Cooking a beef roast can seem daunting for many home cooks. With its hefty size and long cooking time it may appear easier to just avoid roasting beef altogether. However when prepared properly, beef roast can be one of the most impressive and delicious dishes you can make. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook beef roast like a pro, including how long it takes.
Choosing the Right Cut of Beef
The first step is choosing the right cut of beef for roasting. Here are some of the most common roasting cuts:
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Chuck roast: This is cut from the shoulder and is one of the most popular roasts. It has great flavor but can be tough. When cooked slowly, it becomes very tender.
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Rib roast This elegant, special-occasion roast is cut from the rib section. It’s tender, juicy, and flavorful Also called prime rib
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Rump roast: Taken from the rump of the cow. It’s lean and flavorful. Can be tough if overcooked.
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Top round roast: Economical cut from the cow’s hind leg. Lean but tough if overcooked.
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Eye of round roast: Lean, inexpensive roast cut from the hind leg. Must be sliced thin when cooked to prevent toughness.
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Tenderloin roast: Cut from the tenderloin, it’s tender and lean. An expensive, premium cut perfect for roasting.
For best results when roasting, choose a well-marbled chuck, rib, or rump roast. Well-marbled meat has thin veins of fat running through it, which keeps the meat tender and moist during cooking.
Seasoning Your Roast
Seasoning is a vital step to coax out the flavor of beef when roasting. At minimum, generously coat all sides of the roast with salt and black pepper before cooking. For more flavor, try using a spice rub. Great spices for beef include garlic, rosemary, thyme, oregano, paprika, cumin, and chili powder. Experiment with spice blends to find your favorite!
Calculating Cook Time
The cook time for a beef roast varies widely depending on multiple factors
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Weight: Heavier roasts require longer cook times.
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Oven temperature: Roasting at a lower temp (e.g. 275°F vs. 325°F) lengthens the cooking time.
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Doneness: Roasting to medium-rare takes less time than cooking to well-done.
As a general guideline, plan on roasting beef at 325°F and cooking for approximately 1 hour per pound for a medium doneness.
For example, a 3-pound roast should take about 3 hours to reach medium (150°F). A 6-pound roast may need 6 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; exact cook times will vary.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for roasting beef to juicy, tender perfection:
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Bring the roast to room temperature. Remove roast from fridge and let sit at room temp for 30 minutes before cooking.
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Preheat oven to 325°F. This temperature evenly cooks the meat without over-browning the outside.
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Pat roast dry and season all over. Make sure the meat is dry before seasoning so spices stick. Be generous with salt and pepper or use a spice rub.
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Sear roast on stovetop. In an oven-safe pan, brown all sides of the meat over high heat for flavor and color.
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Place roast in oven and insert a meat thermometer. Roast fat-side up, uncovered. Monitor temperature – medium is 150°F.
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Allow roast to rest before slicing. Once removed from oven, tent foil over meat and let rest 15-20 minutes. This allows juices to redistribute.
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Carve and serve. Use a sharp knife to thinly slice roast across the grain. Pour pan juices over meat or use for gravy.
Roasting Tips for Success
Follow these handy tips when cooking your next beef roast:
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For best flavor, choose a well-marbled roast like chuck, rib, or rump.
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Cook low and slow at 325°F for tender, juicy meat.
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Use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked beef.
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Let roast rest before carving so juices don’t escape.
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Slice roast thinly across the grain for tenderness.
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Make gravy from the flavorful pan drippings.
Sample Roasting Times
Here are estimated roasting times for several cuts of beef:
- 3 lb chuck roast: About 3 hours
- 4 lb rib roast: 4-5 hours
- 2 lb rump roast: 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours
- 6 lb round roast: Around 6 hours
Remember, cook times vary based on multiple factors. Use a meat thermometer and trust your eyes and nose – not the clock!
Serving Suggestions
A properly cooked beef roast is incredibly versatile. Here are some delicious ways to serve it:
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For sandwiches – Thinly slice and pile high on crusty rolls. Add cheese, caramelized onions, or horseradish sauce.
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With potatoes – Pair roast beef with mashed, baked, or roasted potatoes.
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With vegetables – Serve slices of roast with sautéed green beans, roasted carrots, or creamed spinach.
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On salad – Chill leftover roast and slice over hearty greens, tomatoes, and blue cheese.
