Slow-Roasted Beef Recipe (2024)

By J. Kenji López Alt

Slow-Roasted Beef Recipe (1)

Total Time
3 hours, plus 1 to 2 days’ chilling
Rating
4(559)
Notes
Read community notes

With the aid of a digital thermometer and plenty of hands-off time, this recipe makes the best of an inexpensive beef roast, which really shines when thinly sliced and reused in flavor-packed dishes over the next week. Though the recipe suggests a 2- to 3-pound roast, it will work for one of any size. (Just be aware that the timing will change accordingly.) As the beef rests in the fridge, it will initially darken in color and may later turn brown or gray; this is due to the oxidation of muscle pigments and is expected. Once you start cooking, always rely on your thermometer, not your timer. To test for doneness without a thermometer, insert a thin metal skewer all the way through the meat and hold it there for 10 seconds. Rapidly remove the skewer and touch it to the skin under your lower lip. It will feel like a hot bath water at rare.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 (2- to 3-pound) roast

  • 1(2- to 3-pound) inexpensive lean beef roast, such as tri-tip, top round or eye round
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2tablespoons vegetable oil

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

270 calories; 15 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 0 grams sugars; 31 grams protein; 339 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Slow-Roasted Beef Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Pat roast dry with paper towels. Rub generously with salt (at least ¼ cup) and pepper on all sides. Shake the roast gently, allowing any excess salt and pepper to fall off.

  2. Step

    2

    Place a wire rack in a small rimmed baking sheet or lay 5 to 6 metal skewers across a large plate or baking sheet. Place roast on top of rack or skewers, making sure it is fully elevated above the bottom of the baking sheet. Place elevated roast on the bottom rack of your refrigerator, uncovered (or loosely covered with foil, if you are squeamish about raw meat), and let rest undisturbed for at least 24 hours and up to 48 hours.

  3. Step

    3

    Transfer baking sheet with elevated roast directly from the refrigerator into a cold oven and set oven temperature to 225 degrees. Cook until the center of the roast reaches 120 degrees for rare, or 130 degrees for medium, as tested with a digital thermometer. Depending on the oven and the exact geometry of the roast, this will take 1 to 2½ hours.

  4. Step

    4

    Remove baking sheet with roast from oven and set on a trivet or on top of your stovetop. Let the roast rest on the baking sheet for at least 30 minutes.

  5. Step

    5

    Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet (any heavy skillet without a nonstick coating will do) over high until lightly smoking. Sear roast, turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides, about 4 minutes total.

  6. Step

    6

    Carve into thin slices with a sharp knife and serve what you’ll eat today. When finished, carve remaining roast. Carefully lay fanned slices into zipper-lock freezer bags in layers no thicker than ½ inch. Squeeze out as much air as possible and stack sealed bags on an aluminum baking sheet. Place in freezer until completely frozen. Store frozen for up to 2 months.

  7. Step

    7

    To thaw, place one bag of frozen sliced steak on an aluminum baking sheet at room temperature until defrosted, about 45 minutes. It is important to use an aluminum sheet, as the high thermal conductivity of aluminum greatly speeds up the thawing process. Use thawed sliced steak as desired.

Ratings

4

out of 5

559

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

kmorrow

If you save some of the roast for freezing, the recipe leaves out a recommendation made by the chef in the full article. The chef tells you to put your leftovers in the fridge whole overnight and then to slice the chilled roast for freezing. You will get better slices this way and the thin slices are important for preserving the flavor and texture of the roast.

donnie

Listen to Chef Kenji. Reverse sear is about 49 times simpler than sous vide. Mind the temperature. It works!

Leslie Dumont

The amount of salt is a joke! The beef was fantastic! Used 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, on a 2 pounder - perfect amount. Added some garlic powder which was a big plus. Used a top round roast which had a 5” diameter so it took 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to 130. A new family staple. Made sandwiches the first night as I love a sandwich with warm meat, swipe the bread in the juices, horseradish sauce, pickled red onion, nothing else - don’t even consider adding lettuce and tomato!

Sally

This is an easy way to get tender, moist beef from an inexpensive cut. The "planned-overs" are good for sandwiches, but also things like a steak salad or stir fry. I used a wire rack in my cast iron skillet, and seared the roast in the same pan after resting; after deglazing with water & a glug of dry wine, the jus was very excellent.

mjan

I like the prep and the after-cooking ideas, but I'm thinking that sous-vide is the perfect cooking method. 120F bath and perfectly rare every single time.

Doug the Digger

Fabulous! Followed the slow cooking exactly as in the recipe and relied on my thermometer. Didn’t use the salt rub; used the Santa Maria tri tip rub as in the NYTimes. Stunning! Rested the rubbed meat in the fridge over night. So tender. Reverse sear method delivered a tight crispy crust with juicy meat inside. I’m a convert. Boom!!!

stephanie

i wonder if you used something other than kosher salt as the salt component. diamond crystal is the preferred brand which should be mentioned in recipes, because if you use morton you'll want to use less. the size and shape of the salt granule matters when it comes to "saltiness."

Laura M.C.

I have to agree that 1/4 cup of salt is excessive even when letting a lot of it fall off. And definitely use the Diamond brand, which is much less salty due to the crystal size. I used the full 1/4 cup and it is tasty, but very salty. Also, letting it sit 24 hours before cooking is a must. I rushed it the first time and the cooking method worked well, but it was not tender. Delicious cold with a garlicky remoulade sauce!

