The Best Way To Reheat Prime Rib So It's Not Dry

Perfect for both holiday parties and family dinners, prime rib offers a delectable but hearty main course — just don't salt it too early. Since it's often cooked as a whole roast, it's safe to say you'll probably have some leftover prime rib on your hands unless you're serving the hungriest of eaters. With that in mind, how do you reheat prime rib and get the best quality results? After all, the meat is known for its warm pink center. Similar to reheating steak, the last thing you want is to turn your prime rib to hardened leather. 

To reheat prime rib, you'll need to introduce some moisture in the mix. This will help protect your prime rib leftovers when you reheat them in the oven. Simply baste your leftover meat in a few teaspoons of broth or leftover juices from the roast. You can add water as well, but it should be noted that it might dilute the flavor somewhat. From there, cover your roast in aluminum foil. This will also help protect your prime rib from the harsh heat of the oven. Depending on the size of your prime rib, it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes to reheat. You want to aim for an internal temperature between 140 degrees Fahrenheit (for medium rare) and 160 degrees Fahrenheit (for slightly more cooked).

Reheating in the oven is best for reheating a whole roast. If you're just reheating slices of prime rib, consider another method.

You may be tempted to toss your slice of prime rib in the microwave and call it a day. But, if you care about the quality of your prime rib, you should reconsider. The microwave will make your prime rib both overdone and tougher to chew.  Instead, if you have slices of prime rib then you should cook them in a steamer on the stovetop on medium to low heat. 

Place your prime rib slices in a steamer basket. If you don't have a steamer basket, you can use an aluminum pie plate in a pot as a makeshift basket. From there, you would still add your liquid (either broth or water) to prevent your prime rib from drying out. Likewise, you should also wrap your prime rib in an aluminum pouch to help protect the meat from the direct heat of the stove. The moisture in the steamer will cause your prime rib to reheat without having to worry about overcooking it. It should cook in about three to six minutes. 

Whether you're planning to reheat the whole roast or reheat it sliced the next day, try to store your leftover prime rib intact for the best results. You should also add a bit of broth or leftover au ju to keep the meat moist in the fridge and keep it from drying out there. Wrap it in plastic wrap (which you should keep frozen to avoid sticking) and store it in your fridge until you're ready to reheat it.