You’re cooking roast beef wrong as recipe expert details ‘secret’ to tasty meat

Roast beef is a popular choice for Sunday lunch and is also enjoyed cold in sandwiches, but a recipe expert says there’s a simple thing you need to do to make it taste better

14:43, 13 Oct 2025Updated 09:08, 18 Oct 2025

Roast beef is a Sunday staple (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Roast beef is a beloved staple of many British Sunday lunches, with countless foodies seeking out recipes for succulent, melt-in-the-mouth dishes. Beef is a firm favourite in many UK homes due to its versatility and comforting qualities.

Traditionally served as part of a hearty Sunday roast or enjoyed cold in sandwiches, have you ever pondered how to enhance the taste of your beef? While we all wish every meal could be a culinary masterpiece, kitchen mishaps can often lead to less than perfect results; however, when it comes to cooking beef, there’s a straightforward technique that guarantees tender and tasty meat.

Mimi Morley, Senior Recipe Development Manager at HelloFresh, is renowned for her practical cooking advice, and she recently divulged a simple tip. It comes after a cook shared how to achieve “perfectly cooked” beef in an air fryer.

Mimi suggests that adding one ingredient can transform your beef cooking experience. She advises: “Sear your beef in a hot pan and coat in mixed herbs, salt and pepper before roasting.”

Her primary piece of advice is to sear the beef before placing it in the oven. If you’ve never tried this before, it might be time to give it a go.

Searing the beef is a sure-fire way to create a rich, savoury crust on the exterior, adding a burst of flavour and giving the beef a tantalising colour.

Lots of Brits enjoy a Sunday roast (stock image)(Image: CBCK-Christine via Getty Images)

Not only does it firm up the texture, but it also produces flavourful drippings perfect for pan sauces or gravies. While some may argue the flavour benefits are minimal, most culinary experts swear by it.

Many top chefs insist that this process leads to a tastier, more appetising result. Although meat will cook fine without searing, it can certainly enhance the taste.

That’s why it’s recommended you give it a go. Simply sear the meat in a little oil to brown the edges before popping it in the oven to roast.

Why should I use mixed herbs?

Tossing herbs into the pan while you sear the beef can make a world of difference. For instance, using rosemary and thyme could significantly boost the meat’s flavour.

For optimal results, baste the meat with the infused butter and pan juices as it finishes cooking. This technique allows the herbs’ oils to blend with the beef’s natural juices.

This concoction will create a rich, aromatic and complementary taste. If you fancy experimenting with other herbs, garlic, parsley and sage are excellent choices as they pair well with beef.

When you sear the meat, opt for a high-smoke point oil such as vegetable, avocado or grapeseed and then add a dollop of butter towards the end for an extra flavour kick. Remember, butter burns at high searing temperatures, so it’s best not to start with it.

However, introducing it to the pan post-sear lets you baste the meat with the butter’s rich flavour, preventing it from burning. This technique should assist in cooking a delectable beef dish.