast recipe for the first time, you must make adjustments for your oven and your roast's weight. Every time I read a comment like, "I followed this recipe exactly," my heart skips a beat. So on that note, if you own an oven, which I'm sure you do, buy a meat thermometer and oven thermometer.
Worried your roast will be done early?
The first half goes by relatively fast. About halfway through, you should reach about 125 degrees (2.5-3.0 hrs), and what you'll soon realize is it takes considerably longer to reach your final desired temperature. That last 10 - 15 degrees can easily take another 2-3 hours.
- 125° F (52° C) - Rare
- 135° F (57° C) - Medium Rare
- 145° F (63° C) - Medium
- 150° F (66° C) - MediumWell
- 160° F (71° C) - Well Done
Roasting pans
I'll use my 12" cast iron skillet for smaller roasts, and for anything over 4 pounds, I use a large roasting pan with vrack. I prefer a vrack vs. flat rack as it holds the roast in place and find air circulates the roast better.
Let your roast rest
Let your roast rest at least 10-15 minutes before serving. I typically use a foil tent, let it rest, and start on my gravy pan right away. Then, since everything else is ready, I round up the family and settle in for dinner.
Fantastic herbs and spices
I love using herbs like rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, garlic cloves, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, mustard, and olive oil to tie everything together. When it comes to ingredients like herbs and spices, create a final dish that works for you.
Smoke, smoker options
While you can smoke this delicious beef bottom round roast, please check my smoked tri-tip recipe first and decide which recipe you prefer.
📋 Recipe
The Perfect Bottom Round Roast
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb bottom round roast
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F or 232°C.
- Remove the fully thawed roast from the fridge and remove it from the packaging.
- Place the bottom round roast on a cutting board.
- Brush the entire surface of the roast with olive oil (you can use avocado oil as well).
- Combine all of the seasonings in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasonings over the entire surface of the roast - top, bottom and all sides.
- Place the roast in a cast iron skillet.
- Cook for 20 minutes at 450 degrees.
- Reduce heat to 170°F or 77°C and continue cooking low and slow.
- Cook the roast until the internal temperature reaches around 135-140 degrees (medium-rare is 145 degrees but the roast will cook as it is cooling).
- Slice and serve if you want to serve it medium-rare.
- If you want to serve it medium or medium-well, slice the roast in the cast iron pan, pour 2 cups of beef broth in and heat on the stove over low heat until the slices reach the desired level of done.
Notes
The Perfect Bottom Round Roast recipe originally published Feb. 2018. Updated with new content in May. 2021. No change to recipe, I wouldn’t dare! This has been one of the all time most popular recipes since I first published it!
Allan
I just tried this and WoW !!!
I followed the recipe exactly except I had a 1.8lb bottom round, so I did 12min @ 450. Then it was an hour and a quarter @ 170F till it hit 135F on my temp probe. Pulled it, let it rest ten minutes and am just stunned at how tender, juicy and delicious it is 🙂
I highly recommend.
Allan
Amy K
I had a somewhat smaller roast so it didn't take as long. I used rosemary and thyme as that is what I had. And place it on large slices of onion in the pan. Turned out wonderful though.
Angela
I want to thank you for this recipe. I had never used this cut of beef before and was always using the same recipe handed down from my family for pot roast. So this recipe was a game changer for me! I followed it exactly as stated and it is delicious.!
730 Sage Street
Thanks Angela, I'm happy you enjoy the roast beef and really appreciate the feedback!
Justin
I think you took 'letting meat come to room temp' too literally! And missed the point!
It's not about the center coming completely to room temp. Especially on a larger roast. But more importantly for a thick steak being cooked medium rare. If straight from fridge to pan, the outside will be cooked while the inside is still rare. Same for many proteins...to get an even cook, it is important to let rest at room temp first. And that's what Wolfgang most likely meant.
