Beef Stew vs. Pot Roast

[Naia]

What is the difference between a beef stew and a pot roast? Curious. =)

[auntdot]

To me a stew is made with pieces or chunks of meat and veggies. A pot roast is a large piece of meat, a roast if you will, that has been braised often in stock with veggies, like a sauerbraten.

[mozart]

Originally Posted by Naia

What is the difference between a beef stew and a pot roast? Curious. =)

Not much once it hits the pie hole

[pacanis]

Originally Posted by Naia

What is the difference between a beef stew and a pot roast? Curious. =)

Now that you ask...... I have no idea
They are made so similarly, there really isn't a lot of difference. Aside from stew meat starting out small, along with everything else being bite size (typically). Stew is usually served in it's thickened juices, also. Whereas pot roast maybe has a gravy on the side or the juice poured on it.

IMO

[Andy M.]

A pot roast is a single large piece of meat that is braised. That is, it is browned over high heat then cooked slowly in a liquid in which it is PARTIALLY submerged, usually with vegetables.

A stew is multiple small pieces of meat that are stewed. That is, cooked slowly, usually with vegetables, FULLY submerged in a liquid.

[Loprraine]

I'm with Aunt Dot and Andy M on this one. Both are great, but different!

[DaveSoMD]

I agree with Aunt Dot and Andy M and I'd add the USUALLY beef stew is slow simmered on the stove top and pot roast is slow cooked in the oven OR on the stove top.

[mcnerd]

I would classify Stew more as a soup, with small pieces of meat and smaller pieces of vegetables in lots of gravy, while pot roast is a single roast, usually a tough cut, cooked in liquid and large pieces of vegetables, usually potatoes and carrots. A stew is eaten in a bowl and a pot roast usually on a plate.

[Nancy Jane]

Well, a pot roast is a roast. I generally braise mine with onion and spices on very low heat. Beef stew is cut up beef pieces that are browned in flour then stewed with vegetables.

[Mama]

I'm on board with Aunt Dot and Andy M on this one!