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?
GraceinAZ says
February 14, 2012 at 11:08 pmI brown my roast first. I think it holds the juices in. Your photo looks mighty yummy!
Hugs, GraceinAZ
Gaelyn says
February 14, 2012 at 11:43 pmI’m too lazy to brown first.
gary lahey says
December 23, 2018 at 5:56 pmi 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.
Sandra says
February 15, 2012 at 9:04 amWhen 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.
Beth Larrabee says
February 15, 2012 at 10:23 amI am way too lazy to brown it first…and mine is always plenty juicy!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
February 15, 2012 at 12:54 pmThat 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.
marina says
February 15, 2012 at 12:54 pmI do neither simply because I don’t use a crock pot…I know crazy right? But one day…yes one day…I WILL!! 😉
Dee says
February 15, 2012 at 2:10 pmI must be too lazy to brown first… 😉
Canadian Mom Blogger says
February 15, 2012 at 2:44 pmI didn’t even know that browning first was an option. I need to learn more about cooking, lol.
Dawn C says
February 15, 2012 at 3:30 pmI brown mine first.
Mary Beth Elderton says
February 15, 2012 at 4:27 pmI 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.
Andrea says
February 15, 2012 at 6:30 pmMy 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.
Patrick says
January 9, 2014 at 5:23 pmThanks 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.
Terri S. says
January 21, 2019 at 12:28 pmPot 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.