Not sure what to do with leftover pot roast? Here’s how long it stays good in the fridge or freezer, plus some great recipe ideas.
Having leftover pot roast is one of those problems that’s… well, not really a problem… and what to do with leftover pot roast is even less of a problem!
In my home, if there’s any leftover (and that’s a big if) the solution is to eat it within the next day or two — but that might not be feasible for your home. After all, I have enough people here to clean out just about any large dinner in a reasonable amount of time, so I have a pretty clear advantage when it comes to not wasting food.
Most homes, though, have fewer people — and perhaps your leftovers are a result of a holiday event or dinner party, where having extra food is sometimes a burden more than a blessing.
Here we cover what to do with leftover pot roast — including storage and reheating methods, as well as some recipe inspiration!
Recipe Ideas for Leftover Pot Roast
One of the best ways to use up any leftovers you might have — pot roast or otherwise — is to repurpose them into a new recipe, helping you and your family consume it all without getting sick of it.
It probably goes without saying, but you can also easily repurpose some of the meat for a sandwich or taco! It would only take minimal effort and ingredients.
If that fails or you don’t have the time or energy, it’s time to freeze it.
How Long is Leftover Pot Roast Good For?
Leftover pot roast should be placed in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours. This will help prevent bacteria from growing.
Leftover pot roast can be stored in the fridge for a short period of time, but if stored properly, it can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. Make sure to mark your storage containers with the expiration date to help you keep track of it for food safety purposes.
How Long Does Pot Roast Last in the Fridge?
Leftover pot roast can last in the fridge for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
If you don’t have an airtight container, you can also store the pot roast in a freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible before completely sealing.
Pot roast can also be frozen. Check out our comprehensive article on the matter: Can You Freeze Pot Roast? Our Best How-To Advice.
Can You Cook a Frozen Pot Roast in a Crock Pot?
Freezing pot roast is a great way to save it for later, especially if you don’t plan to use it within the recommended refrigeration time frame.
You may wonder if you can save time on the other end by placing your frozen pot roast in the crock pot for easy reheating. Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Frozen meat takes too long to warm up in a slow cooker, meaning that its temperature stays in the “danger zone” for too long. This danger zone is between 40°F and 140°F — just above refrigeration standards and below safe cooking temperatures.
Bacteria on food kept in this temperature range can double in as little as 20 minutes, making severe illness and even death a serious concern.
Leftover frozen pot roast should be thawed before cooking, no matter what method you plan to use.
You may need to allow a large-sized pot roast to thaw in the fridge for a couple of days before reheating it. You can also keep the pot roast in an airtight container and submerge it completely in cold water to begin the thawing process. The water will need to be refreshed every 30 minutes with entirely new cold water to prevent the temperature from dropping too much.
It can take 2-3 hours to thaw a large portion of pot roast using the cold water thawing method.
How to Cook a Frozen Pot Roast
Cooking a frozen pot roast, whether raw or reheated, always begins with thawing the meat.
If the roast you’re preparing has not been cooked yet, you will want to season the beef. Check out our homemade pot roast seasoning recipe. You can also try your hand at an Italian pot roast using our simple recipe.
If you’re reheating pot roast, you probably froze the meat separate from any sides that you prepared at the same time. If you’re looking for ideas of what to serve now, we have an article What to Serve with Pot Roast: Best Side Dishes that can help inspire you!
Pot roast should be cooked low and slow. The traditional cooking method is the stovetop, which then evolved to the oven. Now there are many more options for preparing your pot roast!
Here are some of the best methods for preparing a pot roast:
- Stove top: Pot roast is classically prepared on the stovetop in a large pot that contains all the ingredients for your full meal. A stovetop pot roast can be easier to monitor because you don’t have to juggle the heavy roasting pan in the oven, which makes this a preferred method for people who may not want to handle lifting or maneuvering hot foods.
- Oven: As mentioned above, the oven preparation method is another classic technique.
- Slow cooker: This is a great way to prepare a pot roast because you can truly prep it and (mostly) forget it. I love this approach because it doesn’t dry out easily, and it allows me to continue with other household tasks with limited interruptions.
- Sous vide: This method can be time intensive (18 to 36 hours) but is another very easy way to put your cooking to the back of your mind. One of the greatest benefits of cooking sous vide is that you can always trust the doneness. We recommend sous vide for prime rib roast as well!
- Pressure cooker: Instant Pots and other pressure cookers have risen in popularity as people have discovered how quickly they can prepare food without hassle.
How to Reheat a Pot Roast
Reheating a pot roast is simpler than you might think!
There are several cooking methods you can use to reheat a pot roast. These will often depend on how much meat you are reheating and how much time you have to prepare the food.
When reheating food for one person, the easiest way is the microwave.
For larger amounts, you can reheat the food the same way you cooked it using some of the above methods, or you can experiment with another method.
The slow cooker, oven, and stovetop are very popular ways to reheat leftover pot roast and can help preserve the moisture and flavor of your delicious dish!
More Inspiration and Ideas
Try bone-in chuck roast for a new way to enjoy a roasted beef dinner.
Prime rib is another roasted beef recipe we think you’ll love. Find out how much to serve per person and how to season it to perfection with our help!