The ultimate guide on how to freeze leftover prime rib so that it tastes just as tender, juicy, and flavorful as when you first made it. Freezing cooked prime rib is a great way to extend the lifespan of your holiday roast beef so you can enjoy every last bite! Avoid freezer burn and make the most of your leftovers with this prime rib freezing guide.
If you stumbled on this page looking for how to freeze raw prime rib, you can find those instructions linked here. Make sure you follow my guidelines for choosing the best prime rib roast for the tastiest results.
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🧊 How To Freeze Cooked Prime Rib (or Any Beef)
Refrigerating prime rib is great if you know you will finish the leftovers in the next few days. Otherwise, you should freeze your prime rib leftovers to avoid having to throw them out.
I put together these easy-to-follow instructions so that your thawed beef with be just as tasty as it was when you first made it.
Instructions For Freezing Cooked Prime Rib
Once you've cooked your delectable roast and dinner has ended, it's time to start packing the leftovers. If you know you plan on freezing them, it's best to do it the day of cooking rather than letting the meat spend days in the fridge first.
Step 1: Let it cool. Check that your roast has cooled to room temperature (if not, wait another 15-30 minutes and check again).
Step 2: Slice or portion (optional). I prefer slicing leftover beef because it takes up less space in the freezer, and you can portion it so you only thaw what you need.
Step 3: Portion it. Slice thin for lunch meat that can make cold sandwiches once thawed or chunks that are ready to mix into soup or pasta dishes. Large slices that can be reheated and portioned work, too.
Step 4: Wrap airtight. Air is the enemy of frozen meat. First, wrap the prime rib tightly in plastic cling film, aluminum foil, or vacuum-sealed bags.
Step 5: Double wrap or seal. Wrap the meat again with plastic wrap or foil or seal it in a storage bag or sealed container.
Step 6: Label. Label your meat with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. Always thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How Long Does Leftover Prime Rib Last In The Freezer?
A whole cooked roast can be frozen for 3-4 months, whereas slices are closer to 3 months because more surface area of the meat is exposed.
See more on how long you can keep prime rib in the freezer for storing information on raw prime rib, as well as helpful tips and tricks!
Can I Freeze Whole Prime Rib?
I highly recommend slicing your leftover prime rib to save storage space and make thawing and reheating leftovers easier. Plus, if you plan to slice it after thawing anyway, you save yourself the extra step later!
You can freeze a prime rib roast whole if you prefer, and it will even add a little time to how long you can keep it in the freezer. However, it could take 24 hours or longer to thaw, depending on size.
🌡️ How To Thaw Frozen Prime Rib
Thawing in the refrigerator is the safest and best option because it maintains a consistent temperature, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. Place your prime rib on a tray or shallow pan to catch any potential drips!
Allow approximately 24 hours of thawing time for every 5 pounds (2.27 kilograms) of meat.
💧 Cold Water Thawing:
You can use cold water to thaw if you don't have time to wait for your prime rib to thaw in the fridge. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends using water that is 70°F (21°C) or lower.
Wrap the meat so that it is airtight and submerge it in a large container of cold water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Allow about 1 hour of thawing time for every pound (0.45 kilogram) of meat.
See my page on how to safely thaw prime rib for detailed step-by-step instructions and more thawing methods.
Once your prime rib is thawed, cooking it as soon as possible is best. You can keep thawed prime rib in the fridge for 3-5 days, but the less time it spends in the fridge, the better the taste and texture.
>>>See All Of My Tasty Recipes Here!<<<
🍽️ What To Make With Prime Rib Leftovers
There's nothing wrong with reheating and eating leftovers. However, prime rib is so versatile it can make an excellent protein in a number of other recipes!
You could make a gourmet beef pot pie or fry up some crispy prime rib taquitos. How about the best breakfast burrito you ever had or a super satisfying prime rib Philly cheesesteak sandwich?
Those are just a few reader favorites; you can find my full collection of leftover prime rib recipes here! Psst! More are always being added to the list - so bookmark the page!
