How to Roast a Perfect Prime Rib
Let me show you how to roast a perfect prime rib, step by step, with proven, fool-proof method using reverse sear technique as seen on Serious Eats.
Oh my gosh, do I love me some prime rib!! Thick, juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender, there is nothing better than perfectly cooked prime rib.
If you’d asked me “How would you like your steak?” like 10 years ago, when I just landed in the U.S., I’d tell you firmly, “Well done.” Cringe, cringe, I know!! Though we eat a lot of beef in Mongolia, steak isn’t common there. And we’re just not accustomed to pink meat. In fact, it took me good 2 years to start ordering medium done steaks. That’s when I met my rancher husband, who wouldn’t let me order well done (aka ruined) steaks.
Fast forward 8 years, I now cook medium and sometimes even medium rare steaks for myself. Oh how things change!
When you have this beautifully marbled, perfectly frenched prime rib, you don’t want to mess up, especially if you’re making it for a special occasion. But don’t let the fear stop you from serving this masterpiece for a holiday meal. I’m going to show you a fool-proof, proven method to roast a perfect prime rib!
Now, listen read closely…
You’ve probably heard of searing the meat before roasting to lock in the juices, right? And no doubt, there’s place and time for that trusty technique, but when it comes to roasting a prime rib, that’s not really an ideal method. And I’m not just a crazy lady talking crazy things on the internet. Read this! (Go on, I’ll wait for ya.)
In that article,
- Deep brown, crispy exterior.
- Minimum overcooked layer between the crust and interior, aka gray zone.
- Maximum juiciness.
He achieved all three criteria by reverse searing method. What is reverse searing, you ask?
Well, that’s when you cook the prime rib at the very low temperature until it reaches 120°F for medium rare, and then you roast it at the very high temperature for a short period of time. But here’s the important part: before searing at high temp, you’ll need to take the roast out of the oven and let it rest while oven is preheating to 500°F. This way, the roast won’t overcook, because as you know, it takes at least 20 minutes to heat an oven to that high temp, plenty of time to ruin a good roast!
And here’s another tip: for perfectly crispy crust, make sure to dry out the roast by resting it uncovered in the fridge overnight. And while at it, go ahead and salt it too, so that it has plenty of time to penetrate the meat all the way inside.
Let me know if you try this method. I know you won’t regret it.
Thank you for reading!
How to Roast a Perfect Prime Rib
Let me show you how to roast a perfect prime rib, step by step, with proven, fool-proof method using reverse sear technique as seen on Serious Eats.
Ingredients:
- 4 ribs (5-10lb) prime rib
- 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- A head of garlic, cherry tomatoes and asparagus, optional
Directions:
- Place an unwrapped prime rib on a tray. Generously salt all over and refrigerate overnight to air-dry the outside of the prime rib.
- Bring the prime rib to room temperature before roasting. It usually takes about 2 hours out on the counter.
- Mix the cumin, black pepper and garlic powder and evenly spread all over the meat.
- If roasting garlic, slice the top off, drizzle some olive oil and wrap in a foil.
- Preheat the oven to 200°F (95°C).
- Place the prime rib on a roasting pan bone side down (fat side up). (Since I wrote this post, I bought this beautiful roaster, and highly recommend it.) Roast the meat in the oven until the center of the roast reads 120°F (50°C) on a meat thermometer for medium-rare, or 130°F (55°C) for medium doneness, about 3.5-4 hours.
- Remove the prime rib from the oven, cover with a foil and rest for about 30 minutes.
- Increase the oven temperature to 500°F (260°C).
- 10 minutes before serving, pop the prime rib into the oven, uncovered, and cook it until it’s nice and brown, and crisp on the outside, about 6-10 minutes. If desired, roast the cherry tomatoes and asparagus together. Serve immediately.
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I purchased a 13.8 lb boneless rib loin and was planning on roasting this morning with the “sear first” process that all the other websites recommend. After reading this and watching the video from Kenji, I decided to use this method instead. I seasoned it heavily last night with a slurry paste made up of Montreal Steak seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, brown sugar and minced garlic, and left it out all night to come to room temp. I just loaded it in the oven at 220 degrees at 8:00 am, and we have company coming to eat at 1:00. I have an internal thermometer in it to monitor, but also have a instant temp I will us to verify. I’ll let you know how it comes out later this evening….(most likely after my nap from the “beef coma” I’m going to put myself in!!)
