THE BEST Kosher Salt Encrusted Prime Rib Recipe | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

How much kosher salt per pound of prime rib? ›

In a small bowl, measure out about ¾ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt per pound of meat, and mix in freshly ground black pepper.

Salt encrusting is a unique cooking method that requires a salt-and-water paste, which encases meat to cook it gently. The crust is removed before serving, and the result is an evenly cooked rib roast that's perfectly tender with a slight bit of saltiness around the edges.

It's no secret that roasts need to cook slow and slow, but for that killer crust on a prime rib the secret is to hit it with a lot of heat first. Like our other prime rib recipes, this rosemary-rubbed prime rib cooks at 450F for 20 minutes before cooking for another 60 to 90 minutes at 350F.

1-2 DAYS AHEAD: Dry brine roast with the proper amount of kosher salt (see recipe below) for at least 24, but up to 48 hours. CALCULATE COOKING TIME: 10 pounds multiplied by 14 minutes per pound = a total cooking time of 140 minutes. ROOM TEMP: Allow a 5-rib roast to sit at room temperature for 5 hours before roasting.

Place the roast, bone side down, on the salt. Season the meat with the ground black pepper and seasoning salt, then cover completely with kosher salt. Roast in preheated oven for 4 to 5 hours, or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

Step 1: Season Overnight

This is a hefty cut of meat. Because of its density, it requires extra time for the salt in your seasoning to penetrate deep into the roast. The day before you plan to cook, you should generously season it with salt and pepper (and we mean generously).

If you don't have time to let the meat sit for at least 40 minutes, wait to salt until right before cooking. Otherwise, you'll lose some juices and make it more challenging to brown your meat. Don't salt more than 3 days in advance. It may start to dry out and get a leathery texture.

Salt the Prime Rib Overnight

Rub a good quality kosher salt all over the meat the day before you want to cook it. Now, place it in the refrigerator overnight, UNCOVERED in order to enhance the beefy flavor while dissolving some of the proteins, which yields a buttery-tender, juicy roast.

Worrying About Seasoning

In fact, the longer the salt sits on the surface of the meat, the more moisture will get sucked out of it, which is the complete opposite of what you want. So by all means, salt and pepper generously, but you only need enough on the surface to season every bite, including the non-edge sections.

How do restaurants make prime rib so tender? The secret to restaurant-style prime rib is cooking the meat super slow at low temperatures. I recommend cooking prime rib at no higher than 200 degrees F. This cooks the meat very slowly, turning the fat into butter and rendering the proteins juicy and soft.

Should you sear prime rib before baking? ›

Searing is an important part of roasting a prime rib. Searing the roast first will kill the surface bacteria, which is a nice touch, especially when you are roasting at lower temperatures.

Start by cooking your prime rib at 500°F for 15 minutes and then lower the oven temperature to 325° F and cook for 10-12 min per pound for rare, or 13-14 min per pound for medium rare, or 14-15 min per pound for medium well. A meat thermometer is essential to ensure you cook it perfectly!

Appearance: Kosher salt crystals are coarse and pebble-shaped, whereas sea salt is more delicate and crystals can take on a flaky or pyramid-like shape. Use: Kosher salt is typically used to season ingredients in everyday cooking applications during the cooking process.

Brown the roast at 500°F (or as high as your oven will go) for 15 minutes. Lower the oven to 325°F to finish roasting: Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Roast in the oven until the thermometer registers 115°F for rare or 120° for medium rare, and 130°F for medium.

Preparing the Prime Rib Roast

Pull the rib roast out of the fridge and let temper on the counter for three hours. USDA guidelines requires food not be held above 33°F (1°C) for more than 4 hours. A three-hour rest on the counter is well within time constraints.

Add approximately ½ teaspoon of coarse kosher salt per pound of meat to the entire exterior, 360 degrees around. If you have a 9lb prime rib, after trimming, you'll use about 4 ½ teaspoons of coarse Kosher salt. A little extra won't hurt on thick roasts.

1.5 teaspoons of kosher salt per pound of meat is a good place to start. If you don't have time to let the meat sit for at least 40 minutes, wait to salt until right before cooking. Otherwise, you'll lose some juices and make it more challenging to brown your meat. Don't salt more than 3 days in advance.

Curing salts are concentrated and intended to be used in minute quantities, about 1 oz./30 g per 1 Lb./450 g. per 25 lb./11.25 kg. of meat.

Proper Salting Proportions

For raw meats, poultry, fish, and seafood: 3/4 to 1 teaspoon Kosher salt per pound. If using table salt, cut back to 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoons per pound.