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Home » How to Roast a Perfect Prime Rib

How to Roast a Perfect Prime Rib

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Published: 3/15/2016Updated: 12/22/2020
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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.

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!

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.

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, J. KENJI LÓPEZ-ALT did all the testing and perfecting the art of roasting a perfect prime rib for us. There are 3 things he was looking for in perfect prime rib:

  1. Deep brown, crispy exterior.
  2. Minimum overcooked layer between the crust and interior, aka gray zone.
  3. 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!

How to cook a perfect prime rib, step by step, using reverse sear technique.

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 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.

Let me know if you try this method. I know you won’t regret it.

Thank you for reading!

Watch How to Make This Below!

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.
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Ingredients

  • 5-10 lbs (or 4-rib) prime rib
  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Optional Add-Ins:

  • A head of garlic
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Asparagus
Note: I test all my recipes with both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!

Instructions

  • 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.  (Here's my detailed roasted garlic recipe.)
  • 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 roasting pan, 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. (This Thermapen Mk4 meat thermometer is my favorite! Super quick and reliable! <- affiliate link)
  • 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.
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full disclosure here.
Author: Shinee
Did you make this?Show me your creation! Tag me @shineshka and hashtag it #sweetandsavorybyshinee!
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If you have have a boneless prime rib, check out this post:

You've been cooking prime rib all wrong! Try this reverse-searing method to cook your next boneless prime rib and enjoy evenly cooked juicy slice of roast!

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  1. Shannon says

    Posted on 13 January 2021 at 9:40 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe was incredible. The prime rib was roasted to perfection with the firmer trim and crisp crust. I couldn’t believe how amazing this turned out. You are so right. I will never ever cook prime rib again any other way. The was better than the best restaurants I have had prime rib at. I had so much fun making this for Christmas Eve dinner I can’t wait to make it again sooner than later. Even the leftovers were rare enough to warm up slightly without drying out. This is by far one of the best finds. Thank you for sharing this amazing technique.

    Reply
  2. Jeff says

    Posted on 3 January 2021 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic, just had to adjust to high altitude, thin air conducts heat slower. 20% less at 7500 ft. Just increase time or temp accordingly.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 4 January 2021 at 11:43 pm

      So happy you liked this method,, Jeff!! Thanks for reminding us to adjust for high altitude!!! So helpful!

      Reply
  3. Robert Accetta says

    Posted on 31 December 2020 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Fantastic, sums it up nicely!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 2 January 2021 at 2:38 pm

      Awesome!! So happy you liked it, Robert. I appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
  4. Juan says

    Posted on 31 December 2020 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    I dont know, it seems that time is dependent also on the stove. I used an electric roaster and it reached 125 f after 3 hours. Its looking fine, Its resting for 30 minutes now, before the 500 f crunch.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 2 January 2021 at 2:38 pm

      Hi, Juan! You’re right! Every stove works differently, so the estimated times I provide are estimates only. And I imagine electric roaster is smaller than a regular oven, which makes it much more efficient. Hope you enjoyed a perfect prime rib. Thank you for your feedback!!

      Reply
  5. Glen Z says

    Posted on 30 December 2020 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    Probably one of the best prime ribs I’ve cooked, I made a 5lb roast for Christmas and I’m going to make a 13lb roast tomorrow! I was just checking the recipe before I cooked this next round and decided to leave a comment

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 31 December 2020 at 9:27 am

      Hi, Glen. I really appreciate your feedback. So happy you liked the recipe.

      Reply
  6. James says

    Posted on 29 December 2020 at 11:27 am

    5 stars
    Would this work for a few 38oz Tomahawk steaks? They are about 3 inches thick. I would prefer this method instead of using a grill. If so, would I need to pan sear at the end, or would the oven work? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 29 December 2020 at 10:52 pm

      Hi, James. Yes, absolutely!! I’d finish it on a skillet stovetop, but oven should work too.

      Reply
  7. Brad says

    Posted on 26 December 2020 at 12:08 pm

    Hi, first time doing a prime rib later today for Boxing Day dinner. We have a 3.75 roast, wanting it to be rare. Suggested cooking time? Many thanks!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 26 December 2020 at 1:12 pm

      Hi, Brad. I’d estimate about 3 hours for 4lbs roast to reach 120-125°F. Make sure it’s brought to room temperature before putting in oven, or it’ll take longer. Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Kim says

    Posted on 26 December 2020 at 10:47 am

    4 stars
    Roasting time was way off. I had an 8lb roast in for 4.5 hours and it was still only at 115 when I decided to take it out to rest. It was an amazing rare roast (but I wanted med-rare).

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 26 December 2020 at 1:14 pm

      Hi, Kim. Thank you for your feedback. One question, did you bring the roast to room temperature before putting it in the oven? If so, how long did you have it on the counter? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kim says

        Posted on 26 December 2020 at 2:55 pm

        I did, I had it out for two hours. I thought maybe my temp probe wasn’t working, but a second probe confirmed the temp.

        Reply
        • Shinee says

          Posted on 27 December 2020 at 10:50 pm

          Thanks for letting me know, Kim. This info helps a lot!!

  9. Debra Adolph says

    Posted on 26 December 2020 at 9:27 am

    5 stars
    I will make my prime rib like this from now on! It was so good! Perfect! One thing I did different was I poked tiny holes on the top of it, put some soy sauce in the holes, made it so flavorful!

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 26 December 2020 at 10:05 am

      Hi, Debra!! That sounds like an amazing idea!! Thank you for sharing it!

      Reply
  10. Shirley Yagoda says

    Posted on 26 December 2020 at 7:43 am

    5 stars
    I made this for Christmas day for lunch. Started at 7 AM for the first bake and finished at 10:30 AM. Lunch was postponed so I tented the beef and it didn’t go back into the oven until 1 PM. Baked at 500 degrees for 20 minutes which really made the outside perfect! We ate at 2 and everyone LOVED it. Thank you for sharing

    Reply
    • Shinee says

      Posted on 26 December 2020 at 10:02 am

      Awesome. So happy everyone got to enjoy a perfect prime rib! Thank you for your feedback, Shirley!

      Reply
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