Whole roasted bone-in prime rib with a herb crust on a wooden carving board
    2 min read Planning Guide

    How Long to Cook a 10 lb Prime Rib?

    Short answer

    About about 4.5–6 h at 250°F (121°C) until 120–125°F inside for medium-rare, then a 30-minute rest and a 10-minute sear at 500°F. For dinner at 6 pm, put it on around 11:45 am.

    Quick guide

    Prime rib (reverse sear)

    6 h 30 min Medium Serves about 10 people
    Roast size (bone-in)
    Doneness
    Pull at (medium-rare)51°C / 125°F

    You need

    • 1 bone-in standing rib roast, 10 lb (4.5 kg)
    • Kosher salt (about 1 tsp per lb / 450 g)
    • Coarse black pepper
    • Garlic-herb butter (optional)
    • Oak or cherry wood for a little smoke (optional)
    1. Dry-brine

      Salt all over (about 1 tsp kosher salt per lb), then refrigerate uncovered for 24 hours, or at least 2. Take it out 1 hour before cooking.

    2. Set up low, indirect heat

      Smoker or grill set up for indirect heat at 107–121°C / 225–250°F.

    3. Low and slow

      Bone side down, lid closed, until the centre reads 51°C / 125°F — about 4.5–6 h (about 30–35 min per lb).

    4. Rest

      Tent loosely with foil and rest 30 minutes. Meanwhile get the grill or oven as hot as it goes.

    5. Sear and carve

      8–10 minutes at 260°C / 500°F or hotter, until the crust is deep brown. It finishes around 55°C / 130°F. Cut away the bones and slice.

    The roast holds, loosely tented, for up to an hour, so finishing early is fine. Finishing late is the only real problem.

    At 225°F / 107°Cabout 5–6.5 h
    At 250°F / 121°Cabout 4.5–6 h
    Pull (medium-rare)120–125°F / 49–52°C
    Servesabout 10 people (5 ribs)

    Numbers for a 10 lb (4.5 kg) bone-in prime rib (5 ribs), cooked low and slow and finished with a hard sear: how long it takes, when to start for dinner, and how many people it serves.

    Cook Time for a 10 lb Prime Rib

    Low-and-slow phase only; add a 30-minute rest and a 10-minute sear.

    Smoker or ovenPer pound10 lb roast
    225°F / 107°Cabout 35 minabout 5–6.5 h
    250°F / 121°C30–35 minabout 4.5–6 h

    Pull it at 115–120°F (46–49°C) for rare, 120–125°F (49–52°C) for medium-rare or 130–135°F (54–57°C) for medium.

    Schedule for Dinner at 6 pm

    At 250°F:

    StepStart at
    Dry-brinethe day before
    Out of the fridge10:45 am
    Light the smoker11:15 am
    Roast on11:45 am
    Off to rest5:00 pm
    Sear at 500°F5:30 pm
    Carve and serve6:00 pm

    The roast holds, tented, for up to an hour, so start a little early.

    Want to skip the guesswork?

    How Many People It Serves

    Plan 1 lb bone-in per person, or one rib for every two guests. A 10 lb roast with 5 ribs serves about 10 people.

    Plan Your Prime Rib

    Answer a few quick questions and get a full step-by-step plan.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does a 10 lb prime rib take at 250°F?

    About about 4.5–6 h to reach 120–125°F for medium-rare, then 30 minutes of resting and a 10-minute sear.

    How long does a 10 lb prime rib take at 225°F?

    About about 5–6.5 h, roughly 35 minutes per lb, plus resting and searing.

    How many people does a 10 lb prime rib feed?

    About 10 people: 1 lb bone-in each, or one rib for every two guests.

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