A classic pot roast is a practical and easy-to-prepare meal. The meat is roasted slowly, at a moderate temperature, until it is tender. 

In this blog post, I won’t only tell you how long pot roast is good for, but also how to make a juicy pot roast in an air fryer and an Instant Pot. 

But first, let’s address leftovers so you can eat tender meat for a long time.

How Long is Pot Roast Good for?

In Room Temperature

Pot roast is a perishable food that requires immediate refrigeration after serving. As the roast meat cools on the serving tray, bacteria in the meat will start to multiply, just like any other meat dish.

At room temperature, pot roast requires refrigeration within two hours to prevent bacteria from reaching levels that can cause illness if you eat the meat. If the room temperature is warmer than 90 degrees, then the time before it needs to be put in the refrigerator is reduced to one hour.

In the Refrigerator

Roasted meat cooling in the refrigerator has a limited shelf life. Stored in an airtight package or tightly wrapped in sturdy aluminum foil or plastic wrap, a baked pot roast lasts up to four days. 

If the roast is still in the fridge after the fourth day, throw it away. Before the fourth day, you can move the roast beef to the freezer for long-term storage if you don’t plan on eating it right away.

In the Freezer

Stored in the freezer, a pot roast lasts for an indefinite period, although its flavor and texture begin to deteriorate. Freezer cold temperatures of 0 degrees F keep meat safe to eat while frozen. 

Although roasted meat is safe to eat, it will lose quality with prolonged storage in the freezer. Once thawed, you may notice changes in the flavor and texture of roasted meat that has been in the freezer for between two and six months. So, eat it within two months.

Cooking Pot Roast

It’s never a good idea to brown the beef and then let it cool in the fridge before it’s fully cooked. 

Partial cooking in conditions below 145 degrees F does not heat the meat enough to kill bacteria. Any bacteria present in the meat before cooking continues to multiply after browning. It is only safe to partially cook the beef if you plan to complete the cooking process immediately after browning.

You can cook the best pot roast in a variety of ways, including an oven and slow cooker. Now, I’m sharing two pot roast recipes – one in an air fryer and one in an Instant Pot. Both make for a great recipe.

Air Fryer Pot Roast Recipe

When cooking a pot roast in an air fryer, you will not use a chuck roast. Instead, swap it for topside beef. That is because chuck roast needs to be cooked slower than an air fryer setting. To achieve a tender pot roast on the air fryer, you will need to use a top roast. 

Also, you will need potatoes and carrots. Just remember to not add everything at the same time in your air fryer basket. You will also need to turn the meat around halfway through cooking so it is even on both sides.

Keep in mind, the length of time you cook your pot roast depends on how big it is. A rule of thumb is 15-20 minutes per pound, depending on how you like it.

Click here to get the COSORI Air Fryer we use for just about everything. 

Ingredients for Pot Roast in the Air Fryer

• Topside Beef (inner thigh muscle)
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Grained Black Pepper
• Soy Sauce
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Tomato Paste
• Salt
• Olive Oil

Directions for Pot Roast in the Air Fryer

1. Being careful not to slice the beef, make diagonal cuts with a knife across the meat. 

2. Season the beef. You can use salt and pepper or any other power seasoning in addition to soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce to prevent the beef from getting dry on the air fryer.

3. Put your beef in the center of your air fryer basket.

4. Set up your air fryer to 360 degrees F and put 15 minutes on the timer.

5. While you wait, chop the potatoes and carrots. Add salt, black pepper, and olive oil to the vegetable mixture. Again, you can also add soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce to prevent dryness.

6. After 15 minutes of cooking, take the basket out of the air fryer and fill the gaps with the potatoes and carrots.

8. Place the basket inside the air fryer again, lowering the temperature to 320 degrees F, and set a timer for 20 minutes.

9. After 20 minutes, turn the beef upside down, stir the vegetables around, and cook it for another 20 minutes.

10. Remove and enjoy!

Instant Pot Pot Roast Recipe

Here is another way to cook the same thing. If you don’t have an air fryer or just want to try it differently to taste new flavors, try an Instant Pot. 

Again, the cook time for your pot roast depends on how big it is. A rule of thumb is 15-20 minutes per pound, depending on how you like it. This recipe is like fast slow cooking in a pressure cooker.

Click here to get the 10-in-one Instant Pot we use at home. (It literally does everything.)

Ingredients for Pot Roast in the Instant Pot

• Chuck Roast (cut from the shoulder and neck region)
• Salt
• Grained Black Pepper
• Paprika
• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Onion
• Carrots
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Red Wine
• Red Potatoes

Directions for Pot Roast in the Instant Pot

1. Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté”.

2. Sprinkle both sides of the meat with salt, pepper, and paprika.

3. Add olive oil and butter to the Instant Pot. Then, add the beef.

4. Slowly add some beef broth or beef stock while scraping the bottom of the pan with a spatula to ensure nothing sticks.

5. Now, set the instant pot to “Pressure or Manual Cooking” on HIGH for about 60 minutes. (Remember, this is for about a three-pound roast.) Remember to turn the lid to the locked position with the breather in the sealed position.

6. With a few minutes left to spare, add some vegetables like chopped onion and carrots. You can also add garlic and any other seasonings you prefer like rosemary, thyme, and even wine.

7. When the cooking time is over, let the instant cooker release naturally by unsealing the breather for a few minutes. When the float valve (red valve) falls, it is safe to open the cover.

8. Transfer the vegetables to a plate and remove the roast and enjoy! (Don’t forget to transfer those pan juices for some extra flavor!)

This is an easy recipe that will taste great the next day. The next time you want some comfort food, add this recipe to your list of favorites.

Show me the round roast and braising liquid you whipped up on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay. 

Remember, the leftover pot roast will be good for a few days after warming it up on low heat at a low temperature. Try to mix it up each time you have it by adding egg noodles, baby carrots, fresh thyme, or bay leaves.