How to Cook Prime Rib Recipe

Prime Rib is immensely popular for Christmas and New Years meals. I am always amazed at how many people are intimidated about cooking prime rib for the first time. In actuality, roasting a Prime Rib is very easy. Cook Prime Rib just once, and you will be all but certain to make it an annual holiday meal, if not more often. And, you will wonder what took you so long to make this.

How much to buy? In general, one pound per person bone-in, or 3/4 pound boneless will be sufficient. Consider whether you want left over. An extra pound or two will assure that even the biggest appetites will be satisfied. For most, buying a little extra means leftovers.......Yum.

Selecting the Right Prime Rib

There are different kinds of meat. Grocery stores will carry one grade, and many people do not know there are other grades to choose from. Ask your butcher what grades they carry. For a holiday or special event, you may want the very best.

USDA Prime is the very best meat available. You will likely have to ask your butcher for it. It will certainly cost more. The flavor, taste makes it a culinary treat.
USDA Choice is what you commonly find at grocery stores and the butcher shop. While not as good as USDA Prime, it still an excellent cut of meat.
USDA Select is still tender and flavorful. But, it is noticeably lower quality. If you see an ad for Prime Rib (or other meats) at a lower prices than other stores, it is most likely USDA Select.

Bone-in or Boneless Prime Rib

Bone-in is less expensive than boneless Prime Rib, because you are paying for the bone. It is also the most flavorful. Bone-in provides more flavor and juices.

Boneless is easier to cut.

Cooking Tip: We recommend you purchase bone-in. Ask the butcher to cut the bone off, and then tie the bone and meat together. After it is cooked, lift the meat off the bone. Save the ribs for a late night snack. The guys especially like this.

How to Prepare Prime Rib

Take the roast out of the refrigerator two hours before roasting. This allows the meat to come to room temperature, and ensures more even cooking.
Line a large roasting pan with aluminum foil.
Pre-heat the oven to 450 ° F.
Use a rubbing sauce (Kitchen Bouquet, Gravy Master, etc.) all over the outside of the ribs and bones.
Generously sprinkle seasoning salt all over the roast.
There are many other rubs you can use, if you desire.
Place the roast, bone side down, into the roasting pan.

How to Roast Prime Rib

Place the Prime Rib in the oven (pre-heated to 450 ° F) for 15 minutes.
Turn down the oven to 325 ° F for the remainder of the cooking time.
Cook time varies, depending upon the size of the roast and how you want it done.
Most people prefer it to be cooked rare to medium rare. The outer cuts to the roast will be more well done, while the inner portion will be rare or medium-rare.
See the chart below for the approximate roasting times.
As the approximate cooking time nears, frequently check the interior temperature of the meat.
It is very important to remove the Prime Rib roast when it is five degrees LOWER than the desired temperature. As it sits, the internal temperature will rise.
Remove the roast from the oven and allow is to sit for 20-30 minutes. This allows the juices to more evenly distribute.

Cooking Tip: A meat thermometer is an absolute must, for cooking to the perfect degree of doneness.

Prime Rib Doneness - Have it Your Way:

To have your Prime Rib just the way you like it, here is want the internal temperatures will be 1/2 hour after you remove it from the oven:

Rare: 120 - 125 degrees F. Remove from oven at 120 degrees.

Medium-Rare: 130 - 135 degrees F. Remove from oven at 125 degrees.

Medium: 140 - 145 degrees F. Remove from oven at 135 degrees.

Medium-Well: 150 - 155 degrees F. Remove from oven at 145 degrees

Well: 160 degrees F. Remove from oven at 150 degrees.

Cooking tip: Remember, the internal temperatures will tell you how it is done. If you cook it well, the entire roast will be well done. At lower degrees of doneness, the outer slices will be more well done than the inside.

Prime Rib Roasting Times

For planning dinner time, here are the approximate total times for cooking the roast. Remember, it should sit out of the oven for 20-30 minutes after it is done cooking.

2 ribs / 4-5 pounds: 60 - 70 minutes

3 ribs / 6-8 pounds: 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours

4 ribs / 9-10 pounds: 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 hours

5 ribs / 11-13 pounds: 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 hours

6 ribs / 14-16 pounds: 3 to 3 1/4 hours

7 ribs / 16-18 pounds: 3 1/4 to 4 hours

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