730 Sage Street
This 10 min is helpful as a cold roast will sweat and release moisture at room temperature. Thus I find it is more important that you dry the meat before searing, ensure your pan is hot, and the roast has adequate space in the pan. Anything larger than a 4lb roast, and I use my vrack roasting pan. Otherwise, this will provide a nice sear and a beautifully browned roast.
Dee112
I followed your instructions. I have never heard such moaning over a meal! This is a keeper recipe.
Would your instructions work for brisket?
730 Sage Street
Yes, absolutely!
A 72 hour brisket cooked at 140 is very common. The principle is exactly the same, low and slow.
LD Curtis
Oh my goodness! I seldom leave comments but I am pretty excited about this one. I usually stray from just about every recipe, but I didn’t from this one because my bottom round roast was 3-4 pounds. It was perfect! Thank you for sharing!
Amy Taylor
This is a great technique for cooking a challenging cut of beef. I highly recommend dry-brining your roast for 18-24 hours before proceeding with this recipe. Take your roast out of the packaging, pat it dry, and then coat liberally on all surfaces with salt (I use Diamond Crystal Kosher). Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. place it on a plate, and put it in the fridge. Remove it just before you're ready to cook it. Proceed with the recipe as given. You'll find the end product to be much more flavorful. I only buy grass-fed beef, and if you do you need to remember that grass-fed beef usually cooks faster and is more lean so the extra boost from the dry brine makes a big difference. If your grass-fed roast is smaller than 3.5 pounds, you should definitely lower the oven temp. from 170 to 150 for the second phase of cooking. Watch and monitor the temp. closely and try to get it out of the oven at 130 degrees. Slice as thin as you possibly can. I love the leftovers in a sandwich with some grainy mustard and a slice of cheddar cheese.
730 Sage Street
Awesome Amy, thankful to hear you cook your roasts low and slow. And grassfed beef and dry brine sounds great. Just as you mentioned, I would also aim for 150 for smaller roasts and have mentioned this multiple times. Thanks!
POOKIE
so happy to find you...i am planning to purchase a 'bottom round' & want to know if i can make it in the oven on a rack.
should i sear it at the 'hi' temp you recommended first? ia have only made chuck roast before..(many).
thank you so much.
730 Sage Street
For most roasts above 4 lb, I use a roasting pan with a vrack. It is nice to elevate the roast so it gets proper airflow, browns evenly, and allows you to make a nice gravy.
Roxanne
Superb!
4 lb outside round.
Just over 3 hrs. to 145 degrees 👌🏼.
Moist, tender and delicious!
Thank you!
Sarah
My question is regarding using a roaster. Would the time frame and heating be similar or would it vary? We have a 5lb roast so guesstimating 10 hrs. Thank you.
730 Sage Street
It really depends on your roast. A thicker fatter roast will take longer than a thinner longer roast at the same weight. Just be mindful of this and go slow, on low temps (150-170F), and monitor.
Lynn
It’s an interesting question. When we use the oven we get it up to required heat before putting the roast in..
730 Sage Street
Sorry for the late reply, and yes absolutely. This is exactly what pre-heat means. If you put the roast in while pre-heating or before it reaches the desire temp, you'll certainly have an overdone roast.
Jen
Absolutely incredible! So tender! I may never bother with a more expensive cut of beef or will use some variation of this recipe if I do. I had a 3.24 pounder. I let it sit on the counter for about 40 mins with the olive oil and dry rub. I ran out of oregano, so I used Italian seasoning instead. I also chose to sear the meat in the cast iron on the edges only on the stove, while the oven was heating. I figured it’s going to be going in the oven fat side up, so there was no reason to sear the bottom or the fat side, as it would do that during cooking. Right before putting it into the oven for the 20 mins, at 450, I put some left over dry run and olive oil on the fat side. Also, I was running a little short on time so I upped the temp to 200 deg, from the 170, for the last hour or two and it was still a succulent roast. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Best Roast Beast Ever!
