Today's Kitchen Tip: How to assure your prime rib roast is cooked perfectly

During the holiday season, many people like to serve prime rib roasts.  If you do, you know how expensive they can be.  It would be a shame to ruin your prime rib because you do not know how to  cook them. 

My best tip is to make sure you do not over or under-cook your roast.  To assure your meal cooks perfectly, you should use a meat thermometer.  It is best to cook your roast by temperature rather than time.  Cooking by time does not account for the exact size of your roast, nor does it account for the differences in ovens.

There are many opinions on the best prime rib recipe.  Some start with a very high temperature then turn down the heat.  I like to keep my oven at 325 degrees F for the entire time.

This chart will help you figure out how long to cook your roast.  Keep in mind that once you remove your meat from the oven, it will continue cooking.  I take my roast out of the oven 10-15 degrees below the temperatures shown.  Once your meat has rested, it will reach the full temperature.

Type of Beef	Size	Cooking Method	Cooking Time	Internal Temperature
Rib Roast, bone in	4 to 6 lbs.	Roast 325°	23-25 min./lb. 27-30 min./lb. 32-34 min./lb.	Rare 140°Medium rare 145° Medium 160° Well done 170°
Rib Roast, boneless rolled	4 to 6 lbs.	Roast 325°	Add 5-8 min./lb. to times above	Same as above

 If you have attended my classes, you know that a meat thermometer is my favorite gadget.  It is the best way to assure your meat is cooked properly.  A $10 gadget can save a $50 piece of meat.

So do not be nervous.  A little knowledge can really help you make the perfect meal.