Hi, Warren! I’m so glad you decided to try this reverse-searing method! Hope you and your guests loved it! Your seasoning sounds so good too, I’ll have to try that as well. Looking forward to hear your feedback.
Hey Shinee!! I made it home from church at exactly 12:30, and the roast was dead on 130 degrees (exactly 4.5 hrs @ 220). I immediately pulled it out as my goal was 120 degrees for a more rare finished product. I let it rest for 30 minutes and it peaked at 138. I increased the oven to 500 and put the roast back in for exactly 10 minutes for the sear, and it worked perfectly. I sliced it almost immediately, and it was a beautiful, juicy medium rare from outside to center. Honestly, IMO the 130 degrees ended up working perfectly for the 8 guests as everyone doesn’t like a true rare finish, but doesn’t want to tell you that! There were 10 adults total, and I ended up with about a 2 lb piece (about 6″) that I can’t wait to use for a French dip for dinner tomorrow night!!
Thanks for the recipe, and I hope the details I provided help others in their decisions when making their own prime rib!!
Do I use the roasting pan at 200 with the lid on or off?
Hi, David. No lid.
Hi! I’m making this tonight! And I was wondering if during the resting period, if I could remove the juices to make an au jus, or if I needed to keep that in the roasting pan when I put back into the oven at 500 degree? Thanks!
Hey, Carrie! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond sooner. Yes, you can definitely use the drippings for au jus. You don’t need it for searing. Hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. 🙂
Do you add water to pan while cooking roast or nothing
Hi, Chris. No, no water in the pan.
Did everyone like the cumin? I’m thinking of substituting fresh thyme… Any thoughts?
Hi, Kerri. You can totally omit the cumin, and fresh thyme sounds great. Enjoy!
After almost 40 years of cooking rib roasts in the “traditional” method, I decided to try this, for this past Christmas dinner, and it was spectacular. Absolutely the best rib roast I’ve ever made, and I was a trained chef a lifetime ago. The flavor and appearance of the finished product was far superior to any roast I’d ever made. There are multiple sites with this basic method, but this is the most concise I’ve found. I will absolutely use this recipe every time. I thank you, and my family thanks you.
Wow, Kate, thank you so much for your kind feedback! I’m so happy you gave this method a try and that you and your family got to enjoy a great prime rib. 🙂
You may have mentioned this before but what oven setting do you use? Convection or standard? Roast or bake?
Hi, Ellen. My oven is pretty basic, and I don’t have any of those settings. 🙂 So I say standard bake would be fine.
It was cooked perfectly! We like ours med. rare so I cooked it to an internal temp of 124F before tenting it and letting it rest 30 min. Searing at 500 worked up a very nicely browned and crisp crust. It rested again while we organized for the meal. This will be my go-to method for prime ribs roasts. My family was very impressed with this cooking method. The only thing I would advise is to rest the roast on a separate plate so you can remove all the drippings from the roasting pan before searing. I had quite a bit of smoke (my fault)! Other than that, it was perfect! Thank you!
Bonnie, so glad you loved this technique! Thank you for your feedback and your tips!
Sooo gooood! Followed your directions to the T, and we really enjoyed it, especially for a first attempt! I will for sure do it again!
Similar to Dad’s “Do NOT peek” recipe and like this one just as much…if not more because the adjustment period is longer, so more latitude for pinkness…BUT be sure to have either your oven thermometer checked and/or buy a good one to place next to the roasting pan. First try found that my oven temperature wasn’t high enough, so it came out almost raw…easy enough to fix…tossed it back into the 500*F oven to get both crisp it some more and cook the interior a bit more
Perfect!!! The only thing I would add is to increase the oven temperature by 25 degrees for high altitude cooking like we do in Wyoming. Thank you.