Judith
So happy that I found your recipe. I bought a bottom round roast at the market because it was on sale - $2.99/lb. Then got home and wondered how I was going to cook it. Came across your recipe and thought it looked easy enough. My roast was just under 3 lbs so I seared it for 10 mins at 450. I then lowered temp to 170 and set a 3 hour timer so I could check the temp. When I did it was already at 140. I debated about what to and decided I would take the roast out and let it rest. So glad I did as it was cooked perfectly! So instead of dinner being on the later side, it ended up being on the earlier side which was fine because what else is there to do during this pandemic but eat!
I will definitely using your recipe again - thank you so much!
Allison
Thank you so much for the recommendation! I was having a hard time finding a recipe for my 2.7 lb roast but came across your comment and it came out at a temp of 147!! It's perfect 🙂
Mary
Thnx so much!! My roast is 2.25 lbs & curious how much time you cooked yours- looking for Med Rare💕. Thnx!
Samantha
This looks delicious. I have a 3.4lb roast and I did 450 for 10 minutes then down to 170 for the remainder. I put a meat thermometer in and it reached 135 degrees 45 minutes later. I'm curious if there is something I did wrong? I did pull it out and I'm letting it rest now! Also my oven doesn't go any lower than 170...thanks for any tips!
730 Sage Street
My best guess, this was a thinner roast. Yet, with others are reporting 3+ hours for smaller roasts I suspect something is off. If I have extra time I'll go as low as 150 myself for the perfect low and slow roast.
Jennifer
This is my second time making this and both times it turned out great! Thank you for this recipe!
730 Sage Street
Thanks Jennifer, appreciate the love.
Roseann
This turned out perfect. I changed nothing. It was so tender I have never been able to cook a bottom round roast this tender I will cook this again and share this recipe.
Katie
Just wondering if you cover the roast or just put in the pan no cover
730 Sage Street
Do not cover, do not add liquid. If you cover you'll end up with a steamed roast (cry). We want to brown and crisp the roast to increase the flavor profile. I also love using a vrack with 4 lb or larger roasts as it helps elevate the roast, increase airflow, and keeps the roast stable. Lastly, when possible place the fast side up as the juice runs down the roast, basting it while it cooks.
And don't forget, low and slow at 150°F - 170°F, not Celsius.
JIA
Trying out this recipe tonight! Had bottom chuck in my freezer, took it out this morning to thaw and defrost. Found this recipe around 2:30 and prepped the meat and put it in the oven around 3:10. If I’m running a little low on time can Increase the oven temperature? Or would that make the meat too tough and dry? The roast is 3.5lbs, I’m hoping it reaches medium, I have a gas range oven. I’m hoping it could be done by 7:30 Any tips on what I should do? Thanks!
730 Sage Street
Hi JIA,
So lets say you put this in at 3 for simplicity! Also for the gas range I'm wondering if your using a dial or have an exact temp set? Most gas ranges at dial 2 are around 150 °C which is 300 °F, far to hot for long and slow. I'm hoping you were able to cook this around 170 °F for the recommended time.
Also, it is always a good idea to check a roast at the midway point. From here you can adjust as needed.
3-4 lb fat bottom roast would take longer than a thin roast (shorter and fatter)
3-4 lb thin bottom roast would take less time than a fat roast (longer and thinner)
Check at the midway point and call it like you see it. This is based a lot on your oven, the specific roast, and the doneness.
Hope this helps!
Leslee
I had a 2 1/4 pound grass fed bottom round roast in my freezer. I was very skeptical about this recipe and the length of time suggested but I thought I would give it a whirl anyway. I seared it at 450 degrees for 15 minutes because it was a smaller cut. I lowered the temperature to 170 degrees. Based on this recipe it should take approximately 4 hours to cook. My plan was to take it out at 135 degrees for a medium roast. I checked it at 1.5 hours and to my horror it was at 160 degrees. Far too overdone. I made a wonderful gravy with the drippings and served it slathered in the gravy on top of a cauliflower and parsnip puree. It tasted great but would have preferred a much less done roast.
