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Sliced bone-in prime rib roast with a rosy medium-rare center and herb crust on a wood carving board

Perfect Prime Rib Roast

A foolproof reverse-seared prime rib roast with an edge-to-edge rosy pink center and a deep, crackly herb crust, the showstopping centerpiece for any holiday dinner.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

For the roast
  • 1 bone-in standing rib roast (about 8 lbs, 4 bones) bones cut off and tied back on
  • 2 tbsp kosher salt for the overnight dry brine
  • 1 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
Herb butter
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped

Method
 

Dry brine (the day before)
  1. Pat the roast completely dry. Rub the kosher salt all over it, set it on a rack over a sheet pan, and refrigerate uncovered overnight, up to two days. The salt seasons deep into the meat and dries the surface so it browns beautifully later.
Roast low and slow
  1. Take the roast out of the fridge 2 to 3 hours before cooking so it loses its chill. A cold center cooks unevenly. Heat the oven to 250°F (120°C).
  2. Mash the softened butter together with the minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, black pepper, and garlic powder. Smear this herb butter all over the roast.
  3. Set the roast bone-side down in a roasting pan so the bones act as a natural rack. Insert a leave-in thermometer into the thickest part of the center, away from bone.
  4. Roast until the center reads 120°F for medium-rare, about 25 to 30 minutes per pound at this low temperature (roughly 3 to 3.5 hours for an 8-pound roast). Start checking early and trust the thermometer, not the clock.
Rest, then reverse-sear
  1. Pull the roast and tent it loosely with foil. Let it rest 20 to 30 minutes while you crank the oven as high as it goes, 500°F (260°C).
  2. Return the rested roast to the screaming-hot oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until the crust is deep brown and crackly. Keep an eye on it so it does not burn.
  3. Move the roast to a cutting board. Slice against the grain into thick slabs and serve right away, with au jus and horseradish cream on the side.

Notes

Carryover cooking: the temperature climbs 8 to 10°F during the rest and sear, so a 120°F pull lands around 130°F medium-rare. Pull at 110 to 115°F for rare or 130°F for medium. Save the bones and pan drippings for a quick au jus.