Did you know that about 41% of people eat leftovers to avoid wasting their extra food?
There’s no shame in the leftover game, but not all leftovers are easy to reheat. In fact, some leftovers can easily become dry and dull once reheated improperly.
Do you have some leftover prime rib in the fridge? If so, you don’t want to just throw it in the microwave! The delicious meal you were looking forward to will be ruined.
Keep reading below to figure out what to do with leftover prime rib so that it’s just as delicious as it was the first time around.
Why Does Meat Get Dry When Reheated Wrong?
Microwaves are a wonderful invention, but they are not perfect for all foods; some foods will dry out, become soggy, or even get tougher when reheated in the microwave.
When a microwave is turned on, it works by heating the water molecules that are found in food. This process turns those molecules into steam, which condenses within the microwave. This is part of the reason why when you microwave other items, the edges may burn completely; they receive more of the energy because they are on the outside, so the water completely vaporizes.
If you’re able to turn your microwave from the high setting to a lower setting, this may help with reheating food more evenly. Even so, however, you still risk getting dry meat because the microwave will suck out all of the moisture.
How to Store Leftover Prime Rib
To reheat your prime rib correctly, you first need to store it correctly when you’re finished with it. Wrap the prime rib in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator (or freezer).
No matter what you’re planning to do with the leftovers, the piece of meat should be kept intact. Even if you want to later make a prime rib sandwich, and you know you’ll need to slice it then, wait to do that when you’re ready to reheat.
Leftover prime rib can last up to a week in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer. It’s best to have it the next day if possible, however, because that’s when it will still taste best.
How to Reheat Leftover Prime Rib
If you’re reheating from frozen, be sure to give the prime rib a full 24 hours in the fridge to defrost.
Past that, the best thing to do is remember that you must be patient. You’re going to want to reheat the meat slowly to avoid overcooking it completely.
First, place the meat in a roasting pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Place this pan in the oven for about 20 to 30 minutes.
With an internal temperature gauge, check that the leftover meat reaches a temperature of 160 degrees. Once it’s hit that point, remove it from the oven, and slice it to serve right away.
Amp up Your Leftover Ribs Today
Fresh leftover prime rib is delicious, and by reheating it properly, you’re going to make sure that your next plate with it is just as good. Look up some fun leftover prime rib recipes for creative ideas on how to make that meal a winner!
Did you find this information helpful? If so, be sure to take a look at the other articles we have on our website for further tips and tricks.