How Long Do I Cook a 2lb Roast in a Slow Cooker? (New FACTS)

People ask, how long do I cook a 2lb roast in a slow cooker?

Typically, to cook a 2lb Roast in a slow cooker, you could plan around 3 to 4 hours on high heat, or 6 to 8 hours on low. However, cooking times vary depending on the cut of meat, its shape, the temperature of your slow cooker, and what you are cooking along with the meat.

Slow cooker pot roast is delightful comfort food that requires a little bit of prep and then will be ready for you whenever you are ready to eat.

It does take a little planning ahead, however, to make sure that you leave yourself enough time to cook the meat thoroughly and achieve that tenderness that slow cookers are known for.

Table of Contents

How Long Does it Take to Cook a Roast in a Crock Pot?

Slow cooker recipes are just that–slow. But the advantage is that you can set them and forget them for several hours while they do all the work themselves.

Keep in mind that around a pound of weight may cook away in a slow cooker, so a 2lb roast is on the small side.

How long will a 2lb roast take in a slow cooker will depend on the factors below:

Cut of Meat

One of the advantages of using a Crock Pot is that with slow cooking, you can roast a wide range of different cuts of meat.

Even with a cut that has a lot of connective tissue and fat, like brisket, for example, the long cooking times will break down all the tissue and leave you with a tender roast.

For this reason, you can buy cheaper cuts of meat that otherwise wouldn’t make ideal roasts in the oven or on the grill.

Keep in mind that tougher cuts with a lot of connective tissue will take longer to roast, though cuts with lots of marbled fat will have a richer flavor.

You will want to trim off any additional fat along the edge of the meat before you begin roasting.

Don’t forget that a cut of meat that has a bone will take even longer to cook through, perhaps an additional hour.

Shape of Meat

A long, thin cut of meat with a larger surface area will take a shorter amount of time to cook than a thick roast.

If you don’t have time to cook the larger roast, you can cut it in half and cook the two parts separately. (Brown both halves before you begin slow cooking.)

If you purchased a larger roast and have cut it into 2lb pieces in order to fit it into your pot, keep the cooking time the same as for your larger roast.

Don’t overfill your pot, however! You will need to add liquid to the pot to cook the meat.

Temperature Setting

Not all crock pots are designed the same. Your 2lb roast may cook on low in the same amount of time it takes another pot to cook on high.

A good rule of thumb before you get used to the setting on your crock pot is to give yourself plenty of time to complete cooking. Your crock pot can always be used to keep the food warm if it is done before dinner time.

Plan on a 2lb roast taking 3-4 hours on a high setting, and as much as 6-8 hours if you want to go really low and slow and make it as tender as possible.

You can overcook meat in a slow cooker, however, which will lead to a dry roast. If your meat is cooking too fast on high, make sure you reduce it to low or warm.

What is Cooking Along with the Meat

A full crock pot may cook slightly slower than one with just liquid and meat. If you are adding whole potatoes or chunks of carrot, your cooking time may be longer.

What Type of Roast Do I Use in a Slow Cooker?

Many chefs prefer the flavor and texture of beef chuck roast for slow cooker pot roast, though you can use other popular cuts such as rump roast/bottom round, brisket, or shoulder steak.

Keep in mind that beef takes longer than chicken or fish in the slow cooker since it has more connective tissue to break down and more fat.

How Do I Know if My Slow Cooker Roast is Done?

Even if you are cooking your meat for several hours, you will still want to check and make sure it is done to a food safe temperature, just as you would if you were grilling or roasting in the oven.

You can remove your roast quickly and check the temperature. Keep in mind your roast will increase in temperature around 5-10 degrees as it rests, so aim for temps 5-10 degrees below these listed.

For beef, rare is around 125°F, medium rare is around 135°F, and medium is around 145°F. This is a matter of preference, of course, though you should make sure your roast temperature is not below 125°F.

For slow cooker recipes that are fall-apart tender, you will want to cook to around 145°F.

If you are unsure how quickly your roast is cooking, you can check the temperature halfway through to make sure it doesn’t overcook.

Just be quick about it, since removing the lid of your slow cooker will affect the temperature. You don’t want to open it too much during the cooking process.

Conclusion

How long to slow cook a 2lb roast is a question that varies a lot, so give yourself enough time to complete those long cooking hours and you will be rewarded with a tender roast.

References

https://www.food.com/recipe/perfect-pot-roast-slow-cooker-239829

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/14670/easiest-pot-roast-ever/