Cooking a shoulder roast in the crock pot is an easy and satisfying way to make a tasty and tender meal. The slow-cooking method makes the meat very juicy and full of flavor from the seasonings and spices you use. This article will show you the steps to make the perfect shoulder roast in the crock-pot.
How To Cook A Shoulder Roast In The Crock Pot?
Required Time
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots, sliced into 1-½ inch pieces.
- 3 large celery ribs, chopped into 2 inch pieces
- 1 medium onion, chopped large.
- 7 cloves garlic, minced
- 2.25 pounds (1 kilogram). Boneless beef shoulder roast (up to three pounds)
- Kosher salt
- Ground Black Pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons (23 mL) Canola oil or another neutral-flavored high-heat oil.
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) Reduced-sodium beef broth:
- Reduced-sodium beef broth
- ¾ cup (180 mL) Dry red wine (see to note for alternative).
- 1 ½ tablespoons (23 mL) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons (23 mL) balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (13 grams) Brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried rosemary sprigs (or fresh)
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of cool water
Instructions
Prepare and chop the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and put them at the bottom of the slow cooker.
Pat the shoulder roast to remove any moisture, and then sprinkle ground black pepper and kosher salt on all sides. Heat a deep-sided pan on the stove over medium-high heat and add canola oil (or another type of oil). Once the oil is hot, put the roast in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until it has a deep golden-brown crust. Repeat this process for all sides of the roast. Finally, place the seared roast on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
Mix together the beef broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, rosemary, and thyme until well combined. Pour this mixture over the roast in the slow cooker.
Cook on low heat for 6 to 6 ½ hours, or until the roast reaches 195-200°F in the center. Cover the slow cooker. If you want the meat to fall apart readily, cook it longer.
After you finish cooking the meat, move it to a different bowl, plate, or cutting board to let it rest. Cover it up to maintain its warmth while you make the gravy.
Pour the remaining cooking liquid into a saucepan and cook over medium heat. Remove any fat that accumulates on the surface.
In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water until it becomes smooth. Then, add this mixture to the liquid in the saucepan. Cook for 10 minutes, or until it thickens to the consistency you want, like a gravy.
Cut the meat into pieces, and then put it on a plate with the vegetables. Pour some sauce over everything.
Recipe Tips And Tricks
Crock Pot Size: This recipe is shown in a slow cooker that can hold 4.5 quarts of food. However, you can also use a bigger slow cooker that can hold 6 quarts if you have one.
Thaw the Meat: Do not put frozen meat in a slow cooker since it will remain at a temperature where bacteria can develop for an extended period of time, potentially making you sick.
Mix Up the Vegetables: Instead of using celery, you can use potatoes. Yellow potatoes (Yukon gold) are good choices because they don’t easily break apart. Keep them in big pieces.
Temperature: Although the FDA says beef roasts should be cooked to a minimum temperature of 145°F for safety, cooking a pot roast to that temperature will still result in tough and chewy meat because the connective tissues need to break down more. To make the meat tender, aim for an internal temperature of 195-200°F.
How To Serve Shoulder Roast?
Slice or Shred the Meat: Based on what you like and how tender the roast is, you can either cut it into thin slices across the fibers for serving or pull it apart using two forks to make it have a shredded meat texture.
Arrange on Serving Platter: Move the cut or torn meat to a plate, arranging it nicely for how it looks.
Strain and Pour Juices: If you want to, separate the cooking juices from the crock-pot to get rid of any solid bits and extra fat. Pour the tasty juices over the sliced or shredded meat to make it more moist and flavorful.
Serve with Accompaniments: Shoulder roast goes well with many different side dishes. Serve it with roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, steamed greens, or a side salad to round out the dinner.
How To Store Shoulder Roast?
Allow to Cool: Allow the cooked shoulder roast to become cool at room temperature before putting it away to avoid excess moisture and the growth of bacteria.
Transfer to Airtight Container: Put the remaining shoulder roast in a sealed container or plastic bag that can fit the meat comfortably.
Store in Refrigerator: Put the closed container in the fridge. You can usually keep leftover shoulder roast in the fridge for 3-4 days without any problems.
Label and Date: To know how long something has been stored, put the date it was made on the container. This will help you see if it is still fresh and stop food from being wasted.
Reheat Before Serving: When you want to eat the leftover shoulder roast, warm it up slowly so it stays tender and tasty. You may preheat it until it is thoroughly heated in the microwave, oven, or on the griddle.
Discard if Necessary: If the leftover shoulder roast starts to smell bad, look strange, or if you’re not sure if it’s safe to eat, it’s better to throw it away to prevent getting sick from food.
Garnish (Optional): To make it look nicer, add some fresh herbs like parsley or thyme, or a little bit of paprika for color.
Provide Sauces or Condiments: Provide different sauces or condiments separately to add more flavors. Barbecue sauce, gravy, or a tangy mustard sauce are great options to enhance the delicious taste of the roast.
Serve Hot: Serve the cooked shoulder roast while it is still hot and freshly made to make sure it has the most flavor and is tender.
Enjoy: Ask your guests to enjoy the tasty shoulder roast, savoring the soft meat and tasty flavors that come from cooking it slowly.
Using a crock pot to cook a shoulder roast is an easy and tasty way to make a filling and satisfying meal. Just follow these simple steps to get tender and flavorful meat that’s great for any occasion. Try out different spices and ingredients to make the flavor just right for you, and enjoy the delicious results of slow cooking.
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