How Long Prime Rib Lasts In The Refrigerator

You've put in the work of choosing the best cut of prime rib at the grocery store and you're ready to start slathering it with the best prime rib herbs and spices before roasting it at home. Then, life gets in the way. If you've got a raw prime rib (also known as a beef rib roast) sitting in the fridge at home, you've got a little bit of time to get the roasting process started. According to FoodSafety.gov, beef rib roast stays good in the fridge for three to five days before it's past its prime.

If you don't think you'll get to your rib roast before you hit the end of the freshness window, you may not be completely out of luck. As long as it's not showing signs of spoilage, pop it into the freezer. Before you place it in the freezer, however, you may need to take a few steps to help it stay fresh. If your roast is vacuum-sealed already, you're good to go — simply place it in the freezer. If it isn't, vacuum seal it yourself if you can or wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap. Then, place it into a plastic freezer bag. Your roast will stay fresh in the freezer for anywhere from four months to a year. One important note: If your prime rib is already cooked, it'll stay good in the fridge for up to four days. In the freezer, you've got about three months. 

It can be tough to tell whether your prime rib is still safe to eat if it's been sitting in the fridge for a few days, but there are some easy tips you can use to figure it out. Take a whiff for your first clue. Your prime rib should smell beefy (it might smell a little metallic, which is fine). If it smells spoiled, you'll know it. The odor of spoiled beef is distinctly off, and there's no coming back from it — if it smells sour, vinegary, or iffy in any way, it needs to go in the trash. If the smell doesn't give it away, color may give you a clue. It's okay if your prime rib turns a little brown, but if you're seeing tan or green, toss it. If you touch the roast, it should feel moist but not slimy. 

If you've got cooked leftover prime rib in the fridge, many of the tests you'd use to see if raw meat is still good hold true. You'll want to make sure it passes the sniff test before you heat it up (and please, please stop reheating it in the microwave — it's one of the biggest mistakes you can make with leftover prime rib). If the color or texture is off, toss it. While it can be seriously tough to throw away such a gorgeous cut of beef, eating potentially bad prime rib is simply not worth the toll it can take on your tummy.