How Long to Cook Top Round Roast
A top round roast takes roughly an hour to an hour and a half to cook, depending on the size of your roast. Top round is a lean cut of meat that is very flavorful. The most common way to cook it is to roast it in the oven, but other methods can be used to cook it as well. If you do choose to cook it in the oven, start by setting your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and letting your roast sit out for at least half an hour to reach room temperature. Once you're ready to put the roast in the oven, multiply the weight of the roast by 21 minutes to find your cooking time:
- 2-pound roast: 42 minutes
- 3-pound roast: 63 minutes
- 4-pound roast: 84 minutes
- 5-pound roast: 105 minutes
At the end of this time, your roast should be medium-rare. If you prefer your top round roast to be well done, expect it to take closer to 30 to 35 minutes per pound.
If you don't want to use your oven to cook your top round roast, you could cook it on the stovetop in a Dutch oven for 2 to 3 hours over low heat. You could also choose to cook your top round roast in a slow cooker on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours.
You'll know your top round roast is done to medium-rare when a meat thermometer registers 135 degrees. If you prefer rare, then it should be between 125 and 130 degrees; medium should be at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit, and well-done should be at least 170 degrees Fahrenheit.