💭 Tips For Freezing Leftover Cooked Prime Rib
I put together this list of tips to help you freeze your leftover prime rib easily.
- Cool it. Make sure you let your prime rib cool to room temperature before you freeze it. If you stick it in the freezer while it's still warm, it will create condensation and form ice crystals.
- Slice or portion before freezing. Slicing your prime rib into smaller portions helps it to thaw evenly (and makes it easier to grab only what you need).
- Wrap it airtight. You don't want your meat to have any contact with air. So, double wrap it in foil or plastic wrap or place it into a storage bag or container.
- Remove excess fat. If you want to try to maintain the quality of meat for longer, try trimming off any excess fat. However, if you're only freezing it for short periods of time, go ahead and leave the fat on for the best flavor.
- Freeze right away. Don't keep your meat stored in the fridge for days before freezing it. Instead, freeze it as soon as it is cooled so that it is at maximum freshness.
Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think! What is your favorite way to enjoy some leftover prime rib?
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📖 Recipe Card
How To Freeze Leftover Prime Rib Without Sacrificing Flavor or Tenderness!
Ingredients
- 5 lb prime rib (or smaller, boneless or standing rib roast)
- 2-3 tablespoon prime rib rub (or use my steak seasoning with ¼ teaspoon ground sage)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Pat your 5 lb prime rib roast dry before seasoning and setting out at room temperature. Season liberally with the 2-3 tablespoon prime rib rub or improved steak seasoning and gently press the rub into all sides of the prime rib including any fatty sides.
- Allow the seasoned prime rib to set at room temperature for 1-4 hours. You can also ‘dry brine’ your seasoned prime rib overnight then set out to warm to room temp before air frying.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
- Lightly coat your air fryer tray with cooking oil or tallow and place the prime rib on the tray. Air fry at 400°F (205°C) for 8 minutes to lock in the juices and sear the roast.
- Lower your air fryer temperature to 300°F (150°C). Cook the roast for 1 hour 40 minutes. After the first hour, check the roast every 20 minutes using a meat thermometer.
- Pull the roast from the air fryer when it is 5 degrees below your desired degree of doneness for best results. For medium-rare, it should reach around 130°F when a meat thermometer is inserted in the thickest part of the beef.
- When ready, remove the roast from the air fryer and loosely tent with foil. Let it rest for 20-30 minutes before slicing.
- Slice and serve once rested.
Notes
- Pick a roast that easily fits into your air fryer. Most standard air fryers can accommodate a roast between 3-5 pounds, possibly up to 6 pounds.
- Your roast can come to room temperature for several hours before cooking and this will ensure that it A) cooks faster and B) has much better doneness (an even color throughout your roast). Set out for at least one to two hours if possible, up to 4 hours is preferable, and up to 8 hours at most if you’re comfortable with it.
- Don't skip preheating your air fryer for this recipe. You want it to be fully HOT when you sear the roast before reducing the temperature for the remainder of the cooking time.
- Air fry prime rib roasts for 18-22 minutes per pound after the searing time. How cool your roast is will directly affect how long the cooking time ends up being.
- Remove the prime rib once the internal temperature is approximately 5 degrees shy of your desired temp for doneness. The roast will continue cooking while resting, this is called 'carryover cooking'.
- Save the drippings in your basket to make au jus or gravy!
- To store: Transfer any leftover prime rib into an airtight container or wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Your roast can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days but is best enjoyed within the first 3-4 days.
- To freeze: Use an airtight freezer storage container to freeze your roast leftovers. I opt to wrap them in heavy-duty aluminum foil and transfer into a plastic freezer storage bag or container to prevent freezer burn. Leftovers can be kept in frozen for up to 6 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- To reheat: See my leftover recipes! Ha! Or place leftovers in a dish with beef broth or drippings and reheat in a preheated 300°F (150°C/Gas Mark 2) oven until warmed to your satisfaction. My leftover prime rib guide has more information about how to store and reheat your roast to perfection.
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