Marianne Martinez
Cooking a pot roast in an air fryer is an easy, quick, and delicious way to get a tasty meal on the table in no time. With an air fryer, you can achieve a juicy and tender roast with a crispy exterior crust, without the need for bulky pans or a long cooking time. The air fryer's consistent heat and even cooking make it a foolproof method for preparing pot roast, and the convection power ensures a perfectly cooked meal every time. By following simple steps such as preheating the air fryer, seasoning the meat, and allowing it to rest, you can enjoy a delicious pot roast with vegetables and gravy in under an hour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | Under an hour |
| Ease | Easy |
| Taste | Delicious, juicy, succulent |
| Texture | Crispy exterior crust, juicy centre |
| Ingredients | Beef, potatoes, carrots, salt, pepper, herbs, wine, stock, oil |
| Nutrition | 592kcal, 11g carbohydrates, 36g protein, 46g fat |
| Temperature | 325-450°F |
| Resting Time | 10-60 minutes |
| Equipment | Meat thermometer, cake tin, aluminium foil |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of beef
One popular option for pot roast in an air fryer is the chuck roast. It has a higher fat content, which can result in a juicy and tender roast with a crispy exterior crust. Chuck roasts are also known for their flavour and are often used for smoked pot roast burnt ends, Mississippi pot roast, and barbacoa beef. They are usually available in three-pound sizes, which is a good amount for a pot roast.
Another good choice for an air fryer pot roast is the eye of round roast. This cut is economical, has a uniform shape, and is leaner than other options. Because of its leanness, it is important not to overcook it to maintain tenderness.
The outside round, or bottom round/rump roast, is a cut with a great beefy flavour. However, due to its lean and tough texture, it is better suited for slow cooking methods. If using an air fryer, it is recommended to cook this cut rare to medium-rare and slice it thin against the grain.
Beef tenderloin is another option that is exceptionally tender for air frying. However, it cooks very quickly and requires close monitoring to avoid overcooking.
When choosing a cut of beef for an air fryer pot roast, it is also important to consider the size of the beef joint and the size of the air fryer. The cooking time and temperature may need to be adjusted accordingly.
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Preparing the beef
If you're using a chuck roast, it's important to let the meat come to room temperature before cooking. Take the beef out of the fridge for at least 20 minutes, and up to 60 minutes, before cooking. This will ensure that the meat cooks evenly and helps prevent it from burning on the outside before the inside is cooked. It's also a good idea to pat the beef dry before cooking it.
Once the beef is at room temperature, you can season it. Drizzle the beef with olive oil or avocado oil and rub it all over the surface of the meat. Then, season generously with salt and pepper, and any other herbs or spices of your choice. You can use a simple mixture of salt and pepper or try a combination of black pepper, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, dried thyme, dried rosemary, and paprika. If you're using a pre-made steak seasoning, press it all over the surface of the meat.
For a deeper flavour, you can let the seasoned beef rest for at least one hour, uncovered, at room temperature. This allows the seasoning to penetrate the meat. If you have the time, you can even let it rest for 2 hours at room temperature or 24 hours in the refrigerator before bringing it back to room temperature.
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Preparing the vegetables
Next, place the vegetables into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil or avocado oil and toss until they are nicely coated. You can also add other seasonings to the vegetables at this point. Salt and pepper are essential, but you can also include garlic powder, dried rosemary, dried thyme, paprika, or other herbs and spices of your choice. If you like, you can also add a beef stock cube or bouillon for extra flavor.
Once the vegetables are seasoned to your liking, they are ready to be cooked along with the beef. Place the beef joint on top of the vegetables in the air fryer basket, or in a container that fits inside your air fryer, such as a cake tin. The cooking time will depend on the type of air fryer you have and the size of the beef joint, but a general guideline is to cook for 20 minutes and then start checking the temperature of the beef with a meat thermometer. When the beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest while the vegetables continue cooking.
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Cooking the beef and vegetables
Cooking a pot roast in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious meal on the table in under an hour.
First, take the beef out of the fridge 20 minutes to an hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature. Pat the beef dry, then drizzle with olive oil or avocado oil and season with salt, pepper, and mixed herbs. You can also use your favourite steak seasoning.
Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Place the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C). This will create a lovely crust that seals in the juices.
While the beef is cooking, prepare your vegetables. You can use carrots, potatoes, and shallots or any root vegetables of your choice. Cut the potatoes into small 1-inch chunks or halve them lengthwise. Leave the baby carrots whole. Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil or avocado oil and season with salt, pepper, and a beef stock cube (or bouillon). You can also add fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary.
After the initial 10 minutes of cooking the beef, place the beef joint on top of the vegetables in a cake pan and put the pan in the air fryer basket. Cook for 20 minutes, checking with a meat thermometer to ensure the beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness. For a medium-rare top round beef joint, aim for an internal temperature of 150°F (65°C).
Remove the beef from the air fryer and loosely cover it with foil to rest. Continue cooking the vegetables for another 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
Slice the beef, arrange it with the vegetables on a platter, and drizzle with the pot roast juices.
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Making gravy
While the meat is resting, you can make the gravy. Start by pouring the juices that have collected in the bottom of the air fryer into a pan. Add flour to the juices and cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture turns butterscotch-coloured. Next, carefully whisk in beef broth in a slow stream. Be careful, as the mixture will bubble up quickly. Stir in rosemary and peppercorns, then turn the heat down to low.
To finish the gravy, whisk in cream and salt to taste. When the mixture thickens, turn off the heat and cover the pan. Leave the gravy to stand for one hour so that the flavours can infuse. Just before serving, return the gravy to a simmer over low heat. Finally, force the gravy through a fine-mesh sieve into a serving dish, discarding any solids. Serve the gravy alongside your air fryer pot roast.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 30 minutes to cook a pot roast in an air fryer, which is much faster than the traditional method of roasting on low heat all day in a slow cooker.
Eye of Round Roast is a good choice as it is economical, cooks evenly, and has a leaner texture. Chuck Roast is also a popular choice for its flavour and fat content.
Preheat the air fryer to 390-400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes. Then, cook the beef at 350°F (180°C) for 10 minutes to create a crust that seals in the juices. Finally, cook the beef and vegetables together at 325°F for 20-25 minutes, or until the beef is cooked to your liking.
