Prime Rib Roast, an amazing beef cut that is great to share with family and friends. It is featured with a perfectly rich marbling, incredibly tender texture, brimful of juices, and deep flavor. It’s not difficult to cook this luxurious cut perfectly if you follow this article. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Where Does Prime Rib Come From?
Prime Rib Roast is a large cut of meat that is obtained from ribs number six to twelve. A Prime Rib cut mainly consists of three groups of muscles, the large center eye, the cap of ribeye, and the complexus muscle, which is the same with Ribeye Steak. Actually, you can cut Prime Rib Roast into slices of Ribeye Steaks, but they usually taste quite different owing to the different preparation methods.
Since Prime Rib Roast is a chunk of meat, it is typically roasted in a “standing” position on the rib bones in an oven, for around 2-3 hours. So the meat does not touch the pan directly and that’s why it’s also called “Standing Rib Roast”. On the other hand, grilling and pan-searing fast over high heat are the common ways to cook Ribeye Steak.
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Prime Rib is beautifully marbled, juicy, tender and rich in flavor. No one can resist this perfect combination. Every bite is divine! This is an ideal cut for gatherings and celebrations, sharing the incredible enjoyments with family and friends.
Bone-in or Boneless Prime Rib Roast?
The answer depends on your preference, both of them have their advantages.
With the bones, an extra subtle flavor is added to the meat. Also, as mentioned in the above, when it comes with bones, we could roast it in a “standing” position on the rib bones. This could insulate the meat from the baking dish and bring about a more tender as well as juicier result.
For the boneless one, the significant benefit is easy to carve. This is especially important for large gatherings, it saves you time and effort and makes everyone happy!
How Much Prime Rib Per Person?
A full rack of prime rib roast is 7 ribs, this is a huge cut which can feed 14 to 16 people or more.
There is an easy rule to follow when you are calculating how much prime rib you should order. To budget, order 1 lb per person would be a safe decision. For the bone-in prime rib roast, 1 bone could serve for 2+ people. If you also plan to prepare plentiful side dishes, you may reduce the amount of meat.
Where to Buy Prime Rib Roast?
I would suggest buying from Snake River Farms as they provide high quality beef. They have several choices with different grades.
For people who have a lower budget, buy USDA Choice prime rib roast; If you want to enjoy a higher level of marbling, opt for American Wagyu Black Grade instead of USDA Prime because their price is about the same. Why not pay a little bit more to enjoy a more luxurious one?
Of course if you have a bigger budget, purchase American Wagyu Gold Grade prime rib roast which is extremely deluxe!
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How to Cook Prime Rib Roast?
Tip 1. Seasoning
To achieve the best, salt your prime rib roast all over with kosher salt a day before cooking, then wrap with plastic wrap loosely and put it in the fridge overnight. The idea is to let the salt dissolve some meat proteins and allow the muscle fibers to reabsorb the juices. And it ends up with juicy and tender meat.
Alternatively, you can season it with olive oil and herbs such as bay leaves and sage. Just pick your favorite one!
Tip 2. Temperature
Temperature is particularly important for cooking a prime rib roast as it is a big cut of meat. If the temperature is not controlled well, the centre of roast may be too raw but the outside may be overcooked, and lead to a dry, tough meat.
The best way to cook this luxurious cut is to roast it at a high temperature (450°F / 232.2°C) for around 20 minutes first. Then, lower the temperature to 350°F (176°C) and slowly roast until the inside reaches the desired temperature.
By this method, the final product will have an appetizing brown outer layer as well as a beautiful rosy red center. Moisture and juices will be retained inside and the mouthfeel keeps tender.
Tip 3. Thermometer
To read the internal temperature, use a thermometer, this is the only way to guarantee a perfect outcome. But I don’t suggest using a leave-in thermometer to read the temperature. This is because this type of thermometer will detect the heat other than the internal area it should read, resulting in a false high reading.
Use an instant read thermometer instead, and insert it into the thickest part of the roast. Make sure the probe is not touching the bones.
Tip 4. Doneness
Above all, take out the roast before the thermometer registers the temperature of your desired doneness. Since the inside of the roast is still being cooked by the residual heat, the temperature will keep rising 5 to 10°F more. In order to avoid overcooking, bring out the prime rib roast earlier!
The recommended doneness for prime rib is medium rare to medium, so you could enjoy the splendid pink interior with bursts of juices. For medium rare, the final internal temperature is 125 to 130°F, so pull the roast out at 115 to 125°F. To cook medium, aim for 135 to 140°F, stop heating up when it reaches 125 to 135°F.
Tip 5. Let The Meat Rest!
This is a crucial step to keep the roast juicy and tender. After roasting, do not carve it immediately. The first thing to do is wrap the prime rib roast loosely with aluminum foil and let it rest for 20 minutes. This is to allow the internal temperature to keep rising until it reaches the desired doneness, and primarily help retain the juices.