730 Sage Street
Thanks for your reply Leslee, really appreciate the time and feedback!
A few things caught my attention. Going into a recipe already skeptical is probably not the best mindset, resulting in a few hiccups for a very small roast. You'd truly need either a lot of experience to pull this off or heavily modify the original recipe.
Sear time of 15 min for a 2lb roast is high (15 min at 450) and smaller roasts are often thin vs fat. At this point I'd estimate it was already 1/4 cooked.
The default temperature is 170, so this was not truly lowered. Frankly anything under 3 lbs, I'd recommend 150 as I did once earlier.
You definitely had the right plan, just did not account for the above. All in all you pulled it off and thankfully you had a meat thermometer and checked it as recommended. Which ultimately saved your day!
Off topic, I would not be surprised if your oven runs on the hot side.
Kathleen maddox
I am excited to try this and Glad you mentioned elevation..I am in Denver CO Burb ,at like 5300 always at a loss where to check meat time living here .I really want this to come out and not be a,waste !
730 Sage Street
Sorry for the late reply but really appreciate the comment on elevation. Did you end up making this roast recipe?
Jan
Great flavor! We truly enjoyed the enticing aroma as it cooked., too. The information included in the recipe was extremely helpful. My roast cooked more quickly than expected, but checking with a thermometer saved the meal. I will definitely repeat this meal. Thank you- well written.
Dusty
Was really good 3 lbs needed only 90 mins after the 20 mins at 450, very good did in a cast iron pan and made gravy from pan juices. Must rest at least 20 mins.
Donna Moore
I have a 16 lb bottom round that I want to roast and then chip for roast beef sandwiches . Its a whole piece. Your instructions on cooking time sounds really long to me. Serving a small army of hungry people. What is your recommendation as far as cooking time for that size?
730 Sage Street
Wow, our bottom roasts rarely exceeds 4-5 lbs. Given this is three times the normal, I can't confidently answer this. However, if using the low and slow method, it is going to take time for the heat to transfer through the 15 lb roast and reach the center. If I was doing this personally, I'd give the roast a good sear and roast in 4 hour increments between 150-170 degrees F and monitor internal temp. with a meat thermometer.
When you reach about 125° F (52° C), this is generally the midway mark. And from here you can estimate remaining time depending on your desired final temperature.
Melissa P
Forgot the stars! Would give even more if I could!
Melissa P
Hands down the best roast I have ever made! Thank you so much for your detailed instructions and comments. The simple rub was perfect and cooking fat side up resulted in a beautiful, flavorful cut off meat. Low and slow is the way to go! Paired with sauteed herbed new potatoes and fresh green bean casserole. My family loved it and we all had seconds!
Bernice Macdonald
Hi my roast was 3.2pounds and I will cook it 2hours per pound that’s about 6hours is that right
730 Sage Street
If cooked low and slow yes this is a good approximate. It would depend on our final desired temperature ranging from 135° F (57° C) medium rare - 160° F (71° C) well done. About halfway through, you should reach about 125 degrees F, which will give you a better idea of your exact cooking time.
Madeline
My family isn't big on pot roasts done in the crockpot and instant pot, plus I wanted firmer beef for sandwiches. Your dry rub oven roasting method worked very well for me! Today I'm doing out and buying a larger roast, plus an oven thermometer. I look forward to trying your other recipes.
730 Sage Street
Stellar Madeline, your comment really made my day and I agree, this recipe is perfect for roast beef sandwiches.
Dave P
all I can say is WOW! I made this yesterday and it was amazing. I'm glad I read through the whole article and followed the tip to check at 1/2 point. My 4 pound roast was perfect after 3 hours this is definitely a keeper. thanks
David Miles
My Wife made this for us using an inexpensive bottom round roast and I want you to know it was the Best roast beef I have ever tasted. .
Thank You
730 Sage Street
Appreciate it David, thanks for leaving a comment!