Thank you, thank, thank you Shinee! I followed all your steps and it came out beautifully perfect! I planned for a little extra time for my 10-pounder, and used my meat thermometer, and it all went according to plan. My whole family loved it! 💚💚 Happy New Year!
Hey Shinee! Wanted to let you know that I used your recipe on my 2nd attempt at making prime rib. The first was a disaster and there was a “ready cooked” version I bought between the one I ruined and this one. The family LOVED it… it was all but gone by the end of dinner! Thanks for sharing! I will be using this recipe for a long time to come!
Hi, Shines. Got a great deal on a small 2 lb prime rib. Just for me. No special occasion. Problem is that I won’t be able to stand it bone down. It will probably have to lie flat. Recommendations? Temp per pound? Can you help?
Hi, Jo. We had a small piece of prime rib a little while ago and it took about 2-3 hours at 200F. Hope you’ll enjoy yours. Happy New Year!
This website is really hard to use. It’s a disaster of ad traps.
Hi, Mary. You’re more than welcome to go to other websites with no ads. Thanks!
Okay, I’ve read this recipe and comments 3 times now. Tomorrow I cook a 7lb bone-in roast for the first time, hoping that 3.5-4 hours at 200 is correct for this weight.
Roast took slightly longer than I calculated yet when carved it was perfect…medium rare. Tasted great and everyone enjoyed the meal. Thank you!
Hi, Linda! Sorry for late response. And you’re correct, your roast should take about 3.5-4 hours at 200°F. Hope you’ll enjoy!
It turned it beautiful! Took slightly longer than planned but certainly was worth it!
Excellent! I have successfully prepared prime rib for many years and have experimented and come to prefer slow roasting techniques. Was intrigued by the searing at end of roasting period. Worked beautifully, and my family dubbed it Best Ever!
This was super easy and super awesome……first timer…….and it couldn’t have turned out any more delish. Thank you for the basics of a perfectly cooked Prime rib……Kat
Want to know how to please the “well done”and the “medium rare” people. Just want to make them both happy. 😇
Hi, Arstella. I know what you mean. 🙂 My mom doesn’t eat it unless it’s well done. I usually cook her slice in a skillet on stove top. Hope you can do the same. Enjoy!
I don’t have kosher salt. Can I use pink Himalayan salt?
Yes, any kind of salt will work. Merry Christmas, Vannelli!
Ok I’m cooking my first prime rib for the family, crossing my fingers! I am a pretty good cook but I’m nervous. Lol. You had some good feedback from others so I’m really excited to try your method! I even bought a new meat thermometer cuz I was worried my old one would decide not to work. Haha.
I order a roast to feed 25 and now I’m intimidated to make this 21lb roast!! I have a convection oven how long do u think it will take me to cook? To make sure I don’t run behind on dinner time should I cook it early and let it sit out and put back in oven on 500 right before guests arrive?
Hi, Gwen! I totally understand the pressure. 🙂 Yes, I’d suggest start early, as the roast can sit at room temperature for a while, and you can just pop it in the oven at 500 before guests arrive. Good luck, and have fun! Merry Christmas!
Hi!
This will be my first prime rib! I want to make it for Christmas.
Once I roast the garlic what do I do with it? Put it in the oven with the prime rib just to penetrate the meat with the aroma? The recipe doesn’t say what to do.
Thanks!
Hi, Sofia! The roasted garlic can be served along with the meat, spread on a toast, or with vegetables. The flavor gets soft and somewhat sweet, perfect as a condiment. Good luck with your first prime rib!!!
Hi, Sofia, I am cooking my first Prime Rib, too. How did your Christmas dinner work out? Bet it was delicious.
Gwen. How long did it take that 21 lb prime rib to cook at 200degrees? I have one I’m making and nothing online to calculate one that large.
Thanks for your help
I asked the butcher for a 13 lb prime rib and picked up a 17 lb roast with my name on it. How long should I roast it? Should I use convection at 200 or regular oven? How long do you think it will take?
Hi, Diane! I cooked mine in regular oven. For 17lb roast, I’d calculate about 5.5-hours to reach 125°F.