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With Yorkshire pudding – The classic British accompaniment to hot roast beef.
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As a starter – Thin slices of rare roast beef make an elegant appetizer. Top with horseradish or chimichurri sauce.
As you can see, roasting beef is actually quite straightforward. While it does require a significant time investment, the results of moist, fork-tender meat are well worth it. Just be sure to select a suitable roast, generously season, cook low and slow, and use a meat thermometer. In about an hour per pound, your guests will be oohing and aahing over your perfect roast beef. Dig in and enjoy!
How to make Beef Roast in Oven ahead of time
- If you would like to prepare your oven chuck roast ahead of time, you can sear the roast, add the carrots, broth and seasonings to the baking dish.
- Tightly cover with foil and refrigerate until ready to cook (up to 24 hours.)
- When ready to cook, let the baking dish sit at room temperature for 3o minutes.
- Cook according to recipe directions, adding an additional 30-60 minutes to account for the chill factor.
How To Season Your Oven Pot Roast
In addition to the perfect cut of beef, I have perfected the seasonings of the beef broth bath so this roast drinks up all the spices so every forkful is bursting with flavor. And a seasoned roast means an out-of-this-world seasoned gravy begging to douse your already intoxicating roast, easy slow cooker potatoes and carrots.
We season our pot roast by adding 6 whole peeled garlic cloves into the crevices of the roast (usually where there is a seam of fat). This way the taste of roasted garlic literally cooks directly into the chuck roast. Next, we whisk together beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, dry minced onions, beef bouillon powder, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and a bay leaf. The seasonings are virtually my own recipe for a Lipton Onion Soup Packet but adapted to no overpower our oven chuck roast.
How to Cook Perfect Roast Beef | Jamie Oliver
FAQ
How long should roast beef be cooked for?
How long does a 2 lb roast take?
| Approx weight | Rare (125 °F) | Medium (145 °F) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 lb | 56 min | 1 hr 15 min |
| 3 lb | 1 hr | 1 hr 21 min |
| 4 lb | 1 hr 8 min | 1 hr 28 min |
| 5 lb | 1 hr 15 min | 1 hr 36 min |
How long does it take to cook a roast in the oven at 350 degrees?
| Type of roast | Oven temperature | Cooking time |
|---|---|---|
| Sirloin strip roast Whole | 350°F | 1½ – 1¾ hours |
| Sirloin strip roast Half (5-6 lbs) | 350°F | 1¼ hours |
| Top sirloin roast Whole | 350°F | 12-15 mins / lb |
| Top sirloin roast Half | 350°F | 17-20 mins / lb |
Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350?
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Low and Slow:Lower temperatures, like 325°F, are ideal for tougher cuts of meat or larger roasts. The slow cooking process allows the meat to break down connective tissues, resulting in a more tender final product.
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Even Cooking:A moderate temperature like 350°F helps ensure that the roast cooks evenly from the inside out, preventing the outside from becoming overcooked or dry while the inside is still underdone.
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Exceptions:Some cuts of meat, like tenderloin and tri-tip, are known for their tenderness and may cook best at a higher temperature (425°F or above). These cuts may also benefit from a quick sear initially, according to Quora.
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Internal Temperature:Regardless of the cooking temperature, it’s crucial to use a meat thermometer to ensure the roast reaches a safe internal temperature, typically 145°F (63°C) for beef, according to FoodSafety.gov.
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Resting:Allowing the roast to rest after cooking, even if it’s covered loosely with foil, allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful roast, according to Certified Angus Beef.
How long do you cook a pound of roast beef?
Cook your roast beef for about 15-20 minutes per pound, or until it reaches your desired internal temperature. 6. Baste the roast beef with any additional marinade or sauce every 30 minutes during cooking time to keep it moist and flavorful.
How long do you cook a roast in the oven?
Place the roast in the oven to bake on the rack in the lowest position (about 45 minutes to 1 hour per pound). When done, remove from the oven and let it sit to redistribute juices for at least 20 minutes. The roast is done when it is in the oven.
How long do you cook a roast in a crock pot?
Mm-hmm. All right, see you soon. Roast at 120 degrees Celsius, for around 70 minutes. Slow roasting will give you a juicy and tender roast. Before cutting the roast, let it rest for a while so that the juices are reabsorbed into the meat. This locks in both the umami and the juices.