Cooking a Top Round Roast in a Pressure Cooker: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cooking a top round roast in a pressure cooker is a quick and effective way to achieve tender and flavorful meat. This guide will walk you through the process, providing detailed instructions and helpful tips to ensure your roast turns out perfectly every time.

Ingredients

1 top round roast, about 3-4 pounds Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil or another cooking oil 1 onion, sliced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups beef broth or water (Optional) Herbs like thyme or rosemary (Optional) Carrots, potatoes

Instructions

Season the Roast

- Generously season the top round roast with salt and pepper on all sides.

Sauté the Meat

- Set the pressure cooker to the sauté function if it has one and add olive oil. - Once the oil is hot, sear the roast on all sides until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. This step adds flavor.

Add Aromatics

- Remove the roast and set it aside. In the same pot, add sliced onion and garlic. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until softened.

DeGlaze the Pot

- Pour in a small amount of beef broth about 1/2 cup and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. This adds depth to the flavor.

Add Liquid and Roast

- Return the roast to the pot. Add the remaining beef broth or water and any optional vegetables like carrots and potatoes around the meat. If using herbs, add them now.

Pressure Cook

- Seal the pressure cooker lid and set it to high pressure for about 60-75 minutes. The exact time may vary depending on the size of the roast and your desired level of doneness. For a 3-pound roast, 60 minutes is usually sufficient.

Natural Release

- Once the cooking time is complete, allow for a natural pressure release for about 10-15 minutes before carefully releasing any remaining pressure.

Check for Tenderness

- Remove the roast from the pot and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. The meat should be tender and easy to slice.

Optional Gravy

- You can strain the cooking liquid and thicken it with a cornstarch slurry mixing equal parts cornstarch and cold water for a delicious gravy.

Serving

Slice the roast against the grain and serve with the cooked vegetables and gravy.

Tips

Marinating: For extra flavor, consider marinating the roast overnight before cooking. Adjusting Cooking Time: If you prefer your meat more well-done, increase the cooking time by 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy your delicious top round roast!