Liz
I left a review yesterday (which I don't yet see), but feel the need to update.
My roast came out PERFECT. In yesterday's review I stated that after only 1 1/2 hours of cooking the roast had already reached 130 degrees. Since it had just 5 degrees to go, I assumed it would be ready way too early and would be tough. I then scrolled through some of these reviews and read that another person had the same experience, but it took an additional 3 hours for his roast to reach the desired temperature of 135 degrees! So I left it in the oven. It took another 2 1/2 hours to reach 135 degrees. That was two hours earlier than expected and way too early for dinner. I let the roast sit and 20 minutes before dinner I covered it with foil and put it in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. It came out a perfect medium rare and was delicious.!
I am still wondering why it didn't take the full 6 hours to cook. The roast was 2.9 lbs, so I let it sear for just 15 minutes, and including the searing time, it took just 4 hours to cook. It was tender enough, but I think that if it had taken a few hours longer to reach 135 degrees it would have been even more tender. Any thoughts on this?
Bottom line, my family loved it and I will definitely be making it again.
730 Sage Street
Things have been hectic here lately, so we are a bit behind.
The biggest issue I've seen, from personal experience, is oven variation. We have gas, electric, and convection ovens, and each of these will have a varied outcome. Add to that the fact most oven temps are inaccurate, leaving us with some pretty significant variations in cooking time.
Know Your Oven
For instance, I'll often cook at my mom's house, and after my first overdone roast, I had to make adjustments. Knowing your oven plays a big role in baking, roasting, etc.
And to answer your question, yes, I've cooked roasts overnight that are super tender. When you try again, you could lower your oven temp by 10 degrees and compare.
If you'd like to share specifics, feel free to email me at [email protected].
And thanks for the comment and detail Liz, I appreciate it.
Liz
Ugh! This didn't work out for me. I followed the recipe exactly. The roast was 2.90 lbs, so I reduced the searing time to 15 minutes. It has now been exactly 1 1/2 hours since the roast went it and the it has reached 130 degrees already. By dinnertime, it's going to be tough and cold.
730 Sage Street
It is worth mentioning for everyone scanning/reading the comments.
Every oven cooks a bit differently, and you must adjust accordingly.
To achieve the perfect roast, you must make adjustments for your oven and for the weight of the roast. Rather than following a recipe exactly, use it as a guide.
When preparing a roast recipe for the first time, monitor it closely. Use a meat thermometer and even consider using an oven thermometer to verify your oven temps.
Gas, Electric, and Convection all vary. While gas and electric have similar cooking times, convection cooking times are often reduced by 25% or more.
Knowing your oven is the key!
Liz
Thanks for the response. The roast was so delicious that I am making it again for dinner tonight. I am looking forward to trying some additional 730saagestreet recipes
Torie
Dude. That was so delicious! We ate almost the whole 2.5 lb roast in one sitting and there are only two of us! Thanks for sharing!! We will be eating this again and again!
Mary
I agree! That was the most awesome roast I’ve ever made!!
Judy
I made this roast today. It is a fabulous recipe. I put the rub on yesterday and baked it today. I followed the cooking instructions to a tee. My grandchildren who are here with us loved it. I did chance cooking it tell medium/ well as they didn’t want it bloody! It was still juicy delicious!! Thank you for this recipe!
730 Sage Street
Appreciate the comment Judy! My parents use to make this for us as well and it was always a popular recipe.
Karyn
Turned out perfect. My guests raved about how tender it was. At first I was worried the garlic would burn...it didn't Next, I was nervous because after 3 hours in it was at 125 and I thought it would be done way to early (I had estimated 6 hours) but it took another 2.5hours to to reach 140. It was still light pink in middle. I will use this recipe again.
John
Is it OK to cook this on a bed of aromatics ( Onions, celery)? Is it OK to add liquids to the bottom of the pan such as a small amount of water to help cook the vegies?