Mike

~4 lb round roast came out perfectly. Suggest using less than 1/4 cup salt; after 24 hr overnight in refer, salt & pepper almost crusted; Whacked cold roast into cold oven; 225 F; ~2 hours: Medium rare heading toward Medium; did *not* need to sear! did the thin slice fanning into vacuum bag: that was a pro-tip if there was ever one. Flavor was outstanding immediately after resting; used some that night for noodle soup: outstanding again.

rprp2

Does anyone have a problem with the roasting time instructions? 1 - 2-1/2 hours is HUGE range. Even if he meant 1 1/2/ - 2 1/2 hours (should have said it that way if he did) it's a huge range. Hard to plan, unless you want to serve it cold or room temperature, but also a huge range for people to just sit around and wait. If it depends on "the geometry" of the roast, a little more detail would be helpful. As it is I have one sitting in the fridge, ready to go. But when to start.....???

Anne

While the method produced a perfectly rare roast, with a nice crust after searing, it was all but inedible due to the extreme saltiness. I wish I'd listened to my gut on this one. I can't imagine what role all the salt played. A regular amount of seasoning, with the frig time to dry would I'm sure have produced a nicer result.

Stephanie R

I think, depending on the shape of the roast, it is best to err on the 120 degree side for the target internal temperature because the meat seems to continue cooking a bit during the 30 minute rest period before searing.

Janet

Have also used this method with a large standing rib roast. Took a long time but it was the best we ever ate.

Madeline

Also found this to be much too salty.

Joyce

3-1/2 lb bottom round prepared as per recipe except with only 1/8 cup kosher salt. Took 3 hours til medium. Tender and tasty. This is a great recipe for smaller roasts. We have used this process before but pre-seared. This seems better.

Joe Stone

Perfect with adjusted spicing. Made a beautiful Chicago Italian Beef Roast this way. First but not the last time I’ll use this roasting method.

K-Von

I used a 2lbs sirloin tip roast, salted it about 2% of it's weight and let it do it's thing in the fridge for 24 hours. Threw it in the oven and it took my roast about an hour and 45 min (checked with my thermometer). Seared it in the cast and iron, and it was some of the best roast beef I've ever had. Leftovers were delicious eaten cold right of the tupperware!

Kristen Kress

This was a good preparation for an inside round roast, a cut that I don’t often use.

Dan

Excellent w/ horseradish sauce, savory potatoes & honey roasted carrots. For those worried about timing, you can cook the whole thing to desired doneness earlier in the day, then fridge. 40 minutes before serving, pull it out and let rest on the counter for 30, then sear and slice. It seems like a lot of salt, but the dry rest in the fridge let's the salt nicely penetrate. my only caveat is that if your roast tapers at the ends, those ends will be both saltier and more well done; chef snax!

Jeff

Used the dry rub from Sam Sifton's London broil recipe rather than salt. Absolutely delish. Didn't sear because it became dark brown in the oven from the sugar in the dry rub.

Kaye

The 2 pound top round roast that I used in this recipe cooked up picture perfect in an hour and 45 minutes. It could have used a bit of added flavor. I'll try the The Times Santa Maria seasoning next time as Doug the Digger suggested. Also, used a bit less salt, mostly because the roast was small. I loved the end result, a perfectly cooked roast!

Deb Reese

This was outstanding, easy and inexpensive- plus everyone raved! I used a 2.3 lb eye of round roast. Given the comments, I cut the salt back by ~1/3rd using Diamond Kosher salt. I dry- aged for 36 hours. Make certain to use a digital thermometer- the temperature of my roast changed more than 5 degrees in 5 minutes towards the end. I never would have gotten beautiful, medium rare roast going by time or touch. Definitely making again!

ELisaT-B

Similar to the author, I found a Prime Top Round roast at Costco and this recipe. Prepared as written & after a day of shopping I put it in the cold oven... it took about 1.5 hours. It is salty (on the outside) but if you brushed off the excess as stated, it turns out perfect and I noted the temp does not raise or lower a lot when resting-- due to the low oven heat? The rest time is just right to prep side dishes if you're going to serve part of it right away. Great basic method!

Linda

Delicious, even though I took some liberties with the recipe. I used 2 tablespoons of course sea salt (because that’s what I had in hand) instead of 1/4 cup and no pepper (personal preference). I salted the roast but only had 18 hours before it was time to put it in the oven. Pulled out at 125 degrees, gave it a 1/2 hour rest, and it was perfect. Next time I’ll get started earlier and give it at least 24 hours, but if you’re a little short on time, it still works.

Ellen

This beef is SPECTACULAR!!! I used a bottom round roast because it’s what I had. I used table salt and used less than half of the recommended amount. This is unbelievably good I can’t wait to use it in different recipes!

Doug

I've tried this twice, neither time with tasty results. A definite "never again" on this one!

Shirley C

I used two Tbsp regular salt on a two pound roast. Use less the next time. Remove all outer fat and connective tissues. Food processor jammed when I tried to use it on six then eight. Would chilled work better. Was tender.

John Springer

To those thinking about sous vide, you will erase many the effects of dry-brining and reverse sear. Moisture is the enemy of a good sear and you will negate the drying out of the surface of the meat in the fridge and oven. No matter how much you pat it with paper towels after sous vide, its surface will never be as dry as with reverse sear. That literature is available to you on SeriousEats.Sousvide is also no less dependable if you use a $15 bluetooth leave-in probe thermometer. Less mess too

GT

Jan 2022 - 3 lbs took 2 hrs to get to 120F. Start this early! It can just sit after roasting.

JT

Discovered this recipe a bit too late, so only refrigerated for ~12 hours and the results, in my mind, were excellent. A really good method for achieving a really even cook (especially if you don’t have a big enough container to sous vide a roast of this size)

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Slow-Roasted Beef Recipe (2024)

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