How to Cook a Frozen Roast Beef in the Oven

Anyone who has made food for themselves or someone else has been in a situation where either you forgot to prepare or you forgot to take the meat out of the freezer. Under normal circumstances, forgetting to remove your frozen cutlets or steaks would give you reason to call for fast food. But if you have a frozen roast in the freezer, there’s a way to salvage the day! Here is how to cook a frozen roast beef in the oven.

Table of Contents

• Cooking a Frozen Roast in the Oven—Is it Possible?
• How to Cook a Frozen Roast Beef in the Oven
• How Long Does a Frozen Beef Roast Take to Cook in the Oven?
• Recipe for Cooking a Frozen Roast Beef in the Oven
  • Frozen Pot Roast Recipe
  • Alternative Frozen Roast Recipe
• Let’s Get to Work on That Roast

Cooking a Frozen Roast in the Oven—Is it Possible?

One of the questions many at-home chefs ask themselves when faced with what’s for dinner is: “Can I roast a frozen beef roast without defrosting or thawing it?” The answer is yes. Will the roast, be it beef, pork, or lamb, come out juicy and tender? Most definitely, yes.

As long as you know the fundamentals for how to cook a frozen roast beef in the oven, you can have success again and again.

By slowly baking a frozen roast beef that is between 3-6 lbs, you ensure that the meat is cooked through entirely. Plus, the whole time the meat is swimming in its own juice, so it stays tender.

How to Cook a Frozen Roast Beef in the Oven

In order to get started with cooking a frozen roast in the oven, all you need is an open baking pan with high sides or an instant pot. It is not recommended that you use a slow cooker. Pressure cookers are a fine substitute for the oven, as they can accelerate the cooking process, but you should never use a slow cooker. Why?

When you cook a frozen roast beef without thawing it, the internal temperature is going to have a difficult time reaching the temperature needed to kill off foodborne illnesses. The standard temperature to kill bacteria is 140°F, but it takes too long for a slow cooker to reach that point (and longer still for something frozen).

If you absolutely must use a Crock-pot, cook the roast for 8-10 hours.

Therefore, use your oven to your advantage. You can also choose to roast vegetables alongside your roast and to add soup mix. In the recipe examples shown below, you will see a few variations to this method. Both are very easy and make the roast beef delicious. Plus, most finish cooking within 4 hours.

How Long Does a Frozen Beef Roast Take to Cook in the Oven?

The time it takes for a frozen roast beef to cook in the oven depends on the size of the roast and the temperature at which the meat is cooked.

Recipes differ, but most claim it takes anywhere from 2-5 hours to cook a roast beef that is 3-6 lbs. A 2-3 lbs roast will take a little less, around 2-3 hours.

Using a recipe that calls for thawed meat? Bump the time specified in your recipe by half. So if it calls for 2 hours, cook the roast for 4 hours instead.

To ensure that your meat is cooked through and save for consumption, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer:

• Rare -120°F
• Medium rare – 130-135°F
• Perfectly medium – 135-145°F
• Medium well – 145-155°F
• Well – 155°F or higher

For top quality roast beef from the oven, it’s recommended that you aim for medium rare to medium.

Recipe for Cooking a Frozen Roast Beef in the Oven

Now let’s have a look at a recipe that show you exactly how to cook a frozen roast in the oven.

Frozen Pot Roast Recipe

Looking for a thick and hearty pot roast that comes together in only a few hours? Check out this wintertime favorite.

Ingredients

• 4.5 lb roast beef, frozen
• 1 packet of vegetable soup mix or onion soup mix
• 1 onion cut into segments
• 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups of beef or vegetable broth
• 3 cups baby carrots, cut and peeled
• 2 springs of rosemary
• Salt, pepper, and herbs to taste

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Optionally, you can start a little higher, around 500°F and lower the temperature once the roast has been placed in the oven for a few minutes.
2. Place the frozen roast on a roasting pan with a lid.
3. Open the packet of soup mix and pour it over the frozen roast.
4. Add the onion segments around the pan.
5. Pour in the cream of mushroom soup and broth
6. Add your herbs and spices
7. Cover the roast with the lid and cook at 375°F for 4 hours. Check periodically to see if the meat is tender and falling apart.
8. Add the baby carrots and continue roasting for an additional 30 minutes.

Remove the roast and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before removing it from the pan to let it rest. Slice the roast then serve it with the vegetables over noodles or mashed potatoes.

Alternative Frozen Roast Recipe

Here is an optional process to the recipe listed above.

Rather than cooking the roast alongside the vegetables, you simply place it on the pan alone or on a V-shaped rack. Sprinkle the roast with salt, pepper, and spices to taste. You may even wish to lightly coat the roast in a marinade. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 500-550°F.

Place the roast in the oven and then reduce the temperature to 375°F. This should help the roast develop a crunchy crust on the outside that will keep all the juices sealed within. Bake for 1 hour.

Turn off the oven after an hour has passed and leave the door closed. Within one hour before preparing your meal, turn the oven back on, setting it for 375°F. Cook the roast for an additional 40-45 minutes. It will come out medium rare.

Of course you can follow along with a great video from Chef Steve and Suzie Mahnken of Missouri Legacy Beef – they have a couple of minor variations to the above guidance, but that’s a lot to do with the size of the Beef cut or joint you’re cooking – theirs is BIG!

Let’s Get to Work on That Roast

You should now know how to cook frozen roast beef in the oven properly. Follow the steps in the recipe, and you will have a delicious meal for you and your family. The best part about using frozen roast is that you don’t have to thaw it out before cooking. The temperature of the oven works to your advantage, so the roast stays tender and cooks up within 4-5 hours.

Related posts on the blog:

• What Meat Goes With Sweet Potatoes
• Skillet Vs Pan
• How Long To Boil Beef Ribs Before Baking