How To Cook Tri Tip Roast: [Everything You Need]

Tri tip roast is not a new name to beef lovers. It is popular among many people because it is cheap and flavorful, thus making it at the top of the list of most people’s favorites. You will not always want to go to the restaurant to get your tri tip roast. Therefore, here is how to cook tri tip roast.

There are three main ways you can use to cook tri tip roast, namely: oven cooking, grilling, and smoking. The method you choose depends on your taste and preferences. Grilling infuses more flavor to your meat, making it more delicious. Oven cooking is the best method to use during winter, while smoking adds an intense smoky flavor to your tri tip roast.

In this article, you will learn the various methods of cooking tri tip roast. Keep reading to understand more about tri tip roast.

What is a tri tip roast?

The first thing you would want to know is: what is a tri tip roast? Well, this is a tender and lean beef cut whose name came from its triangular shape and the sirloin tip, thus tri tip roast. It is located below the cow’s hip and in front of the sirloin cut, a less strained position, thus making it tender and soft.

Further, it has an adequate amount of fats and marbling, thus giving a butter-like flavor when cooked. The flavor you can only get from more expensive cuts like ribeye and such, tri tip is popular and loved because it gives an incredible taste and it is inexpensive.

How to cut tri tip roast

One major thing you will need to master when cutting tri tip roast is whether to cut with or against the meat grain. This is essential because there are two grains on the tri tip roast.

They are connected perpendicularly, so you need to be super careful not to ruin the meat.

First, you find where the grain lines are, separate them from each other and then cut your roast. So, how do you cut the tri tip roast?

What you need

Sharp kitchen knife
Sizeable chopping board

Instructions

Find the midpoint where the two grains are connected.
Cut your tri-tip vertically where the two grains meet to separate them
Cut the tri tips in the middle but against the grain.

Tri tip roast recipe

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Extra time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Total time: 8 hours 50 minutes

Ingredients

A third cup of red wine
1.5-pound trimmed tri tip roast
One teaspoon of dried basil
One tablespoon of olive oil or as much as desired
One teaspoon of dried marjoram
One teaspoon of dried thyme
Salt
Ground black pepper
One teaspoon of dried mustard

Cooking instructions

Rub your tri tip roast with thyme, salt, black pepper, marjoram, basil, and dried mustard. Put the seasoned beef in a plastic back that you can seal. Completely seal the bag and refrigerate overnight or for 8 hours. Four hours before you cook your meat, pour the red wine into the bag.
Preheat your oven until it reaches 450 degrees F. sprinkle olive oil at the bottom of your frying pan, then transfer the meat to the ready roasting pan
Put it in the preheated oven and leave it to roast for 15 minutes. Then lower the oven heat to 350 degrees F, and let it roast until the center turns pink, which will be 25 more minutes. This can be detected by using a meat thermometer. Insert the meat thermometer at the center of the meat; if it reads 140 degrees F, it is ready.
Remove it from your oven and leave it at resting for 10 minutes before slicing it against the grain.

How to cook a tri tip roast

As mentioned before, there are three cooking methods you can use to cook your tri tip roast. However, no matter your chosen method, you will always go through the same preparation process. Here is how to go about everything.

Season your tri tip roast

You would want your tri tip roast to have more added flavor. You will achieve this by seasoning the tri tip roast with bbq rub or any marinade of your choice. It could be better to season and leave it to absorb the flavor overnight or for 12 hours. If you use a marinade, leave the marinated tri tip roast in a refrigerator for 24 hours.

While some people do not like using barbeque rub or marinades, you can sprinkle salt and black pepper on your meat before cooking. Your seasoning depends on your preferences.

Also Read: How to Tell If Steak Is Bad? [All that You Need to Know]

Decide the method you will use to cook.

Here are the three methods you can choose from:

Grilling

Grilling tri tip ensures that all the flavors have been completely infused into your meat to give it the taste you desire.

Prepare your grill (charcoal or gas grill) with a drip pan for indirect heating. Put your seasoned tri tip roast on top of the drip pan.
Cover your grill with a lid until you get the doneness you desire. Based on the size of the tri-tip, roast time will always vary. For instance, 2 pounds grill for forty minutes for medium rare at 135 degrees F and 45 minutes for the medium at 150 degrees F
Remove the meat from the grill, cover it and leave it to rest for 15 minutes before slicing.

Oven

This is the best way to make your tri tip roast in winter. Follow the following steps.

Preheat your oven until it reaches 425 degrees F
Place your seasoned meat on a shallow roasting pan’s rack and insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. In this step, do not add any liquid or cover.
For 1.5 to 2 pounds, roast your meat for 30-55 minutes at 135 degrees F for medium rare or at least 45 minutes for the medium at 150 degrees F. insert a meat thermometer to determine the level of doneness.
Remove the meat from the oven and cover it with aluminum foil. Leave to rest for about 15 minutes before you slice and serve. The resting time is crucial as it brings the temperature to cool while it allows the juices to distribute evenly and absorb back into the meat.

Smoking

You can smoke your tri tip roast in any smoker. Follow the following steps.

Preheat your smoker until it reaches 25 degrees F. use your favorite flavor of wood chips. If possible, go for oak or hickory to get a strong flavor.
Place your seasoned tri tip roast on the smoker and close the lid. Let it smoke until the tri tip roast attains an internal temperature of 135 degrees F for medium rare, for medium, 150 degrees F. Remember, the internal temperature will rise while the meat is resting. Remove your roast from the smoker.
Let the tri-tip rest for 15 minutes before you slice and serve

Note: when slicing the meat, ensure that you slice against the grain in the steps mentioned above. Slicing against the grain ensures that the meat texture is not ruined and remains tender while chewing.

Read>> Ball Tip vs Tri Tip – Which is One Better?

Final thoughts

Cooking tri tip roast is fast and turns out tender, juicy, and flavorful. The cooking method you choose determines the kind of meat you will end up with. However, oven cooking is the most famous among many people because it does not require a lot of preparation and tools. Smoking is the best method because it adds a smoky flavor to your meat, making it even more delicious.

Courtney is a professional grilling enthusiast who has spent a good portion of his life grilling and exploring different methods and techniques for preparing delicious meals. As he always says, creativity is key to preparing sumptuous meals.