As the roast cooks, the juices are distributed in an imbalance manner because of the temperature gradient within the muscle tissue. At the moment it is taken out from the oven, some parts would be bursting with juices but other areas do not. If you carve the hot roast directly, you will see all the juices spilling out from the area with rich juices. In the end, the meat becomes dry and tough.
How to cook a perfect prime rib roast? Rest the meat for 20 minutes before slicing it, just that simple!
Prime Rib Roast Recipe
Equipment
- Oven
- Roasting Pan
- Oven Rack
- Meat Thermometer
- Plastic Wrap
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- 6-7 lbs Prime Rib Roast (or 3 bones Prime Rib Roast)
- To taste Kosher Salt
- To taste Black Pepper
- To taste Your Favorite Herbs
Step-by-step Guide
- A day before cooking, season your prime rib roast, wrap with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge overnight. Take out the meat 2 hours beforehand and let it sit at room temperature.
- Preheat the oven at 450°F (230°C).
- Place the thawed prime rib on a roasting pan with a rack between them. Let the fat side up and rib bones down. Roast for 30 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to 350°F (176°C) and keep roasting for around 75 minutes for medium rare.
- Check the internal temperature by inserting a meat thermometer, make sure the thermometer is not touching the bones. Take it out when the thermometer registers 5-10°F lower than desired doneness.
- Wrap it lightly with aluminum foil and let it rest for around 20 minutes. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips
- Before roasting, bring the meat to room temperature and preheat the oven. These are essential for even cooking.
- If you do not have a rack for the oven, you can roll the aluminum foil and make it in a swirl shape. Put them under the roast so that the meat will not directly touch the roasting pan. Otherwise, as it cooks, the surface will be soaked in oil and not crispy.
- Place the prime rib roast fat side up and rib bones down to keep it moist.
How to Carve Bone-in Prime Rib Roast?
Carving a bone-in prime rib roast is not rocket science. First of all, remove the rib bones, separate them along the ribs (do not throw it but taste it, that’s an extra experience!). Then, slice the meat by your desired thickness. Enjoy!
Nutrition facts of Prime Rib Roast
Here is the total nutrients chart of Prime Rib (per 1 lb):
| Calories | 1548 kcal |
| Protein | 104 g |
| Fats | 123 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
Side Dishes for Prime Rib Roast
Baked potato wedge and salad are the perfect match for prime rib.
To save time, why not bake the potato with the roast? Firstly, peel the potatoes, cut them in half and boil with some salt for 5 minutes. Secondly, pat dry and cut them in wedge shape, then sprinkle with some salt and pepper. After roasting the prime rib for the first 30 minutes, put the potatoes under the roast (the space under the rack). If the oil of prime rib is not enough for baking the potatoes, add some olive oil.
You could flip them when you check the temperature of the roast. When the roast is done, these yummy potato wedges are also finished! They are golden, crispy, and delicious as they absorb the essence of prime rib.
Apart from the flavorful meat and potatoes, you will need some fresh vegetables to balance your tongue. Caesar salad and coleslaw would keep you fresh!
Drinks for Prime Rib Roast
1. Wine
Wine is the classic partner with steaks, below are some recommendations for prime rib roast.
a. Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is a dark-colored wine. It is full-bodied, dry and tannic with a medium level of acidity, so it is the perfect choice to enjoy with rich cuts like prime rib.
b. Rioja Gran Reserva
Rioja Gran Reserva is a strong wine which highlights the richness of prime rib. It is similar to Cabernet, but with a more fruity flavor, especially some dark cherry notes.
c. Barolo
Barolo is rich, full-bodied, and has a high amount of acid and tannins. It tastes with notes of rose, tar, and dried herbs.
d. Syrah
Syrah is a darker and more tannic wine compared with Cabernet. It is full-bodied, chewy, and accompanied by notes of berries, pepper, tobacco, and smoke. It will enrich your enjoyment of meaty prime rib roast.
2. Beer
If wine is not your cup of tea. Try beer. Amber ale is a beer with a sweet and rich flavor. It creates an awesome combination with the flavorful prime rib.
3. Non-Alcohol
Sometimes, non-alcohol could also bring the beef to a whole new level. Cranberry juice and pomegranate juice are nice substitutes for wine. Since they also contain tannins that keep your palate fresh when digging out flavorful meat like prime rib.
Also, they are not oversweet and will not overwhelm the savor of prime rib. If it is too sour for you, dilute them with water or soda water.
Summary
Try this out and trust me, everyone on the dining table will love this marvelous prime rib roast. Do follow all the tips in the above, and no failure would happen!
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Thanks for the recipe! It’s extremely yum 🤤