It came out amazing! Best one I’ve ever made. No pressure about timing. Let it sit for 3 hours when it reached 125. Put back in the oven at 400 until it reached 135 and let it rest for 30 minutes. I’ll never make it any other way!
How did it turn out? I have a 17lb roast I want to do at 200 degress. About how many minutes per pound?
This sounds wonderful. A couple of questions; how big a roast for 14 people?Also, can I cook it to 120 degrees, take it out of the oven for 2 plus hours and then put it back in at 500 degrees? We are going to church at 5 and then coming back for dinner at 7.
Hi, Anne. For boneless roast, you should plan about 1/2lb to 3/4lb per person. For bone-in prime rib, about 1lb per person. I think, 120degrees is a bit too low, it’ll take very long to cook. But yeah, you can rest the roast for 2 hours and sear in hot oven right before serving.
So I want to make this for Christmas but my mom and sister both like it well done. How do I make everyone happy??
I know the feeling. I’m making mine rare and a lot of my family is the same. So I’m planning to slice it then sear it to their liking in a pan…we’ll see how it pans out ?
Hi, Lisa. I know what you mean. 🙂 My mom doesn’t eat it unless it’s well done. I usually cook her slice in a skillet on stove top. Hope you can do the same. Enjoy!
I don’t have a roasting pan what do you suggest I use?and this will be my first time cooking a prime rib I won’t lie I’m nervous lol…..sure wish I would of learned how my momma would make hers but yours looks great I’m gonna give it a try soon for we were gifted a beautiful four bone prime rib
Hi, Alishia. I’m sooo excited for you! You can simply use a large baking pan and cooling rack that would fit in your baking pan. If you scroll up the post, you’ll see what I mean in my step by step photo. I didn’t have a roasting pan when I made this post. 🙂 Good luck, and let us know how it turned out!
Do I place the meat directly into the pan or do I place it on a rack?
Hi, Thuy. Place it in on a rack.
What a fantastic recipe! After many past failed attempts at making prime rib, last night’s with this recipe was an absolute winner! Thanks SO much for sharing your method!!
Hi, Susan! So glad to hear you’ve tried and loved this method! Thank you for your feedback!
I’m making a 6 lb prime rib for New Year’s Eve tonight! Mine is in the fridge uncovered and salted as we speak, I went with boneless but I’m sure following your method and using the thermometer will ensure a great result. I can’t wait to fill the house with the smell of roasting prime rib!
I used the method you recommend and it turned out beautifully! I have never have had a rib roast that tasted like that. It was just beautiful and delicious. It was yummy! Thank you for a perfect way to cook large roasts beautifully and tastefully! Yum!
So, so happy you’ve cooked a perfect prime rib! Thank you for stopping by and leaving your feedback, Irene! It means so much to me. Happy New Year!
Hey Shinee – I made this tonight and it was EXCELLENT! I was out of cumin so I used Italian seasoning (which went better with my sides anyways) but I followed your cooking directions exactly. My roast was 5.92 lb and I let it sit at room temp for 2 hours before putting it in the oven. I cooked it for 3.5 hours at 200 degrees and it was 125 degrees when I took it out. After sitting out of the oven for 30 minutes, I cooked it at 500 degrees for 8 minutes. It was 133 degrees when I took it out, I let it sit for 10-15 minutes before cutting and it was PERFECT. Nice and red, just how I like it. Seriously the best prime rib I’ve ever had – my husband agreed. My 4 year old requested to have it every night ???? This will be my go-to cooking method from now on!
Sharon, yay! So glad to hear you made a perfect prime rib! I made one too this year, and my baby (just 11 months) has been loving it too. 🙂 Thanks for your feedback!
Very good recipe. Used different seasonings, but followed the instructions on cooking. I was worried it wasn’t cooked enough because when I checked the temp a lot of blood came out. When I sliced it open it was a perfect medium well. My first rib roast was perfect. My husband got on one knee and asked me to marry him again.
