How To Reheat Prime Rib

Whether restaurant-bought or home-cooked, nothing beats the goodness of a tender and succulent prime rib roast. How about the leftovers, though? Sadly, last night’s prime rib dinner will most likely not be as juicy and pink when reheated. But with these pointers, you can still enjoy a considerably delicious leftover prime rib meal.  Learn how to reheat prime rib using the oven, the stove, and other methods without drying it out. I’ll even give you tips on how to get the best results using the microwave (although I really don’t recommend this). With these reheating methods, you’ll never again underestimate how delicious a meal of leftover prime rib can be.

Reheating in the Oven 

The oven is the perfect appliance for when you need to reheat an entire prime rib roast. Because a conventional oven distributes heat evenly, it warms up the meat evenly as well, no matter how big it is. The only downside is that compared to other methods, reheating in the oven is time-consuming. The result is worth the wait, though. Here’s how:

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Wrap the roast with aluminum foil, leaving a bit of pit on top. Use the space to pour in 1/4 cup of leftover au just beef stock and seal the gap. This will ensure the rib stays nice and moist while in the oven. Seal the rib with more aluminum foil.
3. Heat the roast in the oven in 10-minute intervals. To test for doneness, insert the tip of a meat thermometer at the thickest part of the roast. It’s done when the temperature reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Transfer the prime rib onto a plate immediately to stop it from cooking further. Let it rest for 5 minutes to redistribute its juices.

Using a Steamer to Reheat   

If you need to reheat a slice of prime rib, the steamer is the way to go.  The advantage of using the steamer is that it reheats prime rib pretty quickly.   The downside is, it doesn’t distribute heat very evenly. With the steamer, there’s a chance you’ll get a few cold parts here and there, especially if the meat is thick. This is why I only recommend it for a slice of rib, instead of a whole roast. It can reheat small and thin slices pretty evenly.

1. Fill the pot with 1 to 3 inches of water and bring it to a boil.
2. Wrap the slice of rib in aluminum foil, leaving a small pit on top. Drizzle some leftover au jus or beef stock through the hole to keep the meat moist, and seal the gap.
3. Place the meat in your steamer basket and put the lid on.
4. Steam the meat for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on its thickness. To test for doneness, insert the tip of a meat thermometer at the thickest part of the roast. It’s done when the temperature reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Transfer the prime rib onto a plate immediately to stop it from cooking further. Serve right away.

Reheat in the Microwave 

While I’m not a fan of this method, I do recognize that it is the fastest and most convenient way to reheat food.  If you really don’t have the time (or energy) to reheat prime rib using the other methods, you can use the microwave as the last resort. Just be aware that your prime rib will be nowhere near as pink as juicy as it was freshly cooked. Also, reserve this method for reheating smaller slices of prime rib, instead of thick cuts or an entire roast. Here’s how:

1. Slice the prime rib into more or less equal slices. Place them in a microwave safe-dish. 
2. Drizzle some leftover au jus or beef stock over the meat. Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap.
3. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Check the internal temperature to see if it reads 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If not, continue to microwave in 30-second intervals until it’s warmed to 160.
4. Transfer the prime rib onto a plate immediately to stop it from cooking further. Serve it right away.

How to Reheat Prime Rib Slices 

You can reheat prime rib slices using any of the methods above – the oven, the steamer, or the microwave. Just keep in mind that the time required to reheat will vary depending on the thickness of the meat.  That said, be sure to slice the prime rib into equal or similar sizes so that they reheat evenly. While you definitely should let a whole roast rest after reheating, you don’t want to do the same for prime rib slices. Letting these smaller pieces sit around will only dry them out.

Using a Sous Vide Method to Reheat 

The sous vide method sounds so fancy, but you’ll be surprised at how easy it actually is. Sous vide, which is French for “under vacuum” is a process where food is vacuum-sealed and cooked or reheated in a low-temperature water bath. This method works wonderfully with reheating prime rib as the gentle environment keeps the meat tender and juicy. With this method, you can even reheat rare prime rib and still maintain its doneness.  The drawback is that it requires a lot of time. The sous vide method requires at least an hour to reheat even just small slices of prime rib. But if quality is what you’re after, this is definitely the best route. Here’s how to reheat prime rib using the sous vide method:

1. Slice the rib into even pieces. Place them in a vacuum-sealed pouch.
2. Fill your sous vide machine with water. For medium-rare doneness, set the sous vide to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For medium to well-done, set it to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Place the pouch into the pot and cook for 1 hour. Tip: you don’t need to get a sous vide machine to perform this method. Any large pot will do. 

Serve it Cold 

If you like cold pizza, chances are, you also wouldn’t mind eating cold prime rib. Cut thin slices of leftover prime rib and use them as a sandwich filling.

How Do You Reheat a Roast Without Drying It Out? 

If you’re worried about drying out leftover prime rib while reheating it in the oven, here’s what you can do: Once the oven has reached 300 degrees Fahrenheit, turn it off. Place the roast beef inside and let it reheat for 10 minutes. For frozen prime rib, it’ll take about 20 minutes. However, I don’t recommend reheating prime rib straight from the freezer. It’s best to thaw it in the fridge beforehand. Don’t thaw the meat over the counter to keep it from getting exposed to bacteria. Another great way to ensure the roast doesn’t dry out is to wrap it with aluminum foil. The foil protects the meat from exposure to too much heat, which zaps the juices right out of it. Also, keep the meat moist by drizzling it with leftover au jus or beef stock. 

Can You Reheat a Medium Rare Prime Rib? 

Absolutely. The sous vide is the perfect approach for this scenario. Just be sure that the temperature of the water doesn’t go beyond 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a sous vide machine, place a thermometer in the pot of water to ensure it stays at the right temperature.

Other Tips:

Store leftover prime rib in an air-tight container in the fridge. Prime rib will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. It’s no longer safe to eat beyond that – even if it still looks okay – as it may have already been contaminated with harmful bacteria.Do not store reheated leftover prime rib. Be sure to reheat only what you can eat right away.

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