Smoked Prime Rib,
I have smoked Prime Rib both on the rotisserie and in the smoker, couple a year for the last many years. Both have had raving reviews by all served as the best ever had. In my opinion, the low and slow is preferred!
Purchase the amount you want then double it!. Due to shrinkage, seconds, care packages and great leftovers for a meal during the week. I’ll smoke ½ for 4 of us and all of one for 6 to 8. I slice ¾ to 1-1/4 inch for serving.
Internal temp medium rare @ 125 not to hit 135 is where we like them. (Target is 128 degrees IT and pull it to tent and rest.) Pull them out and cover with foil for 15 min and better. Cooker temps in smoker 225 to 235.
If you think of doing a reverse sear, pull the roast @ 110 and sear 5 minutes or less @ extreme high heat of 500F or more. Watch closely for a burn, not what you want. Look for a quick caramelizing on the crust.
Time for a ½ was around 4 hours. My smoker is a propane cabinet unit (GOSM Big Block) with the wood box then the water pan above the burner.
If you use a grill with rotisserie to smoke it, 2 offset fires of wood only try to keep 275 tops. I have had a fire of 325 to 350 in past and it gets done too fast, but still with good results, but better w/ lower temps.
Water/drip pan under meat.
Time for a 1/2 on the grill is about 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, varies.
With either I use a combo of hickory and fruit wood that is usually cherry or apple
I do a little to a lot trimming of the fat, depending on the concentration in one area. Grind sea salt and spread liberally 3 or 4 hours before the smoke. Use sea (or kosher) salt as much as 1 to 24 hours of cooking time for roasts but the steak cuts no more than 4 hours ahead of the cook. No table salt on meat cuts as it works in the adverse for seasoning. If you like, plastic wrap tight the night before. Pull from fridge an hour earlier before smoke. Use a rub of CBP (course black pepper) and add rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne and thyme or oregano.
Digital thermo’s with an outside reader are great! There are many brands to choose from for $20 to $80 +/-. You don’t need to spend the big bucks unless you want cordless, I have no experience w/ cordless. I now own 5, 2 are dual probe corded w/ remotes. Maverick, 732 &733 and
Thermoworks mk4 plus 2 "Dots" and a single probe that I don't remember the brand. Recently just purchased the
Thermoworks Signals
Hopes this helps and you can make sense out of my mumbling, I may have left something out, not sure.
Denny O.