How long can I buy ahead on a Rib Roast?

It's safe to refrigerate for a week. Just make sure juices don't pool around the meat. You will actually benefit from a little aging.

I wrap in saran, then freezer paper, then vac pack and freeze...  too darn valuable to let freezer burn....   Then store in my "old" freezer that does not self defrost.....   Found a roast that was 2 years old laying on the bottom of the freezer....  Thawed it out and I couldn't tell it was old... looked and tasted fresh frozen...

They'll last a long time vacuum packed in the freezer.

I buy a lot when they're on sale (usually a year's worth):

However one year when they were $4.99 a pound I bought 10 Prime Ribs for $350 during Christmas Week.

I still had a few left when I went in the hospital a year later.

Then after a month in the hospital, I came home, and my taste buds weren't working properly, and everything tasted terrible, so I didn't smoke any Prime Ribs.

I started getting my tasting ability back after about 7 months, and was finally able to enjoy Smoked Prime Rib again.

The last Prime Rib from that batch had been in my freezer for at least 2 1/2 years, and it was just like new!!!

Bear