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How Do Restaurants Keep Prime Rib Warm?

By: Author Price of Meat Team

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How Do Restaurants Keep Prime Rib Warm?

Prime rib, or what is also called standing rib roast, is a delicious cut of meat that is one of the top favorites for diners everywhere. Whether it’s ordered individually or kept at a buffet, keeping prime rib warm is essential.

So how do restaurants keep prime rib warm? The following are several important tips you need to know regarding how professionals keep prime rib warm and tasting delicious.

How do restaurants heat up prime rib?

Restaurants need to keep their prime rib warm to keep their food safe, tasting delicious, and customers happy.

Keeping food at the right internal temperature is critical for a variety of important reasons. There are a few different methods that restaurants often use to keep the meat warm.

1. First Method: Heat in the Oven

  • Heat Oven Low – This process involves heating the oven anywhere between 150 and 200 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature rises above 200, the meat will start cooking again. 
  • Cover with Foil – Before placing the prime rib in the low-heated oven, make sure to cover the meat firmly with foil. This will keep the outer layer from getting too crispy. 
  • Remove and Rest – While you can keep the ribs in the oven on low heat indefinitely, you will likely want to take them out when getting ready to serve again. Keeping the foil on the meat, remove the prime rib from the oven and allow it to rest for 15 to 30 minutes before serving.

2. Second Method: Use a Warming Plate

  • Use a Warming Plate or Serving Platter – You might want to keep the prime rib out of the oven for an extended period of time. For example, if you’re serving a large number of people or for a special occasion, you’ll want the meat set out so people can serve themselves.
  • Choose the Best Plate or Platter – There are a variety to choose from, including flat warming trays that hold the food in the original dish or container. There are also buffet style trays you can transfer the food to. The Food and Drug Administration offers safety tips when using warming dishes and trays.
  • Select the Best Temperature – Many heating plates will have a variety of temperatures to choose from. Again, you want to make sure the meat doesn’t overcook. You’ll want to select a warming mode that will simply keep the meat warm.

How do you keep prime rib at temp?

The easiest and most effective way to keep your prime rib at the right temperature is to consistently use a good thermometer.

Cooking times will vary depending on different factors such as individual ovens and how much fat content is in the meat. You’ll want to use a thermometer to determine when the prime rib is done cooking.

Knowing when the meat is done will depend on whether you want it rare, well done, or somewhere in between.

According to Serious Eats you’ll want to use an instant read thermometer. They also recommend the following temperatures for rare, medium, and well-done prime rib.

Keep in mind that these are actual cooking temperatures since the internal temp of the meat will rise during the resting phase an average of 5 to 10 degrees.

Rare – You’ll need to cook the meat so it reaches no more than 115 degrees Fahrenheit while in the oven. The temperature will rise slightly while resting.

Medium Rare – You’ll want your temperature to reach 120 while cooking. It will then reach approximately 130 degrees when resting.

Medium – Medium prime rib should be cooked to 125-130 degrees. It will reach approximately 135-140 degrees when resting.

Medium Well – Meat needs to reach around 150 degrees Fahrenheit to be considered medium well.

Well – You’ll want your meat to reach at least 160 degrees during the resting phase to be well-done.

How do you reheat prime rib without overcooking it?

There are two basic tips to remember when reheating prime rib in the oven.

1. Keep the Meat Covered with Foil 

2. Keep the Meat Saturated 

While following the first two tips, heat your oven to between 200 and 250 degrees. Add Au ju or beef stock to keep the meat moist when reheating.

A powerful microwave can quickly leave the meat dry and take the pink out of it. If you’re in a jam, however, there are a few important tips to keep in mind when reheating with the microwave.

1. Use a Microwave Safe Bowl and lid

2. Use Broth to Keep Moist

How long you reheat in the microwave will depend on the size of the prime rib and the strength of your microwave.

You’ll generally want to heat 1 to 2 minutes, just until the meat is warm. After taking the meat out of the microwave, transfer it immediately to a serving plate so it doesn’t continue to cook.

Can you cook prime rib ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook prime rib one or two days ahead of time. You may want to add extra salt to the top of the meat to make sure it comes out juicy. Chef Bobby Flay states that using extra salt on top before cooking will, “…keep the prime rib incredibly juicy.” To cook ahead, follow these steps:

1. After cooking the prime rib you’ll want to allow it to cool to room temperature. Then cover the meat and refrigerate.

2. Between two and three hours before you want to serve the roast, take it out of the oven and allow it to reach room temperature.

3. About 15 minutes before it’s time to eat, put the prime rib in the oven and broil around 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes. This will reheat the meat while creating a nice crust.

4. Transfer the meat to the serving plate.

Why Would You Need to Keep Prime Rib Warm?

There are several reasons you might need to keep prime rib (or chicken or really any meat) warm.

  • Cooking Quickly – Sometimes a piece of meat will get done more quickly than you anticipated. You’ll want to keep it warm without overcooking it until it’s time to serve. Sometimes you’re just very efficient at following a recipe and everything gets done ahead of time!
  • Two Meals – You might want to have prime rib for both lunch and dinner. Since food often doesn’t taste the same after being refrigerated and then reheated, you’ll want to keep it warm for several hours between both meals.
  • Special Occasion – Whether it’s a family reunion, birthday party, or holiday celebration, you may want to keep the prime rib at a specific temperature for a large gathering that will last most of the day.

Further Reading:

You might want to check out the following information to help make sure not only your prime rib, but your entire meal is as incredible as possible.