How To Reheat Pot Roast – The 4 Best Ways

If you’re like me, chances are you prepared this incredible pot roast dinner to feed your friends and family and ended up making way too much. There’s no such thing as wasting food, so it’s good practice to box it up and save it in the fridge.

What is the best way to reheat pot roast? The best method is the stove, but there are a few other ways that will help you reheat the pot roast without drying it out. If you want to keep the washing to a minimum, other options include the oven, the microwave, and the slow cooker.

The best ways to reheat pot roast

Pot roast is the ultimate American Sunday dinner, but don’t be fooled by its name. You can enjoy a delicious pot roast on any day of the week.

It’s exquisite, and it’s the perfect comfort food to share with your loved ones or to have on your own, maybe while streaming the latest TV show.

Pot roast is a staple that never goes out of style. Every family has their own recipe and their own secret ingredients they keep passing on, generation after generation. 

It’s a traditional dish, but it’s not old, as it is easy to adapt it to any dietary requirements, from a gluten-free pot roast to a full vegan one.

Storing your pot roast in the fridge or in the freezer might dry it out. So when reheating your frozen pot roast your aim is to add back the moisture to the meat. 

If you stored your pot roast in the freezer, it would be better if you let your dinner defrost in a room temperature environment rather than in the oven/microwave; that will help you keep the meat tender and the whole meal moist.

Once your dish is ready to be reheated, you might want to try adding back the juices to the meat. Try using some fresh beef broth, and if you are reheating the meal on the stove, you can also sprinkle in some red wine. 

If by any chance, there are also leftover veggies, add them in the oven or the microwave alongside the meat, while if you’re reheating the dish in a pot, add them after the meat has absorbed the liquids.

Whether you use the microwave, the oven, the slow cooker, or a pot, the aim is to reheat leftover pot roast while trying to keep in the juices that make the meat tender.

There are a few easy steps to reheat your meal to perfection, so let’s see what is the best way to reheat pot roast.

How to reheat pot roast on the stove

One of the easiest ways to keep it juicy is to reheat precooked pot roast on the stove. It might be a little bit of a hustle for those who are trying to keep the washing to a minimum, but it is worth the effort! 

If you stored your leftover roast in the fridge, the process will also be quicker. Just take your leftover roast out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for five to ten minutes. 

Gradually warming up your food in a room temperature environment will help the meat from drying out too much. Use this time to make some fresh beef broth or open a nice bottle of red wine.

If you want to reheat frozen pot roast, make sure to take it out five to six hours before you plan to consume it. Defrosting your meal at room temperature will make it easier to reheat. 

It will also make it easier for the meat to absorb the liquids, making it tender as you’ve just made it.

If you decide to use this method, it will be best to separate any leftover veggies from the beef. It’s better to reheat the meat first, to allow it to simmer nicely in the broth. 

After it has absorbed most of the liquid, you can proceed to add the potatoes, carrots, onions, and all the other vegetables you used for your pot roast.

Here are the steps to reheat pot roast on the stove:

1. Prepare some fresh beef broth to add to a pan.
2. Place the meat in your pan, low to medium heat. Lower heat means keeping the meat soft.
3. Simmer for ten to fifteen minutes, depending on how big the cut of the meat is. You could also shred it before mixing it with the broth to quicken the process.
4. When most of the broth is absorbed, add in the leftover veggies and let it cook for five more minutes.
5. Serve your pot roast hot, or you can serve the pulled beef in a sandwich with your veggies on the side.

How to reheat pot roast in the oven

The oven is not the most efficient way to reheat your pot roast. 

This method tends to dry out the moisture out of the beef, making it a little stringy. Although it’s not the easiest way to do it, there are some tricks to get away with a nicely oven-reheat pot roast.

If you have a frozen pot roast, you’ll need to defrost it beforehand. Placing the frozen meat straight into a heated oven will harden it, making it difficult to enjoy. Always defrost the meal before reheating it.

If you’re planning on reheating a large piece of meat, it’s going to take more time as the oven needs to be set at a low temperature. It’s going to be a little more difficult as it takes longer to reheat well thoroughly.

You could cut it into smaller chunks or shred it before popping it into the oven, to make the whole process easier and quicker.

Here are the steps to reheat pot roast in the oven:

1. Preheat your oven to a lower temperature, around 340°F.
2. Take your pot roast, add some beef broth/red wine and wrap it in foil.
3. Place it on the middle rack of your oven and allow it to cook thoroughly at a moderate temperature.
4. Serve hot and eat immediately.

How to reheat pot roast in the slow cooker

Another excellent way would be to reheat the pot roast in a crockpot. Actually, you could also reheat pot roast in an instant pot, but the slow cooker works better in this case.

The gradual reheating process of a slow cooker won’t dry out the juices of the beef, giving back its softness. It will give you a fantastic ready-meal, but it might take a little longer than other methods.

Again, keep in mind none of these methods are good for a frozen pot roast. Always let it defrost on the kitchen counter for hours before reheating it. This might seem like an unnecessary step, but it will take your meal to a whole different level.

Here are the steps to reheat pot roast in the slow cooker:

1. Place the pot roast in the slow cooker, covering it up with beef broth (red wine is optional).
2. Cook on the low setting for about three to four hours.
3. Make sure it’s heated through before taking it out of the slow cooker.
4. Drain the rest of the liquid if necessary.
5. Serve piping hot and enjoy!
   

How to reheat pot roast in the microwave

This is the best way to reheat your pot roast if you have no time in your hands. It’s the quickest way to have a proper meal ready, but the quality will be affected a little bit. However, if you follow these steps, you might get away with it!

Before popping your meal in the microwave, try to cut it into smaller chunks. This will make the reheating process quicker, and it will prevent exposing the beef to a longer, harsher heat. Also, don’t forget to use a microwave-safe plate!

Here are the steps to reheat pot roast in the microwave:

1. Cut the meat into smaller chunks or strips.
2. Place the meat and your veggies into a microwave-safe plate, or preferably a bowl.
3. Add a splash of broth/red wine to the plate.
4. Cover the bowl with cling film and poke a few holes in it.
5. Reheat using half the power of your microwave for a minute, then full power for the last 20-30 seconds.
6. Remove the cling film, but be careful, the plate might be very hot.
7. Add some more hot broth (optional) or just shred the meat and enjoy it in a sandwich or with some rice.

Can you reheat pot roast?

Yes, you can definitely reheat pot roast. 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 fine. The best ways to reheat pot roast, however, are in a pot on the stove and in a slow cooker. They might be the most time-consuming method but will give you a reheated pot roast that will taste like a freshly made one.

The microwave and the oven are hustle-free methods, but you need to be extra careful. It is easy to overcook your pot roast, drying it out and making it stringy.

Cutting the beef into smaller chunks will also allow you to experiment and come out with a new recipe, to give your dish a fun twist.