Standing Rib

Beef Roast

Tools You Will Need

Ingredients:

Bone-In Rib Roast - Choose a 3, 4 or 5 rib roast from the small end. A smaller 2 bone roast is essentially a very thick steak which is very difficult to grill and a cut that small does not roast well.

Spices: Sea salt, pepper, dried rosemary, thyme, garlic, onion, basil, oregano, olive oil. Add your favorite spices.

Traditional Roasting Instructions: (See below for Slow Roasting Method)

Remove the roast from your refrigerator at least six to eight hours prior to cooking to permit the meat to reach room temperature. (This is important. If the center of the roast is cold, the outside will overcook before the inner temperature reaches your desired temperature 122 F degrees (50 C).) A 4 bone roast weighing 7-8 pounds removed from a 36 F (2.2 C) refrigerator will require approximately 7-8 hours to reach room temperature. Rinse the roast under cold water and then pat dry with disposable paper towel. Place the roast on a cutting board and with the boning knife, carefully remove the roast from the bone rack. Trim any excess fat or detached pieces of meat.

Make a paste of your favorite above spices in a small dish of olive oil and rub the paste well into the entire roast.

Return the meat to the bone rack and tie securely with butcher's or cotton twine. Do NOT use a nylon or other "plastic" string. See the top left picture above.

Place the roast in a suitable roasting pan (not a non-stick) such as a cast iron or a stainless steel skillet, uncovered, fat side up, ribs down. The rib bones make a natural rack so a wire rack is not necessary. If you do not plan on using the drippings for Au Jus or gravy then it is a good idea to line the pan with aluminum foil to facilitate cleaning. Insert the cooking thermometer into the center of the largest part of the roast. Preheat the oven to 450F (230C) degrees and place the roast on a center or lower center shelf. Cook at 450 F degrees for fifteen minutes then reduce the temperature to 325F (160C) degrees and cook until the thermometer reaches 122F degrees for a rare roast or 125F for medium rare roast. Remove the pan from the oven and place the roast on a cutting board and cover with a tent of aluminum foil for twenty to thirty minutes permitting the juices to redistribute. While resting, the internal temperature will continue to rise nearly 10F degrees. You may use this time to make your Au Jus or gravy.

After resting the roast, remove the foil tent and using the chef's knife cut the strings and remove the meat from the bone rack. Trim 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch from both ends of the roast and set aside. The bones and the trimmed ends can be used at a future date to make stock or a delicious pot of vegetable beef soup. Again, using the chef's knife you may now slice the roast into your desired serving portions.

A three rib roast will require approximately two hours to reach 122F degrees and a four rib roast will require approximately two hours and fifteen minutes. Pay no attention to the clock. Keep your eye on the thermometer.

Side Dishes:

Favorite side dishes include baked Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold garlic mashed potatoes, pan butter fried asparagus or green beans, horseradish cream sauce and Yorkshire Pudding.

Wine:

This is a rich and hearty meal so to compliment and compete with the robust flavors being served, consider a wine that is equally robust. Great wines for this meal would include a Syrah based Rhone from the Northern Valley such as Cornas or at least Hermitage or Côte-Rôtie (but NOT Côtes du Rhône), a Left Bank Cabernet dominant Bordeaux such as Pauillac, Margot, St. Julien or St. Estephe or, a premium North Coast California Cabernet from Mendocino, Napa or Sonoma would satisfy the most discriminating oenophile. If you really want to please your guests, a Nebbiolo based wine from the Piedmont such as a Barolo or Barbaresco would be an outstanding choice.

Slow Roasting Method:
(My preferred method)

Just as above, place the roast, spice rubbed, secured with cotton or butcher's twine, uncovered, on a cast iron or stainless steel roasting pan, fatty side up, ribs down. Preheat the oven to 220F (104C) degrees and place the pan on a center or lower center shelf. Cook until the thermometer reaches 122F degrees for a rare or 125F for a medium rare roast. Depending upon the size of your roast, this lower cooking temperature will require 3 to 4 hours to bring the internal temperature to 122F degrees. Once again, pay no attention to the clock but keep a close eye on the thermometer. Remove the pan from the oven, remove the thermometer and cover with a tent of aluminum foil for twenty to thirty minutes permitting the juices to redistribute.

While the roast is resting, increase the oven heat to 475F (246C) degrees, remove the foil tent, and return the roast to the oven for 4 to 8 minutes, or until a dark brown crust forms over the top of the roast.

Remove the roast to a cutting board and with your chef's knife, cut and discard the twine, trim the ends, slice the roast to your desired portions and serve immediately.

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