If you’re like me, chances are you made this amazing roast beef dinner to feed your friends and family and ended up making way too much of it. Food cannot be wasted, so it is good practice to box it up and store it in the fridge.
What is the best way to reheat the roast Of the pot? The best method is the stove, but there are some other ways that will help you reheat roast beef without drying it out. If you want to keep washing up to a minimum, other options include the oven, microwave, and slow cooker.
The best ways to reheat roast beef
The pot roast is the quintessential American Sunday dinner, but don’t let the name fool you. You can enjoy a delicious pot roast any day of the week.
It’s delicious, and it’s the perfect comfort food to share with loved ones or to eat alone, perhaps while watching the latest TV show.
Roast beef is a staple that never goes out of style. Each family has its own recipe and its own secret ingredients that are passed down, generation after generation.
It’s a traditional dish, but not ancient, as it’s easy to adapt to any dietary requirement, from gluten-free pot roast to fully vegan.
Storing roast beef in the fridge or freezer can dry it out. So when reheating frozen roast, the goal is to bring the moisture back into the meat.
If you’ve stored your pot roast in the freezer, it’s best to let dinner thaw at room temperature rather than in the oven/microwave; that will help you keep the meat tender and all the food moist.
Once your dish is ready to be reheated, you can try adding the juices back into the meat. Try using some fresh meat broth, and if you are reheating food on the stove, you can add some red wine as well.
If you happen to also have leftover vegetables, add them in the oven or microwave alongside the meat, while if you reheat the dish in a pot, add them after the meat has absorbed the liquids.
Whether you use the microwave, oven, slow cooker, or pot, the goal is to reheat leftover roast beef while trying to keep in the juices that make the meat tender.
There are a few easy steps to reheat food to perfection, so let’s take a look at the best way to reheat pot roast.
How to reheat roast beef in the oven
One of the easiest ways to keep it juicy is to reheat pre-cooked pot roast on the stove. It might be a little tricky for those trying to keep washing to a minimum, but it’s well worth the effort!
If you have stored your leftover roast in the fridge, the process will also be faster. Just take the leftover roast out of the fridge and let it rest on the counter for five to ten minutes.
Gradually heating the food in a room-temperature environment will help keep the meat from drying out too much. Take advantage of this time to make some fresh meat broth or open a good bottle of red wine.
If you want to reheat frozen roast, be sure to take it out five to six hours before you plan to eat it. Thawing food at room temperature will make it easier to reheat.
It will also make it easier for the meat to absorb liquids, making it more tender just like you just made it.
If you decide to use this method, it’s best to separate the leftover vegetables from the meat. It is best to reheat the meat first, so that it cooks well in the broth.
Once it has absorbed most of the liquid, you can proceed to add the potatoes, carrots, onions, and any other vegetables you used for the roast.
Here are the steps to reheat roast beef on the stove:
- Prepare some fresh beef broth to add to a skillet.
- Place the meat in the skillet, over low to medium heat. Low heat keeps the meat soft.
- Cook over low heat for ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the size of the meat cut. You can also crumble it before mixing it into the broth to speed up the process.
- When most of the broth has been absorbed, add the leftover vegetables and let it cook for another five minutes.
- Serve the roast beef hot, or you can serve the roast beef in a sandwich with the vegetables on the side.
How to reheat roast beef in the oven
The oven is not the most efficient way to reheat roast meat.
This method tends to dry out the moisture in the meat, making it a bit stringy. Although it is not the easiest way to do it, there are some tricks to get a good roast reheated in the oven.
If you have frozen roast beef, you’ll need to thaw it first. Placing frozen meat directly into a hot oven will toughen it up, making it harder to enjoy. Always thaw food before reheating.
If you plan to reheat a large piece of meat, it will take longer, since the oven must be at a low temperature. It’s going to be a bit more difficult since it takes longer to reheat well.
You can cut it into smaller pieces or crumble it before putting it in the oven, to make the whole process easier and faster.
Here are the steps to reheat roast beef in the oven:
- Preheat the oven to a lower temperature, around 340°F.
- Take your roast, add some beef broth/red wine and wrap it in aluminum foil.
- Place it on the center rack of your oven and allow it to cook well at a moderate temperature.
- Serve it hot and eat it immediately.
How to reheat roast in the slow cooker
Another great way would be to reheat pot roast in a slow cooker. You could actually reheat pot roast in an Instant Pot as well, but the slow cooker works best in this case.
The gradual reheating process of a slow cooker will not dry out the juices from the meat, restoring its tenderness. It will give you a fantastic prepared meal, but it can take a bit longer than other methods.
Again, keep in mind that neither of these methods is good for a frozen roast. Always let it thaw on the kitchen counter for hours before reheating it. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it will take your meal to a whole other level.
Here are the steps to reheat roast beef in the slow cooker:
- Place roast beef in slow cooker, covering with beef broth (red wine optional).
- Cook over low heat for about three to four hours.
- Make sure it’s piping hot before removing it from the slow cooker.
- Drain the rest of the liquid if necessary.
- Serve very hot and enjoy.
How to reheat roast beef in the microwave
This is the best way to reheat pot roast if you don’t have time. It’s the quickest way to get a proper meal ready, but the quality will take a bit of a hit. However, if you follow these steps, you can get away with it!
Before you microwave food, try to cut it into smaller pieces. This will speed up the reheating process and avoid exposing the meat to longer, harsher heat. Also, don’t forget to use a microwave-safe plate!
Here are the steps to reheat roast beef in the microwave:
- Cut the meat into smaller pieces or strips.
- Arrange the meat and vegetables on a microwave-safe plate, or preferably in a bowl.
- Add a splash of broth/red wine to the dish.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in it.
- Reheat using half power of your microwave for one minute, then full power for the last 20-30 seconds.
- Remove the cling film, but be careful, the plate can be very hot.
- Add a little more hot broth (optional) or just shred the meat and enjoy it on a sandwich or with some rice.
Can roast beef be reheated?
Yes, you can definitely reheat roast beef. Some methods are better than others, but it all depends on your skills and time. It doesn’t matter if your pot roast has been refrigerated or frozen, it’s still possible to get a delicious meal out of it.
As long as you keep the meat soft and tender, all methods work well. However, the best ways to reheat roast beef are in a pot on the stove and in a slow cooker. They may be the most time consuming methods, but they will give you a reheated roast that tastes like freshly made.
Microwave and oven are methods that do not require a lot of time, but you have to be very careful. It’s easy to overcook roast beef, drying it out and making it stringy.
Cutting the meat into smaller pieces will also allow you to experiment and come up with a new recipe, adding a fun twist to your dish.