Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Tips
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the slow cooker?
While this recipe doesn’t call for it, browning your roast before adding to the slow cooker can lend more flavor and result in a quicker cooking time.
Should meat or vegetables go in slow cooker first?
If your slow cooker dish contains meat and vegetables, follow the rule of thumb that the items that take the longest should be closest to the heat. So first meat, then potatoes and other dense foods that can take a long time to cook in the slow cooker. For the best results, always follow any layering instructions that a recipe provides.
Why is my slow cooker pot roast tough?
Your pot roast may be tough for a number of reasons. For a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast, make sure to select the right cut of beef. Chuck, brisket and round all will cook well with this method. Also, don’t be tempted to remove the roast too early from the slow cooker. The roast is done when you can use a fork to easily twist off a chunk of the meat. Check out our
top 10 slow cooker recipes.
Research contributed by Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant Editor's Note
Look for beef base near the broth and bouillon.
Reviews
The pot roast came out dry. The gravy was too thick and the 4 tbsp of butter made the gravy sweet. Never again.
Love this easy recipe! Meat was very tender and the gravy was delicious. I really enjoyed the onions and mushrooms on top.
I find any roast tastes so much better if you take the time to brown it before putting it in the crock pot. Also, add some water to the pan to get that extra flavor and pour it over the roast. Takes a little extra time, but so worth it.
My niece made this for the whole family. YUMMY.
Really good!! I added more water and beef base because I was worried it would dry up while at work. Meat was perfectly tender but I would suggest adding more seasoning. The gravy is the best I have personally ever made! Thick and full of flavor. I will make this again.
Found the meat not tender even after 6 hours. Amount of Worcestershire sauce was overpowering. Also didn't think mushrooms added to the recipe. Would not fix again
This recipe is rich and hardy. It was my first time using beef base and I really liked it. The gravy was good also, although I would have preferred it to be a bit thinner. The mushrooms added a great texture and taste that i really enjoyed.
I really didn't care for this recipe. I followed it to the letter, but it had little flavor and the meat was a bit tough. That hasn't happened with my previous recipe, so I think I'll go back to it.
Easy. Did not have to brown roast as I usually do and that saved time. Vegetables were good. First time to use beef base and that tasted good too ( has to be stored in refrigerator after opening, so I wonder how long that lasts...). Had to cook 8 hours to get my roast tender. Will definitely be my go-to slow cooker recipe.
Melt in your mouth, tender and delicious! Forwarding the recipe to my brother!