How To Cook A Tender Pot Roast From Frozen When You're Pressed For Time

Cooking a pot roast need not be a complicated or time-consuming task. If you're pressed for time and need to prepare a full-size dinner, yet haven't thawed your roast, you can still make it and even save time. Depending on the size of your roast, cooking it from frozen mat take only a couple of hours.

There are many tips for cooking pot roast in a conventional way; however, cooking from frozen will change these steps a bit. The technique is simple, and all you need in addition to your main ingredients is a conventional oven and a baking dish that you can cover with a lid or foil; or better yet, a Dutch oven. Having a cover allows the steam and moisture to help heat the roast. Start by preheating your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place your frozen meat, along with your choice of pot roast seasonings into the Dutch oven or baking dish, and cover with a cooking liquid, such as broth or red wine. You can even add vegetables to the pot.

Before you put the pot roast in the oven, reduce the temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and then cook your roast. Normally, a pot roast is cooked at a low temperature for a longer period of time. Cooking at a higher heat than you would normally do for a roast, along with the presence of the hot steam, heats the beef up more quickly than a traditional cooking method while retaining the roast's tenderness and flavor.

The next step to cooking your pot roast effectively and safely is to watch the internal temperature. Generally, the cook time is about 20 to 25 minutes per pound of meat. Check the temperature using a meat thermometer after about an hour to be safe, removing the lid and keeping it off, then checking often afterwards. Cook your roast to 10 degrees less than the final temperature, as the meat continues to cook when you remove it from the heat. For a medium-rare roast, the temperature should read 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit when finished, though you can cook it to 10 degrees less, then turn off the oven and let the meat rest for 15 minutes to reach the proper temperature.

You might wonder if you need a Dutch oven, especially for making frozen pot roast — or you might be wondering what a Dutch oven actually is. A Dutch oven is a casserole dish with high walls and a tight-fitting lid, often made of cast iron, though modern versions can be made of ceramic or aluminum with an enamel coating. It's a great investment if you're braising, stewing, or searing, and the tight-fitting lid is key to cooking your frozen pot roast effectively. Additionally, a Dutch oven would be a wonderful tool for cooking a conventional pot roast, as it works well for slow-cooking. The next time you need a complete, hearty meal in a pinch, consider making this fast-cooking pot roast with little effort and big results.