🥩 Prime Rib Smoking Time Calculator
Get precise smoking times for any size prime rib roast at any doneness level
| Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) | Rare | Medium-Rare | Medium | Well Done |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 lbs | 1.4 kg | 1h 15m | 1h 30m | 1h 45m | 2h 00m |
| 4 lbs | 1.8 kg | 1h 40m | 2h 00m | 2h 20m | 2h 40m |
| 5 lbs | 2.3 kg | 2h 05m | 2h 30m | 2h 55m | 3h 20m |
| 6 lbs | 2.7 kg | 2h 30m | 3h 00m | 3h 30m | 4h 00m |
| 7 lbs | 3.2 kg | 2h 55m | 3h 30m | 4h 05m | 4h 40m |
| 8 lbs | 3.6 kg | 3h 20m | 4h 00m | 4h 40m | 5h 20m |
| 10 lbs | 4.5 kg | 4h 10m | 5h 00m | 5h 50m | 6h 40m |
| 12 lbs | 5.4 kg | 5h 00m | 6h 00m | 7h 00m | 8h 00m |
| 14 lbs | 6.4 kg | 5h 50m | 7h 00m | 8h 10m | 9h 20m |
| 16 lbs | 7.3 kg | 6h 40m | 8h 00m | 9h 20m | 10h 40m |
49–52°C
54–57°C
57–63°C
63–68°C
71+°C
During Rest
After Smoking
Extra Time
| Smoker Temp | Min/lb (Rare) | Min/lb (Med-Rare) | Min/lb (Medium) | Min/lb (Well) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 225°F (107°C) | 25 min | 30 min | 35 min | 40 min |
| 250°F (121°C) | 20 min | 25 min | 29 min | 33 min |
| 275°F (135°C) | 17 min | 21 min | 24 min | 28 min |
Smoking prime rib require careful attention to be applied to three separate factor: temperature, the weight of the meat, and the time that it cooks in the smoker. Prime rib is a dense cut of meat. There is no room for guesswork when smoking prime rib.
The prime rib cut require precise timing. If you are smoking an bone-in prime rib roast, the bones will insulate the roast and take some of the heat away from the roast. This will allow the roast to take longer to cook than a boneless prime rib roast.
How to Smoke Prime Rib
Boneless roasts will allow the smoke to easy penetrate the roast more quickly. Depending on the type of smoker that you use, the smoking process will change. Offset smokers will reach hotter temperatures in the smoker than other smokers.
You will require more charcoal to heat the offset smoker to achieve a correct cooking temperature. Electric smokers will use electricity to maintain the smokers temperature. Electric smokers will remain at the temperature that you set them to and will be more easier to manage when smoking the prime rib.
Different type of wood can be used to flavor the prime rib. Hickory wood will produce a bold smoke flavor for the roast. If you prefer a sweeter smoke flavor, use cherry wood to flavor your roast.
The fuel that you use will depend on the total weight of the prime rib that you are smoking. Using a thermometer will allow you to monitor the temperature of the roast and make sure that it has reached the correct level of doneness. You will have to remove the roast from the smoker before it reach the desired temperature.
This is because of carryover cooking. Carryover cooking allow the roasts internal temperature to continue to rise after you have removed the roast from the smoker. If you remove the roast from the smoker too late, the roast will end up being chewily.
For medium-rare prime rib, 125 to 130 degrees are the target internal temperature. When the roast is removed from the smoker, allow it to rest for 20 to 30 minute. Cover the roast with foil while it rest.
Covering the roast with foil will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the roast. If you do not allow the roast to rest while smoking, the pink center of the roast will turn gray very quick. You can prepare smoking prime rib by using a dry brine.
You can rub salt onto the roast 24 hour before smoking the roast. This will season the roast deep. Using a dry brine also help to dry the surface of the roast so that a bark form on the roast.
Use a probe to measure the temperature of the roast. Place the probe into the thickest part of the roast, making sure that it is not touching any bone. If you place the probe on the surface or the center of the roast, you will get an incorrect reading of the temperature of the roast.
Finally, you can use a calculator to determine the time required to smoke your prime rib. These calculators will take into account the weight of the roast, the smoker type, and the type of wood that you use to smoke the roast. Using these timeline will allow you to plan when to start smoking the roast.
Following these steps and using these cooking tool will allow you to cook your roast correctly and reduce the risk of mistakes in the cooking process.
