Prime rib is the creme de la creme of beef roasts. The price reflects that, so when you splurge on one, you want to make sure it comes out right. Today, I will teach you how to cook prime rib!
Ingredients:
- prime rib roast
- salt and pepper
- thyme
- rosemary
- garlic
Prepping Prime Rib Roast
The first step in prepping the prime rib roast is to take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. This often overlooked step is more important when grilling or immediately searing, but it also helps here. Items in the refrigerator are chilled to 38 degrees Fahrenheit, so allowing them to come to room temperature gives you a free start to the cooking process. Just don’t leave it out too long in the temperature danger zone!
Once the prime rib roast is at room temperature, you’ll want to generously coat the outside of the roast with seasoning of your choice. I chose thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper in the ingredients list. These are classic roast seasonings that most people will find agreeable and delicious.
After seasoning the roast, you will want to place it on a rack in a roasting pan. While you can set the roast directly in the pan, this would have it cooking in its own juices, a method we are not going for in this recipe. Make sure to place it fat side up. This allows the fat to baste the meat as it renders.
The final step in prep is to preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. This may seem low, but I’ll be explaining the cooking method in the next section. The key is not to overcook the rib roast, and the low temperature will give you more wiggle room to accomplish that.
How To Cook Prime Rib Roast Using A Reverse Sear
We are going to be cooking the prime rib roast using a reverse sear method. That means we will first cook the roast in the oven, and then sear the outside with high heat AFTER most of the cooking has taken place. This method allows you to more easily get the right temperature without burning the outside.
With the oven preheated to 250 degrees and the prime rib secure in its roasting pan, put it in the oven. A rib typically takes about 15-20 minutes per pound at this temperature. However, this can vary from roast to roast. The best way to keep track of the temperature is with a meat thermometer.
This model from Chef iQ is on sale at Amazon and has a four and a half star rating. It’s wireless and can be tracked right on your smartphone. I wouldn’t play when it comes to an expensive cut of meat like prime rib; get yourself a meat thermometer!
Cook the roast until it reaches approximately 10-15 degrees below your desired temperature. I recommend medium rare, but this totally comes down to personal taste. Take the roast out when it reaches this temperature and temporarily let it rest for at least 30 minutes
While the roast is resting, crank your oven up to its highest temperature. Put the roast back in the oven for about 10 minutes after the resting period. This will create the sear and give the roast a beautiful crust. Just make sure you don’t overcook it! Once your roast has the crust, slice it up and serve. Now you know how to cook prime rib!
What To Serve With Prime Rib Roast
My favorite side with prime rib roast is roasted potatoes. These can be placed at the bottom of the pan while the prime rib is roasting, and they will absorb some of the juice from the meat. This will give them an excellent flavor. Mashed potatoes are a good alternative.
Yorkshire pudding is a great traditional bread to go with a rib roast, especially if you are looking for an old English feel like in classic Christmas stories. Sweet Hawaiian rolls will also work, as the sweetness of the rolls is an excellent contrast to the savory roast.
Roast vegetables can add some healthy fiber to the dinner. Asparagus pairs well with almost any meat. Carrots can be roasted at the bottom of the pan along with potatoes. Peas are another veggie that pairs well with roasts.
If you are looking for a more modern addition, you can’t go wrong with mac and cheese. Check out my recipe for Southern Mac and Cheese if you need a recipe to go with the roast!
