How Long to Cook a 3 Pound Roast

A roast may appear to be a fancy and difficult dish to prepare, but it is actually fairly simple to prepare. You can make a 3-pound roast that is far more tender and tastier than a restaurantroast beef with just a good piece of meat and a few simple herbs

A 3-pound roast of any kind is roasted, braised, or cooked in a slow cooker in the same way. Cooking times vary by type of meat, as some must be thoroughly cooked to well done while others can be served rare.

I have included all you need to know about cooking a 3-pound roast and how long to cook it.

Roast Nutrition Facts

Tips on How to Cook a 3-Pound Roast

The roast – In my opinion, a top round roast is best, although a bottom round roast can suffice. If you decide to choose a very lean cut of meat, you should make sure you slice it thinly to avoid it becoming too chewy.

Oven temperature – Starting with a hot oven allows the roast to develop a gorgeous crust without the need for a pan. You can lower the temperature after you’ve gotten a head start on the crust, and the meat will begin to cook from the inside out.

Lowering the temperature to 325° allows the meat to cook gently and evenly, allowing all of the tight muscle fibers to relax, resulting in a soft slice of flesh. For a cut like this, a longer cook time will yield better results.

Roast temperature – Before cooking, make sure your eye of round is at room temperature. You should allow for at least 45 minutes (or 1 hour) of room temperature beef before commencing this dish. The cook time will be longer if the roast is not at room temperature.

Measuring doneness – Your roast should achieve its final internal temperature after 15 to 20 minutes of resting, which could be 5 to 15 degrees higher than when it was removed from the oven. After resting, the ultimate temperatures for rare, medium-rare, and medium should be 120 to 125 F, 130 to 140 F, and 140 to 150 F.

Notably, the USDA suggests that roasts should be cooked to 145°F (medium) and rested for at least 3 minutes. Always double-check using a thermometer, as color isn’t always a reliable indicator.

The seasoning – This is a large chunk of beef so the more taste the better. I suggest using 3 teaspoons of salt for a 3-pound roast Alliums such as onions, garlic, and scallions would also prove to be tasty additions.

I always prepare a paste with all of my seasonings and olive oil, which allows for more even distribution and ensures that the roast is seasoned all the way around.

How To Cook a 3 Pound Roast – This is a standard eye round roast, cooked rare or medium-rare.

1. Let the 3-pound roast rest in the refrigerator overnight, uncovered on a wire rack arranged on a baking pan.
2. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Go ahead to combine the oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Then rub the roast all over with the seasoning mixture.
4. Go ahead and place the roast in a roasting pan with a roasting rack in it.
5. Proceed to cook the roast for 15 minutes at 350°F, then decrease to 325°F and continue to roast for another 1 hour 45 minutes for medium, or 2 hours for medium-well done.
6. You can remove the dish from the oven when it is done.
7. Set it aside for 15 to 30 minutes to rest.

Rest before Slicing – When your roast comes out of the oven, it may seem tempting to get right at it but please don’t. Allow your meat to rest for 30 minutes on a chopping board to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the muscle.

All those wonderful juices will end up on the cutting board if you cut it right away, and your meat will be dry. When it is time to slice, you have to make sure to use your sharpest carving knife.

How Long to Cook a 3 Pound Roast

You can follow the recommended cooking time for your roast to get the best results. The cook time is determined by the weight of the roast, which is 3 pounds, as well as the desired degree of doneness.

Doneness	Cooking Time
Rare	1 hour
Medium	1 hour, 21 minutes

 

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