This was a recent post on my Facebook page:
Let’s talk pot roast: Do you brown before crock pot or not? The answer: about 50-50. There were 18 comments from my friends, 9 said yes, 7 said no, and 2 said “sometimes.” I was asking because I usually do, but I was feeling particularly lazy that day and just didn’t feel like dragging out the skillet, browning the meat, then having to wash the skillet afterwards. So, I just seasoned it, threw it in the crockpot with a chopped up onion, and let that baby cook. And you know what? It tasted just the same as if I had browned it. With less work. I don’t know if I will continue to cook my pot roasts this way in the future or not, because I have suffered pot roast guilt over this. But who knows, maybe I can do it half the time.
Whether you brown or you don’t, you can try out this tasty Slow Cooker Pepsi Pot Roast at Feisty Frugal & Fabulous. It takes a little bit more work to get this one started than the one I made today, but hey, what’s another minute or two? And what do you do? Brown or not?
I brown my roast first. I think it holds the juices in. Your photo looks mighty yummy!
Hugs, GraceinAZ
I’m too lazy to brown first.
i don’t brown, either. the instructions on the package of sauce from h e b didn’t have instructions to brownn the meat for slow cooking. it always gets raves.
When the weather’s nice, I have Gordon brown it on the BBQ. Saves the messy pan and greasy stove, otherwise I don’t bother. I used to cheat and use kitchen bouquet or something like that to give the illusion but we can’t eat that kind of stuff anymore.
I am way too lazy to brown it first…and mine is always plenty juicy!
That looks really, really good! I do brown mine, but I do it for my own sensibilities. I find raw meat repulsive looking so if I brown it, it doesn’t bother me as much. However, it always comes out the same whether I do or don’t. You’re so right.
I do neither simply because I don’t use a crock pot…I know crazy right? But one day…yes one day…I WILL!! 😉
I must be too lazy to brown first… 😉
I didn’t even know that browning first was an option. I need to learn more about cooking, lol.
I brown mine first.
I brown first only if I am browning in the pan that I will cook it in (no extra dish washing.) For the crock pot? No way. It’s not necessary.
My grandma always browned her pot roast first and it always tasted delicious. I have never made one (how embarassing!) because my husband doesn’t like them.
Thanks for a great post! When I make a pot roast in the oven, I absolutely brown it first; when I make it in a slow cooker (where it’s completely submerged), I don’t brown it. The slow-cooked pot roast is vastly superior.
Pot roast is one of my favorite things to make. I always brown the meat first. This is the way my Dad (yes, he was the cook in our home) taught me and he said it gives it better flavor.
I did brown the meat for years because that is what I was told is required. Finally started about a year ago not browning. It is literally NO different in taste/texture/moisture level. One less step that is completely pointless in my opinion now. (At least with pot roast)