Food Guide

7 Delicious Beef Roasts That Will Make You Want to Try Smoking!

If you are looking for a delicious and easy meal to make, smoking a beef roast will be a great choice.

However, there are plenty of roast cuts of beef sold on the market and it might be hard for you to choose one.

Don’t worry, we are going to help you out by listing the best beef roast cuts for smoking and the tips to choose them the next time you go shopping.

Let’s check it out!

How to choose beef roast for smoking?

When you are smoking a beef roast cut, it is important to know which cut will work best for your needs and how to choose it.

With the following tips, you will be able to find the best beef roast for smoking:

1. Choose a cut that is not too lean (about 12% fat content is the best)

Smoking will work best with a cut of beef that has about 12% fat content.

That means a too lean or too fatty beef cut is not a good option for this cooking method.

Moreover, the beef cut you should look for should have marbling fat that runs through the cut instead of a lot of fat trim on the edge.

This makes the resulting dish flavorful and juicy after being smoked for hours.

2. Choose a roast cut with the right size for your smoker

Another tip to choose beef roast for smoking is that it should have a proper size that fits your smoker.

The cut should be large enough so that it will meet your family consumption but still small enough so that the smoker can have a certain space so that the heat and smoke can evenly cook the meat.

3. Buy a fresh cut of grass-fed beef if possible

Always keep in mind that fresh meat works better than its frozen counterpart.

This is why it is also pricier than frozen beef.

It will be even better if you can buy organic beef, or grass-fed beef because this kind of meat is healthier for you.

The cattle are raised without antibiotics and hormones, and their diets are organic and natural, resulting in more nutritious meat.

Best beef roast for smoking

Smoking is an easy task because the meat is slow-cooked over low heat and by the heat.

The most important part is to choose a good cut of beef for this recipe.

Normally, most beef roast cuts work well in this case.

So now let’s take a look at the best beef roast for smoking that we have compiled below:  

1. Chuck roast

Beef Chuck Roast Boneless Step 1

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A chuck roast is a classic cut and top choice for most slow-cooking recipes.

It comes from the top shoulder section with a lot of connective tissue and marbling fat.

This cut is affordable but very flavorful thanks to the sufficient fat content.

This also helps keep the meat moist after being smoked for hours.

2. Round roast

Pat LaFrieda USDA Choice Eye of Round Roast, 1.5 lb

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Another option for smoking is a round roast.

This cut comes from the back, or “round” part of the animal.

It is traditionally cooked by slow-roasting in liquid, but it can be smoked too.

However, a round roast is considered a lean cut, you should check the internal temperature to make sure that the meat is not overcooked and turn dry.

3. Ribeye roast

New York Prime Meat USDA Prime 21 Day Aged Beef Boneless Rib Eye...

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You can also opt for a ribeye roast for smoking.

It is a meaty cut from the rib section of the cow.

It has a lot of flavors and can be cooked quickly for just an hour or two.

However, a ribeye roast is considered relatively expensive compared to other roast cuts.

4. Tri-tip roast

Premium Angus Tri-Tip by Nebraska Star Beef - All Natural Hand Cut and...

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A tri-tip roast is a good cut for smoking or grilling to achieve a flavorful and smoky taste.

The resulting dish can be served as the main course or an ingredient for other dishes like burgers or tacos.

Another thing that can explain why many people prefer this cut is that the tri-tip roast is so economical that people from all classes can afford it.

5. Brisket

Flat Cut Beef Brisket, Step 1

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Brisket is another popular cut for smoking.

This is cut from the breast area of the cow and is prized for its intensely beefy flavor.

It is traditionally used for making corned beef or pastrami thanks to its perfect fat content, making it not too lean or fatty.

The bottom line

We hope that this post has helped you know about the good cuts of beef roast for smoking.

It is even better to have a fresh cut of grass-fed beef so that your dish is not only delicious but also healthy.

Let us know in the comment section below if you prefer which beef roast cut in your next smoking batch.

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Emily W.

Emily Wong is an Asian-American food writer the founder of Cookindocs.com. With nearly 8 years of experience, she has a passion for making cooking accessible to everyone and sharing her personal experiences with food. Emily's vision for Cookindocs.com is to create a community of food lovers who are passionate about cooking, eating, and sharing their experiences with others. Read my story
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