Perfect Prime Rib

Our Perfect Prime Rib recipe takes a different approach than most other recipes you see online these days. But it’s a pro technique that results in a tender and juicy roast every single time!

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Hi everyone – Jack here. I’d like to start off by suggesting that you forget everything you’ve learned about roasting a prime rib of beef.

In culinary school, two of the very first rules I learned were:

1. NEVER salt a rib roast just before you put it in the oven to roast.
2. ALWAYS cook the roast low and slow – and wait until the end to brown.

I know – this is completely counter to most other prime rib recipes these days, where experts have you start off by cooking the beef at a very high heat. But hear me out.

Back in school, our class roasted four very large, steamship rounds of beef. (Those are the giant sub primal cuts of beef you see a chef carving at a restaurant buffet line, with a large bone sticking out the top.) With such expensive cuts of beef on hand, there is no way our teacher was going to teach us the wrong way to cook them.

The same principles taught to us then apply to large cuts of beef, as well as the smaller prime rib roasts you would make at home – or for that matter, any roasted muscle meat.

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First, we were taught to salt and season the roast the night before, and allow the roast to sit overnight, uncovered, under refrigeration. The salt draws out the moisture and then – only with time – it grabs the seasonings and infuses it back into the meat. (If you salt just before you roast, the same chemical reaction will happen, except the juices will be at the bottom of the pan, instead of in the roast where you want them to be.)

Second, always cook it low and slow – and wait until the end to brown. This guarantees the same doneness throughout, instead of the roast being red in the center and over-cooked towards the outer edge. If a prime rib roast is truly done right – only about 1/16th of an inch or so from the outer edge will be cooked more than the rest.

Why you’ll love this Perfect Prime Rib recipe!

• You’ll be following a time-tested, proven technique that yields professional results.
• You can feel confident that your expensive holiday roast will be cooked to perfection.
• The beef is cooked to a medium rare throughout – the ideal way to enjoy a prime rib dinner.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

• Beef Rib Roast – For the best results, choose a roast that says Prime on the label. Roasts can be sold with or without the rib bones protruding from the end. Either is fine for this recipe and it won’t affect the cooking method – just note that a boneless roast will cook faster than a bone-in roast.
• Seasonings – You won’t need much more than kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, plus some olive oil that will help the seasonings stick to the meat.
• Beef bones – Because this roasting method doesn’t leave much in the way of drippings (the juice stays in the meat), we like to roast off extra bones to make an Au Jus (a simple pan sauce) and Yorkshire Pudding. If you just want the beef by itself, you don’t need to purchase these.
• Red wine – Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon are all great options if you plan to make an Au Jus to serve with your prime rib. Most importantly, use a bottle you would enjoy drinking on its own!
• Kitchen Bouquet – This is a browning and seasoning sauce that enhances the color and flavor of gravies and sauces. It also acts as a thickener as well. Gravy Master is a popular substitute, but again, you won’t need this if you aren’t making Au Jus.

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Chef’s Tips:

• If you’d like, ask your butcher to separate and tie back the bones – they will serve as the rack underneath the beef. Plus, the bones always add great flavor.
• Also, a boneless roast will cook faster, so use the internal temperature as a guide.

Special supplies needed

Roasting Pan – You don’t need the metal rack insert unless you are cooking the beef by itself, without the extra bones.

Probe Thermometer – The only way to accurately tell when your roast is perfectly done is by taking the internal temperature. An inexpensive probe thermometer like this stays in the meat the entire time it roasts. Set the desired temperature on the gauge, and the alarm will go off when it’s done!

Chef’s Tip – Allow the meat to sit on the kitchen counter at room temperature for one hour before putting the roast in the oven. This will ensure even cooking.

How do I make a Perfect Prime Rib?

1. Coat the beef with oil, salt, and pepper. Place on a platter, fat side up, and refrigerate overnight.
2. Remove the prime rib from the refrigerator (the next day) and let rest on the counter for an hour.
3. Roast the bones while the beef rests. (Do this about five hours before serving.)
4. Place the roast on top of the bones, then roast until it reaches an internal temp of 125 degrees F.
5. Transfer the meat to a platter to rest.
6. Simmer wine, water, Worcestershire sauce, and browning sauce, along with the roasted bones, in a saucepan to make an au jus. After simmering, strain the liquid into a separate saucepan.
7. Place the meat back in the oven to brown for 15-20 minutes.
8. Rest the meat one more time before you slice and serve.
9. Serve with hot Au Jus or our Creamy Horseradish Sauce.

Chef’s Tip – If you prefer your roast to be served at medium doneness instead of medium-rare, remove it from the oven when the thermometer reads 130-135°F. As it rests, it will continue to cook until it reaches a perfect 135-140°F when served.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should prime rib be cooked covered or uncovered? For this prime rib recipe, we leave it uncovered.

Do I need to use a roasting rack? We place the meat directly on the roasted beef bones. If you plan to skip that part, you will need to place a metal rack inside your pan first.

Will this recipe work with a boneless roast? Yes! The cook time will be less, but the finished internal temp (125 degrees F) will be the same.

Do I remove the bones from the meat? No, they can stay in, and additional bones are used to create the drippings for Au Jus and Yorkshire Pudding. Just to clarify – this recipe can be followed for bone-in roasts, or boneless roasts. If the bones are removed, ask your butcher to save them for you to use underneath while roasting the prime rib.

How big of a roast should I buy for only two people? A one-bone roast would probably be enough. They are usually sold in larger cuts, so ask the butcher to cut one down to size for you.

I don’t have a meat thermometer. How long per pound? As noted above, a probe thermometer (like this) is the very best way for you to know when your roast is done. However – generally – plan for about 30 minutes per pound at 250 degrees F. You’ll also need an hour out of the fridge beforehand, and another half hour to rest after.

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What do I serve with Prime Rib?

• Yorkshire Pudding
• Creamy Horseradish Sauce
• Blender Hollandaise Sauce
• Au Jus (included in the recipe below)

You might enjoy these other roast beef recipes:

• Top of the Round Roast
• Eye of the Round Roast
• Perfect Grilled Sirloin Steak
• Perfect Pan-Seared Steak
• Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak

This 5-star recipe originally appeared on A Family Feast in 2014.

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