Baked in the oven until fall-apart tender, this pot roast comes with carrots and a delicious gravy. You don’t even have to do much work to make it.
My mom taught me how to bake pot roast, and this one is crazy juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender every time. single. time. I’ve gone the extra step and now it’s seasoned to PERFECTION. AKA it is the best roast I’ve ever had!.
People all over the world love pot roast and all of its different kinds. If you like roast, you should try Crockpot Pot Roast, Mississippi Pot Roast, and Beef Tips and Gravy.
Cooking a beef roast to tender, juicy perfection can seem intimidating for many home cooks. With a large cut of meat like a beef roast, overcooking can quickly turn it dry and tough. Undercooking leaves it unpleasantly chewy. So how do you ensure your roasted beef turns out succulent and fork-tender every time? The key is understanding how long to cook a beef roast at 300 degrees.
Factors That Affect Roast Cooking Time
Several factors impact total cooking time for roast beef
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Weight – A good rule of thumb is to calculate 15-20 minutes per pound at 300°F for medium rare doneness A 3-4 lb roast takes 45-80 minutes.
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Oven Temperature – Cooking at a lower 300°F rather than 350°F gives the collagen time to break down for tenderness
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Shape – Compact roasts cook faster than oblong roasts.
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Bone-In or Boneless – Bone-in roasts take longer since the bones insulate the meat. Go bone-in for more flavor.
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Fat Cap – Fat caps baste the meat from inside and keep it moist. Leave it on for best results.
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Meat Temperature – Use a meat thermometer to test doneness instead of time.
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Resting – A resting period is crucial for allowing juices to redistribute.
Oven Roast Beef Cooking Chart
This oven roasting time chart provides general guidelines for cooking beef roasts at 300°F:
| Roast Weight | Approximate Total Cooking Time |
|---|---|
| 2-3 pounds | 2 to 2 1/2 hours |
| 3-4 pounds | 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours |
| 4-6 pounds | 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours |
*For bone-in or irregular shaped roasts, increase time by 30-60 minutes. Always rely on a meat thermometer for doneness.
How to Tell When Roast Beef is Done
Using an instant-read thermometer is the only sure way to determine if your roast is cooked to your desired doneness. Insert it into the thickest part of the roast, away from any bones or fat.
Internal Temperatures for Doneness:
- Rare: 120-125°F
- Medium Rare: 130-135°F
- Medium: 140-145°F
- Medium Well: 150-155°F
- Well Done: 160+°F
The meat will continue cooking as it rests, rising about 5-10°F. For medium rare doneness, remove it from the oven when it reaches 125°F.
Checking for visual signs like browning and juices running clear offers supporting clues, but thermometer readings are most accurate.
Step-By-Step Guide for Roasting Beef
Follow these simple steps for foolproof roast beef.
1. Prepare the Roast
Select a 2-4 lb chuck, rib, rump or sirloin tip roast. Rinse and pat dry. Trim off any excess fat. Coat all over with oil and seasonings. Bring to room temperature for even cooking.
2. Preheat Oven
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Use a lower temperature to break down connective tissues for a tender roast.
3. Sear the Roast
Heat oil in a skillet. Brown the roast for 1-2 minutes per side to develop a flavorful crust.
4. Roast in the Oven
Place roast in a roasting pan or baking dish. Surround with sliced onions, carrots and potatoes. Pour in 1 cup broth.
5. Check for Doneness
After the minimum cooking time, start checking temperature every 20 minutes. Remove it from the oven when it reaches 5-10°F below your target temperature.
6. Rest the Roast
Let rest for 15-30 minutes so juices can reabsorb before slicing.
7. Make Pan Sauce
While resting, make an easy pan sauce from the delicious juices.
8. Carve and Serve
Carve across the grain into thin slices. Serve drizzled with pan sauce for maximum flavor and moisture!
Tips for the Most Tender, Juicy Roast Beef
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Choose a well-marbled roast like chuck or ribeye for best flavor and tenderness.
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Cook low and slow at 300°F to break down collagen.
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Use a meat thermometer to determine perfect doneness.
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Sear before roasting to lock in juices and enhance browning.
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Let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing for moist, tender meat.
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Slice across the grain for the most tender texture.
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Make pan sauce from the flavorful drippings.
The Takeaway
Cooking beef roast seems tricky but just remember these points:
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Calculate 15-20 minutes per pound at 300°F as a base time.
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Use an instant-read thermometer to test for perfect medium rare between 125-130°F.
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Letting it rest before slicing is non-negotiable for juicy roast beef!
Follow this simple oven roasting guide for reliably delicious results. In about 3 hours at 300°F, your beef roast will turn out fork-tender and mouthwateringly delicious.
Beef Roast in Oven variations and substitutions
- Use Yukon Gold potatoes (NOT Russets!) and cut them into quarters (about 1 1/2 to 2 inch wedges). Put them on top of the carrots for the last two and a half hours of baking.
- Add more vegetables. Instead of carrots, try parsnips, turnips, celery, butternut squash, or a mix of these and other hearty vegetables.
- Add different types of seasonings to make it taste different. For example, you could use soy sauce, ginger, and Chinese 5 spice to make it Italian, mirin, star anise, chili powder, ground cumin, and smoked paprika to make it Mexican, or dried oregano, ground cumin, ground coriander, unsweetened cocoa powder, and ground cinnamon to make it Caribbean.
- Taste: You can change the taste of the beef broth by adding things like Dijon mustard, soy sauce, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, pepperoncini juice, beer, red wine, diced tomatoes, or pepperoncini.
How Do You Make A Roast Tender in the Oven?
Not only should you sear the pot roast on the stove to seal in the juices, but you should also roast it at high heat in the oven before turning the oven down to let it continue cooking. That’s what my mom taught me. If your chuck roast isn’t really tender, it just needs more time to get tender. An extra 30 minutes can make all the difference between an “okay” roast and a melt-in-your-mouth one. This is also true for my Mississippi Pot Roast made in the slow cooker.
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FAQ
How long to cook meat at 300?
How long to cook a 3 pound roast at 250 degrees?
What temperature makes a roast tender?
Do you cook a roast at 325 or 350?
How long do you cook a beef roast at 300 degrees?
One technique for cooking a beef roast at 300 degrees is to sear the meat first on the stovetop to develop a flavorful crust, then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. This method can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size and cut of the roast.
How long does it take to cook a roast beef?
The cooking time for roast beef depends on the size of the roast and the desired level of doneness. A general rule of thumb is to cook the roast beef for **20 minutes per pound** at **375°F** .
How long to cook a pot roast at 300?
For a pot roast, the general rule of thumb is one hour per pound. However, this is predicated on an oven temperature of 300°F (150°C). A further hour of simmering at a low temperature of 225°F (105°C) is possible. How long to cook a roast at 300 per pound? For a pot roast, the general rule of thumb is one hour per pound.
How long do you cook a roast in the oven?
Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. In an oven-safe skillet or braising pan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sear all sides of the roast to brown for about 15 minutes total. Remove the roast to a plate and deglaze the pan with broth and wine.