Aww, Sarah, so happy for you! Thank you for trying my recipe and for leaving your feedback. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
My 9.6 lb prime rib took 5.5 hours @ 200 degrees and another 10 mins @ 500 degrees to get to medium-rare. I did rest it for 30 mins before putting back in the oven for 10 mins @ 500 degrees. The outside of the roast had lots of flavor but the middle was a little bland. Next time I will rub the salt on at least 2-3 days in advance instead of overnight so the salt can penetrate more deeply inside the meat. I would definitely make this recipe again with the changes.
Hi, May! So happy you’ve tried the recipe and I appreciate your feedback and notes. I agree the earlier you salt the roast, the better.
How long at 500?
6-10 minutes, or until it’s nice and brown. Merry Christmas, Jakki!
Does this method produce sufficient pan drippings to make Yorkshire pudding?
Hi, Caren! No, actually it doesn’t produce much drippings with this method. All the juices stay in the meat. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
I am making my first prime rib tomorrow using your method. Can you please suggest some nice sides to go with this for Christmas dinner?
Hi, Tammy! Thanks for choosing my recipe for your holiday menu! So excited for you. So lots of great options for sides: scalloped potatoes and mashed potatoes are always perfect match for prime rib. I’m making scalloped potatoes. Also, this easy creamed corn and roasted butternut squash are great too. Merry Christmas!!
This cooking method makes sooo much sense! I’m cooking a 5 lb for tonight. I’m so excited i found your blog!! I do have one question though. I want to add Fresh Rosemary to the technique any suggestions on how to add it to the process? Also how do we seeve roasted garlic? Just spread on bread or roast? Thank you for all you do!
Hi, Susan. So happy you found my blog! Fresh rosemary sounds awesome. I’d chop it finely and mix it with the seasoning. And the rub it all over the roast, per direction. Roasted garlic is fantastic on bread. You can also add it in mashed potatoes, if you’re serving it. I don’t spread it on a roast though. Hope you all enjoy perfect prime rib. And let me know how it turns out, and share a pic if you get a chance. 🙂 Merry Christmas, Susan!
I am doing the same tonight with the rosemary. How long does a 5lb rib bake at 200?
Hi, Rae! Every oven is different, so it’s crucial to use a meat thermometer for precise timing. It’ll take about 3.5-4 hours at 200°F for bone-in rib. Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!
Where did you place your rack in the oven?
I placed the rack on 2 second rack from the bottom, otherwise it won’t fit in my oven. Hope this helps, Josh. Let me know your prime rib turns out, if you try it. Happy Holidays!
Do the asparagus and tomatoes go in to roast the entire time or just at the 500 degree time? Can’t wait to do this on a Christmas Eve!
Hi, Courtney! Asparagus and tomatoes will go only at the last roasting time at 500°F. Hope you’ll enjoy. Don’t forget to snap a pic and share it with me. Merry Christmas!
Would cooking times & temp be the same if I used an electric turkey roaster instead of my regular oven?
Hi, Rachel. To be honest, I have no experience with electric turkey roaster, so I have no idea how it compares with regular oven.
Hi!
How long should I cook a 14lb bone in roast? My first time making one this large for Christmas this year.
Thanks!!
Hi, Mary! I’d say to plan on for 4-4.5 hours at 200°F, but start checking the internal temperature at 3.5 hours mark. Hope you’ll enjoy that perfect prime rib. And let me know how it turns out. Merry Christmas!
Thanks so much for the quick reply! Will let you know after Christmas how it turns out. =)
Our 14lb Christmas toast turned out beautifully. Thank you!!!
Yay, so happy to hear that, Mary! Thanks for reporting back! Happy 2017!
Just one question do you need to cover the roast when baking at 200.
Hi, Coleen. No, covering isn’t necessary.
I used this methid last year fir a small group and LOVED it!! I will be making 2 10lb prime ribs for 21 people this year. How would it need to be in oven for this method? Also, I have a convection oven, would I use it in regular mode or convection mode.
Hi, Christine! So glad you loved this method! As for 2 prime ribs, I’ll be honest and admit that I’ve never roasted 2 roast at once. But there are a few things to keep in mind… 1. Make sure to position the prime ribs with enough space in between, so air can circulate. 2. Convection settings helps circulate air, which in return expedites the cooking time, BUT since you have 2 roasts, it may just mean that cooking time won’t change much. (Again, no experience with convection oven or roasting 2 roast at once, so these are all just my theory.) Thermometer would be your best friend. Hope it all turns out great again this year. I’d love to hear how it turns out. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the reply!! Since it is 10lbs, should I extend time a bit or just use thermometer?
