Rib Roast Cooking Methods and Tips

Typical Cooking Methods

• Roasting

• Smoking

General Cooking Recommendations

A full rib roast is a massive piece of meat, typically weighing at least 8 pounds. For this reason, any seasoning or marinating you do needs to happen at least 48 hours before cooking, to allow the flavors to the Traeger rib roast.

Cooking a rib roast is fairly straightforward - especially when you cook it on your wood pellet grill.

How to Cook Rib Roast on Your Traeger

Using a Traeger gives you the flexibility to use the traditional roasting method — or add additional natural woodsmoke flavor by smoking the rib roast.

To smoke a Traeger prime rib recipe, set your Traeger to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and smoke until the internal temperature of the roast reaches 120 degrees. Your prime rib cooking time will be about 3 to 5 hours.

Then, remove the roast and turn the Traeger up to 500 degrees. Once that temperature is reached, replace the roast and cook for approximately 15 minutes until the internal temperature of the roast reaches 130 degrees. This final step will brown the outside of the roast, creating a pleasing crisp texture and incredible aroma.

Before serving, let the roast rest for 20 to 30 minutes, during which time the temperature will rise to the traditional 135 for medium-rare.

For the most accurate internal temperature readings, make sure to get a Bluetooth wireless meat thermometer like the MEATER.

Rib Roast FAQs

Is Rib Roast a Good Cut?

Rib roast is arguably the best cut of all. No other cut has the combination of tenderness and flavor. There's a reason prime rib is the choice for special occasions like weddings and holidays.

How Much Does Rib Roast Cost?

Expect to pay at least $50 for a prime rib roast. But be aware that the price will increase depending on the quality of the meat you choose and the size of the roast. Many prime rib roasts go for $150 or more.

How Do You Know When Rib Roast Is Done?

Rib roast is properly cooked when the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees Fahrenheit. The meat will then continue to cook while it rests, making the final temperature 135 degrees for medium-rare.

What Is a Rib Roast Best For?

A rib roast is best for roasting to medium-rare, then slicing thin and serving.

What Is the Difference Between Rib Roast and Ribeye?

A rib roast contains bones, while a ribeye roast is usually boneless.

Is Rib Roast the Same as Prime Rib?

Yes, rib roast is another name for prime rib.

Can Rib Roast Be Cooked From Frozen?

Don't cook rib roast from frozen. The cut is very large, and the surface of the meat will overcook while the interior remains frozen.

Can Rib Roast Be Cut Into Ribeyes?

Yes, one money-saving trick for steak lovers is to buy a whole rib roast and slice it into ribeyes. You'll likely spend less than if you bought the steaks individually, and you can cut them to the thicknesses you prefer.

Interesting Facts About Rib Roast

Rib roast is sometimes sold as a standing rib roast. In this dramatic presentation, the bones of the rib are left longer so that the rib can stand on the bones during cooking and on the table.

Standing rib roasts are more challenging to carve, however. Most of the time, rib roasts are butchered with the ribs cut flush to the meat.

Sometimes rib roasts are also called prime rib roasts — or the dish resulting from a roasted rib roast is called prime rib.

The word "prime" (in this case) is just an adjective and not related to the designation of USDA Prime, the highest one given by meat inspectors. A rib roast can be sold as "prime rib" even if it is USDA Choice or USDA Select.

Rib Roast Nutritional Facts

According to the USDA, one piece of roasted rib roast contains 1100 calories, 64.3 grams of protein, and 91.9 grams of fat.