It is possible to cook frozen pork loin in the crock pot until it is tender. Here’s how to do it! You can eat the pork for dinner with rich gravy and potatoes.
Frozen pork loin slow cooker style is a game changer. You’ve probably forgotten to take your meat out of the freezer the night before because you were busy. NO problem, we have instructions to save the day. One of many easy weeknight Crockpot meals you’ll love. (affiliate links present).
Nothing beats the convenience of throwing a frozen pork roast into the crock pot and coming home to a delicious, ready-to-eat meal. But how long does it actually take to cook a frozen pork roast in the slow cooker?
The cooking time can vary quite a bit depending on the size and shape of the roast, the temperature setting and other factors. Read on for tips on cook times to ensure your frozen pork roast turns out juicy and flavorful.
Is It Safe to Cook a Frozen Pork Roast in a Crock Pot?
Cooking frozen meat in the slow cooker is completely safe, as long as you take a few precautions:
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Make sure the pork roast is completely frozen and shows no signs of thawing when placed in the crock pot. Partially thawed meat takes longer to cook through and raises safety concerns.
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Use a digital food thermometer to check that the pork reaches a safe minimum internal temperature of 145°F when done.
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Adjust cook times to account for the frozen state of the meat Frozen roasts need significantly longer cooking
As long as you keep these guidelines in mind, you can safely cook a frozen pork roast in the crock pot with delicious results.
How Long Does It Take to Cook a 2-3 lb Frozen Pork Roast?
For a typical 2-3 pound frozen pork roast, here are the approximate crock pot cook times:
- On LOW setting: 10-12 hours
- On HIGH setting: 6-8 hours
These times allow for the roast to fully thaw and cook through until tender. Smaller roasts may take an hour or two less.
Key Factors That Affect Cook Time
Several factors impact how long it takes to cook a frozen pork roast in the slow cooker. Here are some of the main considerations:
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Size of the roast – Larger roasts need more time An extra hour per pound is a safe estimate.
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Bone-in or boneless – Bone-in roasts take longer to become tender. Allow for extra cook time.
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Shape of the roast – Uniform roasts cook evenly. Irregular shapes may need rotating or extra time.
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Fat cap – Roasts with a thick fat cap may need slightly longer cook times.
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Liquid in the pot – More liquid conducts heat faster for more even cooking.
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Temperature setting – High vs low impacts cook time significantly.
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Quantity of veggies – Lots of veggies steal heat and can lengthen cook time.
Consider all these factors when estimating how long your frozen pork roast will need in the crock pot.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Pork Roast in the Crock Pot
Follow these tips for the best results when cooking frozen pork roast in the slow cooker:
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Add some liquid like broth, wine, or water to aid heat conduction.
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Put roast in crock pot frozen; don’t thaw before cooking.
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Cook on low setting for 8-12 hours for best texture.
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Use a thermometer to check doneness; roast to 145°F.
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Allow roast to rest 15 minutes before slicing for juicy meat.
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Make a sauce from the delicious cooking juices.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cooking a frozen pork roast in the crock pot is simple. Just follow these steps:
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Place frozen pork roast in the crock pot.
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Pour in 1 cup broth, water, or wine.
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Add any aromatics like garlic, onions, or herbs.
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Cook on LOW for 8-12 hours or HIGH for 4-6 hours.
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Use a meat thermometer to check temperature of 145°F.
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Remove roast, tent with foil and let rest 15 minutes.
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Slice roast and serve with cooking juices from pot.
That’s all there is to it! Let the crock pot do the work.
Safety Tips When Cooking Frozen Meat
To ensure fully-cooked, safe pork when cooking frozen roasts in the crock pot, be sure to:
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Defrost and prepare any stuffing or forcemeat separate from meat.
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Use a food thermometer to verify safe final internal temp.
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Discard any raw meat juices; don’t use for gravy.
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Don’t let temperature fall into the danger zone during resting.
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Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3-4 days.
Delicious Ways to Use Leftover Pork Roast
Leftover pork roast from the crock pot can be used in many different ways:
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Tacos, burritos, or quesadillas
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Sandwiches with BBQ sauce or aioli
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Chopped in fried rice, pasta, or vegetables
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Hearty soup with veggies and beans
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Breakfast hash with eggs and potatoes
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Stir fry with Asian flavors and vegetables
Get creative with the versatility of leftover crockpot pork roast!
Cooking frozen pork roast in the slow cooker may take patience, but the results are well worth the wait. Allow 8-12 hours cook time depending on size and cut. Use a thermometer for safety and enjoy tender, juicy pulled pork.
Slow Cooker Frozen Pork Loin
When they’re done, the potatoes will be so soft that you could make mashed potatoes with them. We leave them whole. Timing below will vary slightly depending on the size of your piece of course. This was a 3. 7 pound pork loin that reached the proper internal temp after 6 hours. If you wanted to shred pork you’d add some more time.
- 3-3.5 lb frozen pork loin is your cut of meat
- Baby potatoes and carrots in large chunks if you like
- Chicken broth
- Garlic powder and some onion powder
- Salt and pepper
- Paprika
- 1 packet beef or pork Gravy mix
I hardly ever recommend that you use any hours on high, low and slow is the key. Have a meat thermometer handy at the end to ensure it reaches 145 at the thickest part. You can definitely cook pork longer, but it will start to fall apart more over time, which may be what you want.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin Frozen
Okay, so let’s say you made this and then your kids got dinner on their way home from practice. I get it. You’re like me and hate to waste food, like literally it is my worst pet peeve. That’s fine, save it, and make something else the next night. They won’t even know the difference. First, wait until it has cooled.
Then wrap it in foil or put it into a freezer bag in the fridge. Take it out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you want to use it the next day. I then cut it into small pieces. Then I can add it into literally any type of casserole to add protein. Our Instant Pot pork casserole is always a winner, and can be made quick.
You can use this meat instead inside our Crockpot chicken casserole recipe on night 2. It doesn’t take long especially if your meat is precooked already like this one would be. It’s also great to cut up potatoes, roast them in an air fryer, and then add this in the last three minutes or so. Super healthy way of using it up for sure.
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How long does it take to cook a frozen pork roast?
FAQ
Can you cook a pork roast from frozen in the crock pot?
How long does it take to cook a 2 pound frozen pork roast?
How long does frozen meat take in a slow cooker?
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Stovetop or Oven
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Slow cooker set to low
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Slow cooker set to high
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15 – 30 mins
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4 – 6 hrs
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1.5 – 2.5 hrs
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35 – 60 mins
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6 – 8 hrs
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2.5 – 4 hrs
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1.5 – 2.5 hrs
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9 – 12 hrs
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4.5 – 6 hrs
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3 – 5 hrs
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12.5 – 18 hrs
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5 – 7 hrs
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