If your holiday dinner plans include roasting a prime rib, then be prepared to enjoy any leftover meaty slices for days to come! Trouble is, sometimes reheating prime rib turns the meat dry and gray. To the rescue: We talked to a top chef for the best ways to heat up leftovers so they retain all the flavors of this rich and hearty beef roast. Here’s how to reheat prime rib so it’s tender and delicious a second time around!
What cut is a prime rib?
Prime rib is cut from the rib primal section of the cow. It’s popular for roasting because it contains lots of marbling (fat streaks) that keep the meat succulent as it cooks. Whether you opt for a bone-in or boneless variety, a 8- to 10-pound prime rib can feed several people and leave you with yummy leftovers that last for up to 4 days in the fridge. When you’re ready to enjoy those leftovers, reheating them on the stove or in the oven yields buttery results every time!
Chef’s #1 secret for moist reheated prime rib
You’ve already done the hard work of roasting your prime rib to perfection the day of. Now, Courtney Rada, chef and TV host, suggests gently reheating it to avoid tough and dry meat. “The trick is to cook it at a low temperature with some extra moisture to ensure it doesn’t dry out or lose that pink, tender center,” she says. A mild temperature and any leftover au jus (meat juices) will go a long way to creating succulent reheated prime rib.
For 1 or 2 slices: reheating prime rib in a steamer
If you’re only reheating a slice or two of prime rib, try this stovetop steamer method as it’s a quick and hassle-free option. All you need is a steamer insert that fits nicely over your pot and foil to hold in the meat’s juices. Then, you can follow Rada’s five steps for steaming success:
Note: If your steamer basket is too small, do this process one slice at a time.
For a whole roast: reheating prime rib in the oven
A prime rib that’s still left whole yields more slices and is best warmed up in the oven for evenly heated meat. Here, Rada shares her six steps for reheating a whole prime rib roast in the oven:
A delicious prime rib recipe worth reheating
Our test kitchen’s Rosemary-Kissed Prime Rib recipe is mouthwatering the day of and even more delicious once reheated. Serve it with sides like crockpot scalloped potatoes, instant pot collard greens or Christmas casseroles to complete your festive feast!
Rosemary-Kissed Prime Rib

We coated this tender centerpiece with a savory rub and finished it with a pat of herb-and-garlic infused butter for an extra dose of deliciousness.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 Tbs. olive oil
- 1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
- ½ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 (6 to 7 lb.) standing rib beef roast
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Directions:
- Active: 40 mins
- Total time: 5 hrs, 20 mins
- Yield: 12 servings
Continue reading for more tips on reheating your favorite leftovers!
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