730 Sage Street
Sure it is OK John! This is more like braising and often referred to as pot-roasting. This is a great option for less tender cuts of beef and I personally love adding carrots, celery, red onion, and 1-2 bay leaves. Thinking about this now another great option would be fresh rosemary and thyme.
Estimate:
1/2 cup beef broth
carrots, celery, onion (naturally add liquid)
potatoes (not low carb)
1-2 bay leaves (or) rosemary and thyme
Notes:
Watch your cooking time, the steam from the broth and veggies will speed things up. I'd highly recommend using a meat thermometer!
Cathy
Do you bake it fat side up?
730 Sage Street
Hi Cathy, great question and the general rule is fat side up. As the roast cooks, the fat melts and runs down the sides of the meat. This helps provide flavor and moisture. Also another reason to avoid trimming the fat on a bottom roast.
Bonnie
Do you coverit
730 Sage Street
Hi Bonnie!
Uncovered = Roasting = Dark crust as pictured
Covered = Braising = No dark crust, considered a pot roast and common with veggies.
Both are great but have different textures and flavor.
Hope this helps 😉
Alex Coleman
A well described blog step by step. It shows the easier way to make the dish for beginners. Last part "Nutrition Facts" seems very helpful for me. Thanks for the delicious recipe and tips.
Meghan
Do you cover the pan while it’s in the oven?
730 Sage Street
No Meghan, you leave it uncovered so the roast gets that dark crust. This is part of the magic and you literally can not buy this kind of flavor.
Robin
Great recipe. Thanks for making it so easy to prepare this inexpensive cut of beef so well.
Kasey
Oh my goodness! This roast looks amazing! My husband had been looking up a lot of new, low carb recipes and we’re gonna add this to our rotation!
Kim
It's really good, and it's great because it's such an affordable cut of meat. You just have to take the time to cook it right.
Andrea Martin
How long does the meat take to bake per lb?
Kim
I hate to give this kind of information because it seems like every oven is different. I really recommend checking the internal temperature regularly as it cooks. 2 hours per lb is a decent estimate but we've had roasts take longer and roasts take far less. It depends upon the thickness of the roast and your oven.
Beth
2 hrs per lb?
Is that a typo?
I'm thinking - after a seat, braise, like 10 min at 450 - 500° - turn off oven and leave door closed - time @ 10-12 minutes/lb
Remove, let rest 20 min and Slice your roast.
730 Sage Street
Thanks Beth, but this is not a typo, this is at 170, not the standard 375-450 which is 10-20 min/lb.
I am for 130-135 medium rare:
- remove from fridge and let rest 2-4 hours
- sear either in cast iron or oven (cast iron works better while oven is easier, dry roast/dry pan)
- fat side up and slow cook at 170, sometimes less if I have extra time
- tent for 10-15 before carving, slice the meat against the grain
Note that a fat roast may even take 2.5 hours per lb!
“Roasting slowly is where all the good stuff happens,” says Jim Swenson, who has been executive chef at the National Press Club in Washington for 17 years. He also recommends 2 - 2.5 hours per lb at 170.
Trying to guess the internal temperature of a roast is not recommended. With the variations of ovens today: gas, electric, convection, and hybrid it is not good to follow a recipe blindly. Check your roast with a meat thermometer (!!)
Tiger
about to attempt this, I have a small 2lb roast, that's cut thing, about 3 1/2 in, I'm thinking that this will take significantly less time than 2hrs a pund. Maybe 1 and ahalf, 1 hr per pound even? What do you think?
730 Sage Street
Wow, yes, definitely! And given you mentioned it is cut thin, you'll have way more surface, so it will cook faster. You'll have to rely on a meat thermometer for this one. And I recommend that regardless!
Selena
I thought you weren’t supposed to leave out after refrigeration? Did u mean to leave out 2-4 hours before striking in oven? Hope not cause I had mine out about 20 minutes and it’s now in the oven! Smells really good already 😊
730 Sage Street
I let the roast sit out around 10 minutes, so you've doubled what I'd normally do.