The Ideal Roasting Temperature For Tender Prime Rib

A perfectly roasted prime rib may not be inexpensive, but it's both easy to prepare and tastes impressive. The Spruce Eats explains that your prime rib roast comes from the rib's primal cut, which is extremely tender, second only to tenderloin. They describe it as a large cut of excellent beef, so since you've invested good money in good meat, all you really have to do is not mess it up!

Prepping your prime rib roast is pretty simple. Because the roast is so large, The Spruce Eats recommends removing it from the refrigerator about three hours before it needs to go into the oven. Putting a refrigerator-temperature roast directly in the oven is a recipe for disaster, as you're likely to end up with an overdone exterior and a near-raw interior. Before you roast your prime rib, make sure to season it properly, which means not skimping on the salt. While the actual roasting of this meat cut is the easiest part, it's important to get it just right.

The Kitchn suggests oven-searing the prime rib at a very high temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but only for 15 minutes. Once the roast is beautifully browned, drop the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook until it reaches the desired doneness. Because each prime rib roast will cook a bit differently, it's important to use a thermometer to check the temperature rather than relying solely on a timer.

Prime rib is best served medium-rare for optimal tenderness, so you should cook it until it reaches 120-135 degrees Fahrenheit. If you prefer your meat less done, it's considered rare at 115 degrees Fahrenheit. However, if you're pressed for time, you can forego the oven and achieve prime rib perfection by following our Instant Pot method, using the meat thermometer to ensure you've reached the same ideal temperature of 120-135 degrees Fahrenheit. Your final step is to make sure you allow time for the prime rib roast to rest before you slice and serve it.