What is a Christmas Roast?
A Christmas roast is a beautiful centerpiece for your holiday dinner. A roast is a rolled piece of meat tied together with butcher's twine. Roasts are traditionally enjoyed during special occasions like Christmas or birthdays with large gatherings. However, roasts are also a typical Sunday dish—perfectly prepared and delicious both warm and cold. Thinly sliced, roast can even be used as sandwich meat. There are countless varieties, including pork shoulder roast, loin roast, pork filet roast, chicken thigh roast, and more.
The definition of a roast according to Wikipedia: A roast is a meat dish where seasoned slices of meat are rolled together. Rolling and tying a roast is a traditional butcher’s skill. Industrially produced roasts often come in a net casing.
Cooking a Christmas Roast
How long should you cook a Christmas roast? It depends on the thickness of the meat, but as a rule of thumb, you can sear it for about 4 minutes to achieve a golden-brown crust before placing it in the oven. Always sear the roast in a sturdy pan before transferring it to the oven. The roast continues to cook in its own juices in a preheated oven. It’s best to use a meat thermometer to ensure the perfect result. Watch the video from Butchery’s One Minute Grill Academy, where chef Ruben Meijboom explains how to cook a roast perfectly.
Christmas Roast in the Oven
Cooking a Christmas roast in the oven is ideal if you need your stovetop for preparing side dishes. Christmas dinners often involve multiple courses, and having the option to cook the roast in the oven makes preparation more manageable. Just remember to sear the roast before transferring it to the oven.
Christmas Roast on the BBQ
What you can cook in the oven, you can also cook on the BBQ, provided your BBQ can mimic an oven. If your oven is needed for side dishes, or if you’re a BBQ enthusiast, cooking your Christmas roast on the grill is a fantastic alternative.
Christmas Roast: Chicken, Beef, or Pork?
The choice is yours! The Butchery offers a variety of roasts, from beautifully stuffed ribeye roasts to tender pork shoulder roasts, chicken thigh roasts, and even mixed-meat roasts. Our best-seller is the pork shoulder roast from the Limburg monastery pig, renowned for its marbling, which keeps the meat juicy and flavorful.
Internal Temperature for Christmas Roast
Want to ensure your Christmas roast is perfectly cooked? Use a meat thermometer to check doneness. You don’t want to serve a roast that looks perfect on the outside but is raw inside.
For chicken roasts, the internal temperature should reach 72°C. A trick to check if it’s done is to make a small cut—if the juices are clear, it’s cooked!
For pork roasts, an internal temperature of 63–65°C is ideal. Beef roasts can be cooked to your preference: 52°C for rare, 54°C for medium-rare, 57°C for medium, and 62°C for well done. The exception is the chuck eye roast, which requires an internal temperature of 65°C.
What to Serve with Christmas Roast?
A classic roast pairs beautifully with grilled vegetables and potatoes—whether gratin, baked, or boiled. A rich sauce like mushroom cream sauce is a perfect accompaniment to a pork shoulder roast.
Vegetables for Christmas Roast
Traditional vegetable sides like green beans wrapped in bacon and stewed pears are always a hit with roasts. Other options include endive gratin, cauliflower with hazelnuts and thyme, or balsamic-glazed Brussels sprouts. A vegetable tray bake is also a great choice and looks stunning. Combine root vegetables like parsnips, carrots, and beets, add crushed garlic cloves, rosemary, and thyme, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20–30 minutes for a colorful and flavorful side dish!
Order Christmas Roast Online
Ordering a Christmas roast online has never been easier. Choose your favorite, place your order, select your desired delivery date (the final delivery date for Christmas is December 20), and your roast will be delivered quickfrozen (super fresh and frozen at low temperatures) to your doorstep between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Order before 11:00 AM for same-day delivery!
Order Beef Roast Online for Christmas?
From loin roast to chuck eye roast, roast beef, or the Butchery Braised Roast made from Black Angus USA beef, you can easily order the finest beef roasts online. Choose your favorite, and our butchers will prepare it fresh for you—hand-tied, of course. It will then be sent quickfrozen with all its nutritional values intact. It doesn’t get easier than this.
A Roast for Christmas Dinner?
Always a great idea! A roast is festive and comes in all shapes and sizes. From beef roasts and pork shoulder roasts to porchetta or chicken roasts, there’s something for everyone.
Need more advice before ordering? We’d love to help! Our origins lie in our brick-and-mortar store (still open in Meppel), where we give face-to-face advice every day. While we can’t replicate that online, you can reach us by phone or email. Call us on weekdays between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM at 085-0408044 or email us at info@butchery.nl.