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Wondering What to Do with Prime Rib Cooking Too Fast? My Ultimate Guide Has the Answers

Prime Rib Cooking Too Fast

Prime rib makes a glorious centerpiece for a holiday table, or any special occasion.

But because the cut is so large, it can be difficult to master the recipe. What’s more, the meat will be ruined if you allow it to overcook.

Although I have plenty of experience in the kitchen myself, I’ve gathered supplemental information from numerous websites. For example, I paid close attention to forums where other chefs have gathered to discuss this very issue.

Once you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll know just what to do with prime rib cooking too fast. We’ll discuss the following:

  • Whether you should leave prime rib out before cooking, and if so, for how long
  • The proper cooking temperature to use for prime rib
  • About how long the meat will take to cook at this temperature
  • How to keep the meat warm prior to serving
  • How to tell if prime rib is done
  • Correct serving temperatures for rare, medium rare, and medium

Getting this meal on the table at the appointed time can be a real challenge. In fact, some people have been known to rally their guests at an earlier hour to avoid overcooking the beef.


I’ve put together this guide to help you avoid a similar fate!

Prime Rib Cooking Too Fast

Because overcooking the prime rib is the last thing I want to do, I’ve made sure to learn as much as I can about how to prepare this cut to perfection. Here’s what I found out.

  1. 1. Should You Leave Prime Rib Out Before Cooking? →
  2. 2. Best Cooking Temperature for Prime Rib →
  3. 3. How Long To Cook a Prime Rib Per Pound →
  4. 4. What To Do With Prime Rib Cooking Too Fast →
  5. 5. How To Keep Cooked Prime Rib Warm →
  6. 6. How To Tell if Prime Rib is Done →
  7. 7. Ideal Serving Temperature for Prime Rib →
  8. 8. Useful Resources →

Should You Leave Prime Rib Out Before Cooking?

It’s best to take the roast out of the fridge for 1 to 2 hours before you cook it. Smaller cuts don’t need to sit out for as long, but large roasts should come to room temperature for 2 hours.

Should You Leave Prime Rib Out Before Cooking

Don’t be tempted to leave the meat out any longer than that. If it sits at room temp for too long, it will become a breeding ground for the types of bacteria that cause food poisoning.

If you put the roast in the oven while it’s still cold, it won’t do any harm. But it might take longer for the meat to reach the ideal serving temperature.

Best Cooking Temperature for Prime Rib

Prime rib cooking too fast is often the result of an oven temperature that’s too high.

Ideally, you should set the oven or smoker to 325 degrees when prime rib is on the menu. Some chefs prefer to roast it even more slowly, using an oven temperature of 250.


To quote FoodsGuy:

You can roast primal rib at different temperatures depending on how much time you have as well as your preferences of the level of doneness. As you might guess, the lower the temperature the slower the meat will cook.

If you’re worried that the meat will cook too fast, you might want to use the lower setting. However, as long as you follow the timing guidelines in the section below, the prime rib should reach the optimum serving temperature about when you expect it to.

How Long To Cook a Prime Rib Per Pound

No matter which oven temperature I choose, I always sear the prime rib over high heat first. This seals in the juices and gives the meat a wonderfully flavored crust.

For smaller cuts, I sear the meat in a hot skillet on the stove. If the prime rib weighs more than 7 or 8 pounds, though, I place it in a 450-degree oven for 15 minutes instead.

How Long to Cook Prime Rib Per Pound

You can learn more about searing meat on the stovetop while using the oven in this article.

After searing the prime rib, I lower the oven temperature to 325 and roast the meat for 17 to 20 minutes per pound. A 10-pound prime rib roast should finish cooking in 2-1/2 to 3 hours at this temperature.

When the oven is set to 250 degrees, the meat cooks at a rate of about 25 minutes per pound. So that same 10-pound cut could take over 4 hours to finish cooking.

What To Do With Prime Rib Cooking Too Fast

When you’re dealing with prime rib cooking too fast, try turning down the oven temperature. This could slow things down enough for you to have dinner on the table at the appointed hour.

What if the meat is finished cooking and you still have an hour or more to go before your planned serving time? In that case, you have a couple of options, which we’ll discuss more in the section below.

How To Keep Cooked Prime Rib Warm

Once you’ve taken the prime rib out of the oven or smoker, wrap it in foil and set it aside to rest. Depending on how large the roast is, you can get away with resting it for an hour or more.

How to Keep Cooked Prime Rib Warm

If you need to keep the meat warm for longer than that, keep it in a low oven. The oven temperature should be set to 180 or even 150 degrees, depending on your oven’s settings.

Another option is to fill a cooler with hot water, then close the lid and let it sit for 30 minutes. After emptying the cooler, line it with clean towels and place the wrapped prime rib inside for up to 4 hours.

This piece from LeafTV provides tips on keeping the prime rib warm when you serve it:

Serve the prime rib on heating plates to help maintain temperature while eating.

How To Tell if Prime Rib is Done

The only way to tell for sure if prime rib has finished cooking is to test the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.

How to Tell If Prime Rib is Done

You don’t want to keep poking the roast full of holes, though. Doing so will cause the juices to leak out, and will ruin your presentation to boot.

Invest in an instant-read thermometer with a probe that can stay in the roast as it cooks. That way, you can keep an eye on the meat’s internal temp without piercing it multiple times.

Presentation is an important factor, especially when serving guests. In this article, you can learn how to keep bacon from curling so that it lies flat on the plate.

This video provides useful tips on serving a beautiful prime rib roast:


Ideal Serving Temperature for Prime Rib

Prime rib is best served medium-rare. That’s how I always serve it, but if you would prefer it rare or medium, those temperatures are acceptable too.

Beef is considered medium-rare when it hits the temperature range between 130 and 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Because the prime rib will continue to cook as it rests, you should take it out of the oven at around 125 degrees.


For rare beef, stop cooking the roast at 115 degrees for a serving temp of 120-125. Let it cook to 125 for a medium serving temp of 135-140.

I don’t recommend cooking prime rib past 145 degrees. If you do, it will have the consistency of shoe leather—not ideal when you’ve spent so much time and effort on the meal.

Check out this video to help you create the perfect prime rib:

A FoodSaver can help you deal with any leftovers. Read tips on how to clean your Foodsaver device by clicking here.

Useful Resources

In Conclusion

Prime rib cooking too fast is a common issue, but one that’s easy to avoid. With a hot oven, a reliable thermometer, and a cool head, you should be able to get dinner on the table at the appointed hour.

Cindy Becker
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