I don’t think you’ll need to extend time, if you use convection settings. But thermometer would be the best guide. I’d suggest to plan for an extra time to cook, but keep a close eye on thermometer. Whenever it reaches the right temp, you can take it out and rest until almost ready to serve. Hope this makes sense.
Was again a huge success!! Used same timing for 2 10lbs at same time. Merry Christmas again
Yay, that’s amazing! Thanks so much for letting me know how it turned out. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Christine!
I’m cooking a two bone prime rib for my family for dinner tonight, how long should I cook on 200 for? Unfortunately I can’t find my thermometer and I don’t want to mess it up!
Ah, it’s so hard to say exactly how long it will take, Amber. Every oven is different and it’s just difficult to throw exact number. It shouldn’t be too much different from 4-bone prime rib though. Sorry not being very helpful here. Hope it turns out good.
I will be making a prime rib roast for our Christmas party on Saturday. This will be my first time making prime rib. So it will be interesting! I am so glad I found your website! I do have a question, how long should I bake a 7-8 lbs. roast at 200 degrees for? Same question for baking at 500 degrees? Thank you so much for your help!
Also, I will be making a boneless roast. How does this change the instructions?
Hi, Erika! So excited you’re going to roast your first prime rib!! 3.5-4 hours of cook time at low temp will still apply to 7-8lb prime rib. I highly suggest having a meat thermometer for accuracy though. As for boneless prime rib, unfortunately I have no advice. But it shouldn’t be much different, again with meat thermometer you can keep close eye on it. 😉 Hope you’ll love it and let me know how it turns out.
Me too, Erika! My first! My son asked me
1. Do I know a good Butcher? My reply: “What? You think I’m Alice from the Brady Brunch and have my own Sam?”
2. Do you know how to cook a Rib Roast?
Needless to say, I came to Pinterest and this was my fav. Wish me luck! I want my son, (who is coming in from California) to really think I know what I’m doing!
Hi, Cheryl! So glad you liked this recipe. You’ll do great! Hope your son will be impressed with your perfect prime rib on Christmas. Please do report back how it turned out. Wish you all Merry Christmas!
Great timing Shinee! We are planning that for Christmas and I have not made for awhile. Thanks.
Prime rib is perfect Christmas dinner! Hope you all have a great holiday, Richard!
Shinee I am using this recipe for thanksgiving. However I am givin an extended rest period to allow cooking other dishes in the oven before the 500 degree final part. I hope it works out okay!
Hi, Kevin! Thanks for making it part of your holiday! I’m sure it’d be fine, just make sure to keep it covered and warm. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Hi Kevin! That’s my plan for new years. I need my oven for other dishes. How did your Roast turn out with the long rest period?
Prime rib is one of our favorites. Your recipe looks amazing. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared. our previous recipe was featured at the party. Have a happy Easter.
Thank you, Theresa, for stopping by!
I love prime rib but didn’t do well my first attempt at cooking it. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe on the perfect prime rib! Maybe mine will work out better next time!
Do try again! You’ve got it, Kristina!!
I got Kenji Lopez-Alt’s book for a present, but admit that I haven’t gotten into it in any detail. This is an incredible post – a dreamy looking prime rib that you make look so easy. If I ever cook one, I’m definitely using this as my guide.
Ohmygosh, Laura, I’ve been wanting to buy that book. I love his approach and how he explains everything! Gotta go buy the book now, while I remember. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
It looks delicious! And this is vey true about Mongolians that we eat brown meet, not red. And couple of weeks ago i’ve ordered a medium steak that tasted exactely like a Mongolian barbeque! Seared outside and juicy inside!
That’s awesome that you got to try medium steak! Thanks for reading!
Gorgeous prime rib Shinee. I have never heard of this method and I really must try it because yours is absolute perfection.
Thank you, Allie! It’s not very common method, but it sure does work wonders!