Prime Rib

This recipe for prime rib is a must for Christmas dinner! This classic recipe will show you how easy and impressive it is to make.

Every Christmas, for…I don’t know how many years, we’ve had prime rib. It wouldn’t be Christmas without the beautiful roast, creamed horseradish and creamed spinach.

A few years back, we added Rack of Pork and all the Scandinavian accompaniments to the Christmas menu. Yes, it’s a lot of food…and yes, it’s pretty elaborate. It is incredibly delicious, too! (This post was originally posted on December 4th, 2013, and has been updated to contain nutritional information. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.)

We celebrate Christmas in traditional British fashion, full-stop with crackers, paper crowns and corny jokes! Although the Yorkshire pudding doesn’t make it on the menu every year, Trifle is always present. Two kinds of horsey sauce; creamed horseradish and the straight stuff, as well as mashed potatoes, are always on the table.

What is prime rib?

Prime rib is also known as a standing rib roast. Not all standing roasts are prime rib though. It’s called Prime Rib, not Choice Rib or Select Rib for a reason.  Yep, it costs a pretty penny. That’s why we have it once a year, on Christmas Day. But, don’t be confused by the term “prime” which can also refer to cut as well as the USDA grade.

How many people will a roast feed?

Most full prime rib roasts have 7 ribs which is enough for about 10 people with leftovers. Depending on how many ribs your roast has, it could weigh anywhere between 6 pounds for 1 rib and 14 for the full 7 ribs. But you’ll need to base it on the weight of the roast and how big your guest’s appetites are! Figure on 1 pound per person, roughly. The prime rib restaurant I worked at had a few cuts, the “the petite” which was just thin slices of beef,  the standard cut with the bone and “the end cut”, which is just that. Since they are only two end cuts per roast, those were usually reserved in advance by those in the know. Those with large appetites will want a slice of prime rib with the bone.

How do you cook prime rib?

First make sure you get the best quality meat you can afford. If you have a good quality piece of meat, it requires nothing more than kosher salt and pepper for seasoning and a hot oven.

The method and directions remain the same regardless of the size of your roast. The roasting time will be based how much your roast weighs. Be sure you write down the weight and approximate cooking time, making sure to check a half an hour or so with a thermometer.

You’ll need a heavy roasting pan like this one, with moveable rack.

This recipe for Prime Rib recipe come from the Time-Life Series, The Cooking of the British Isles, 1969.

At what temperature should prime rib be roasted?

For best results, bring your roast out of the refrigerator at least an hour before you plan on roasting it so it is not ice cold. The method this recipe uses starts the prime rib at a temperature of 500 F. After 20 minutes, reduce the oven to 350 degrees F. and continue cooking until done.

What temperature should prime rib be cooked?

I prefer to err on the rarer side, as it’s always easier to cook a roast more, but impossible to go back once you’ve over-cooked it! This is when a meat thermometer is imperative. I use a thermometer to check the roast in several different spots to make sure that one side isn’t cooking faster than another.

Rotate the roast if your oven is uneven half-way through cooking. Pull the meat at 115 degrees F. for rare, 120 to 125 degrees F. for medium rare, and 125-130 for medium. I wouldn’t suggest cooking it more than medium!

Remember that the internal temperature will continue to rise after removing roast from the oven. Insert the thermometer in the center of the roast. The center will be rarest and the ends will be medium to medium-well ensuring that everyone gets their meat to their liking. The English restaurant I worked at reserved the end-cuts. Those in-the-know would call ahead to hold an end-cut.

How long should prime rib cook?

You should figure on about 15 minutes per pound for rare to medium rare prime rib.  A larger roast, should take about 15-18 minutes per pound. A eight pound roast, shown here, start to check the internal temperature after 90 minutes.

How long should the meat rest?

After the roast has reached the proper temperature, remove it from the oven and tent it with foil. It will continue cooking. Usually the hardest part of any holiday meal is timing everything so that it arrives on the table hot all at once. Take the opportunity when your prime rib is resting to finish heating up the sides.

What do you serve with prime rib?

Horseradish is a must. You can either serve straight horseradish or use this recipe for creamed horseradish which cuts the heat and is divine any beef! The English restaurant also served the meal with Creamed Spinach and Creamed Corn. We serve the rib with two kinds of horseradish, the straight stuff and creamed horseradish.  Make sure when you buy the bottled horseradish it’s just pure horseradish or your creamed horseradish sauce will be too mild.