Pot Roast: compare the 3 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Pressure CookerReady in 2 hr 10 min; the others take 4 hr 5 min to 8 hr 35 min.
- Easiest Slow CookerEasy, where the others are medium.
- Make it ahead Dutch OvenCook a day ahead, chill, lift off the hardened fat and reheat covered at 325°F for about 40 minutes.
Side by side
| Dutch Oven | Pressure Cooker | Slow Cooker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total time | 4 hr 5 min | 2 hr 10 min | 8 hr 35 min |
| Prep | 25 min | 20 min | 20 min |
| Level | Medium | Medium | Easy |
| Steps | 17 | 17 | 11 |
| Serves | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Key ingredients | boneless beef chuck roast, beef broth and yukon gold potatoes | boneless beef chuck roast, baby potatoes and carrots | yukon gold potatoes, carrots and boneless beef chuck roast |
| Only in this one | dry red wine and fresh thyme | None | None |
| Dietary | |||
| Calories | 890 | 730 | 730 |
| Protein | 55 g | 48 g | 47 g |
| Carbs | 37 g | 34 g | 34 g |
| Fat | 54 g | 45 g | 45 g |
| Cleanup | 5/5 1 thing to wash | 5/5 1 thing to wash | 3/5 3 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.