A slow-cooked roast is tender and delicious.
A slow cooker is a handy appliance for busy cooks who want to serve delicious meals to their families, but don't have time to slave over a hot stove all day. Slow cookers are ideal for cooking a roast because the moist steam heat built up during cooking tenderizes even the least expensive cut of meat. Using a slow cooker is a convenient and time-saving way to cook an entire meal in one pot, and during the warmer months, a slow cooker is a great way to cook a full meal without heating up the entire kitchen. Put a roast and some vegetables in your slow cooker in the morning, turn it on, head off to work, and by dinnertime, you'll have a flavorful roast dinner ready to be enjoyed by the entire family.
Instructions
1. Spray a light coating of non-stick cooking spray on the bottom and sides of the inside of the slow cooker. This step will make cleanup easier after the roast has cooked.
2. Peel and slice 2 medium carrots and 2 medium potatoes and place them in the bottom of the slow cooker. Cut 1 small onion into chunks and add it to the carrots and potatoes. Because vegetables take longer to cook than meat in slow cookers, they need to be at the bottom where they'll simmer in the liquid and benefit from the extra heat that is generated in that part of the slow cooker.
3. Add 1 packet dry onion soup mix, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and 1/2 tsp. pepper to the slow cooker. Mix the soup mix and pepper and garlic powder in with the vegetables, ensuring that all the vegetables are well-coated with the seasonings.
4. Place the roast on top of the vegetables. Pour enough water in the slow cooker to barely cover the vegetables. You can substitute beef broth for the water, if desired, to add extra flavor. Because of the moisture generated during cooking, very little additional liquid is necessary when using a slow cooker. The juices from the roast will also add to the liquid, imparting extra flavor to the vegetables.
5. Place the lid on the slow cooker, and ensure it fits tightly so that none of the steam that is generated during cooking escapes. Turn the setting to Low, and cook for 8 to 10 hours.
6. Remove the roast and vegetables from the slow cooker and serve. Use the liquid from the slow cooker to spoon over the meat and vegetables.
7. Make gravy to go with your roast and vegetables, if desired. Remove the roast and vegetables from the slow cooker and place them on a plate or in a large bowl covered with foil to keep them warm. Add 1 tbsp. cornstarch to the juices in the slow cooker and whisk well to incorporate the cornstarch into the liquid. You may need to add 1 additional tbsp. of cornstarch, depending on the amount of liquid that is in the slow cooker. Turn the setting to High, and let the gravy simmer for about 10 to 20 minutes. Leave the lid off the slow cooker. Whisk periodically to prevent lumps.
Tags: slow cooker, roast vegetables, during cooking, from slow, from slow cooker