How long can prime rib stay in the fridge?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long can prime rib stay in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of prime rib. Moreover, we are going to discuss tips to properly store prime rib and different ways to spot bad prime rib.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
How long can prime rib stay in the fridge?
Raw prime rib lasts for about 3-5 days if stored properly in the fridge all the time at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit but it is recommended to cook prime rib within 3 days to enjoy its optimum quality.
So, you should always store your prime rib at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below provided that you are going to cook it within a few days, or else it is better to freeze it. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore it is always advised to store your prime rib at a lower temperature to preserve its freshness for a long time.
Thus, the cold temperature of the fridge will decrease the rate of bacterial growth and will subsequently prolong the shelf life of your prime rib.
How long can prime rib last at room temperature?
Prime rib lasts for about 2 hours when left out of the fridge at room temperature.
You should discard the prime rib that has been left in open for more than 2 hours as bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore there are greater chances of the prime rib being already contaminated with bacteria when left out for more than 2 hours.
Moreover, if the temperature of the surroundings is about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, then the process of spoilage takes place at a faster pace and it is recommended to discard prime rib that is left out in the open for more than an hour at 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long does prime rib last in the freezer?
Properly stored raw prime rib lasts for about 6-12 months in the freezer if stored in a heavy-duty freezer container or plastic freezer bag.
Thus, the shelf life of prime rib increases owing to the cold temperature of the freezer that halts the microbial growth on it.
How to thaw frozen prime rib?
When it comes to thawing prime rib, there are a couple of ways to do so and you can choose any of them depending upon your choice.
In the fridge
The recommended way to thaw the frozen prime rib is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight and let it thaw there. The prime rib thawed this way can be kept in the fridge for 3-5 days before cooking and eating it.
In a bowl of cold water
You can thaw the frozen prime rib in a bowl of cold water but you should cook it immediately after thawing.
In microwave
Moreover, if you are thawing the prime rib in the oven or microwave it is recommended to cook it immediately.
The reason behind cooking the prime rib immediately after thawing it in a cold water bowl or microwave is that when you warm the prime rib using these methods, the temperature at the surface of the prime rib gets higher than that of 40 degrees Fahrenheit before the core temperature can become 40 degrees Fahrenheit and it can thaw completely and that’s when the bacteria can start to grow on the surface rapidly.
Therefore it is advised to cook such thawed prime rib immediately until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Because it is only by cooking the prime rib properly that we can get rid of the bacteria completely.
You can read the nutritional value of prime rib of beef here.
Tips to properly store prime rib
- You should always store your prime rib at 40°F or below. Bacterial growth takes place at a faster pace between the temperature of 40°F and 140°F, therefore it is always advised to store your prime rib at a lower temperature.
- It is a good practice to store prime rib on one of the shelves of the refrigerator rather than the door as there is a lot of temperature fluctuation at the door of the fridge that can mess up the quality of prime rib.
- You can further prolong the shelf life of the prime rib by wrapping it in the heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic freezer bag and storing it in the freezer.
- You can also opt for vacuum sealing at home that can prolong the shelf life of a prime rib. It involves the process of putting the prime rib in a plastic zipper bag, removing air from it, and almost sealing the bag with a little space left while lowering it into water. Afterward, press out the bubbles from the bag starting from the bottom of the bag and once you reach the sealed end, you should press the seal closed. A vacuum sealer pump can also be used for this purpose.
Different ways to spot bad prime rib
There are a couple of indicators that point out the bad prime rib. You should consider the appearance, texture, and smell of the prime rib to reach a final verdict on whether or not they have gone bad.
- If you can see some off-color or if you can spot molds or dark spots on the surface of the prime rib then it is the indication that it has gone bad and the best thing to do in this scenario is to discard it.
- If you can feel something slimy or gooey while touching the prime rib then it means that it has gone bad as the fresh prime rib has a firm texture.
- If you can smell something acidic, or some ammonia-like or sulfur-like putrid smell while taking a sniff test of your prime rib then it means that your prime rib has gone bad and you should discard it.
Other FAQs about Beef that you may be interested in.
Can you tenderize beef after it is cooked?
Can you use beef juices for gravy?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long can prime rib stay in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of prime rib. Moreover, we discussed tips to properly store prime rib and different ways to spot bad prime rib.
Citations
https://everythingwhat.com/how-long-will-prime-rib-last-in-fridge
https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16496
