A complete guide to buying and cooking the perfect prime rib

The confusion around prime rib starts with its definition. Also known as beef rib roast and standing rib roast, prime rib refers to the rib section of the cow that has been cut between the fifth and 12th ribs. If you cut a steak from between the rib bones, then you’ve got a rib-eye steak (New York strip and Delmonico cuts also come from this part of town). If you keep it all together, then it’s a roast. The name standing rib roast comes from the fact that it is traditionally cooked standing on the rib bones. Prime rib has it all going on; it’s the most tender cut of beef after the nearby tenderloin, but because it has more marbling (aka fat), it is way more flavorful than its lean cousin.