How to Reheat Prime Rib in the Air Fryer

Now that the holidays are over, you are faced with one challenging task- how to reheat leftovers. And there’s a proper way of reheating your fancy prime ribs so that it retains all the juicy goodness. 

Like chicken, it ain’t easy to reheat prime ribs.

And one of the best ways to reheat prime ribs is by using an air fryer. But how do you properly reheat prime rib in an air fryer? Do it wrong and you’ll end up with a rubbery slice of once good meat. 

You’ll be able to get your prime rib warm without losing all the flavorful juices. And we’ll teach you how.

Steps in Reheating Prime Rib in the Air Fryer

Air fryers have become increasingly popular since the pandemic hit. 

Why not? It’s easy to whip up a delicious gourmet meal in just a matter of minutes. You can even use it to bake and cook an array of dishes. And the time is cut by half.

So you also don’t need to be a chef to be able to cook delicious gourmet meats. 

Also, air fryers are one of the best ways to reheat prime rib. You’ll be able to warm up your leftover prime rib slices for sandwiches without losing all the juicy goodness.

And here’s how it’s properly done.

1. Slice the prime rib into serving portions. Remember to reheat just enough that you can eat. Then wrap the remaining slices in aluminum foil and store them in the fridge.
2. Make sure that the air basket fryer is clean and dry. Then place the sliced leftover prime ribs in the basket. Then season with salt and pepper as needed.
3. Set the temperature at 160 degrees Celsius  or 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat for 1-2 minutes.
4. Then air fry the prime rib for roughly 3 minutes. If you’re making sandwiches, you can also reheat the bread in the air fryer. Once it beeps, pop in your bread loaves with butter or mayonnaise.

Other Methods of Reheating Leftover Prime Ribs

Reheating ribs in an air fryer is very fast and simple. But if you do not have an air fryer, there are still other ways to reheat leftover prime ribs.

Reheating prime ribs in the oven

Using the oven is a more conventional way of reheating roasted and grilled meats. 

1. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. You’ll be needing an oven-proof pan, aluminum foil, and some leftover prime rib sauce.
3. Take your leftover prime ribs from the fridge, then add about a tablespoon of water and pour it on top of the meat.
4. Place the leftover prime ribs on the pan, then pour the rib sauce. Make sure the meat is fully covered with the sauce.
5.  Cover the entire pan with foil. This is to make sure that the meat will not dry out. 
6. Pop the ribs in the oven and warm for about 10 minutes or until it’s heated all the way through. You can heat it up for 15 minutes, it also depends on what type of oven you’re using. 
7. You can also check for the internal temperature of the meat for doneness, it should be 160 degrees Fahrenheit. 
8. Carefully pull it out of the oven and place it on the countertop.
9. We’re not yet done! We still have to do some finishing touches.
10. So grab a skillet and get some butter. Melt the butter on high heat then place the rib slices on the skillet, sear the edges until it becomes crisp.
11. Remove from the skillet and place on a serving dish. Pour additional sauce on top. 

Reheating leftover prime ribs using the stovetop

Like the oven, this is also a conventional method. Though it can take more preparation.

1. You will be needing a steamer basket, a pot, and aluminum foil.
2. We’ll use the steamer basket so that your oven will not get too overheated.
3. Place the pot on top of the stovetop and place a quarter cup of water in the pot. 
4. Place the ribs on the steamer basket. Then place the steamer basket in the pot. 
5. Cover the prime ribs, especially the thicker slices with aluminum foil. Then get a lid and cover the entire pot. 
6. Steam for 3-6 minutes.
7. Rewrap the ribs and steam until done or steam for another 3 minutes.
8. Transfer the ribs to a serving plate once done so that it stops from cooking.

Reheating prime ribs in a microwave

Do this option only if you do not have access to an air fryer, oven, or stovetop. Reheating food in the microwave can be challenging and tricky. The pink rib slices can quickly turn into gray if you’re not sure of what you’re doing.

1. You’ll be needing aluminum foil, prime rib sauce, and a microwave-safe steamer or pan.
2. Cover the prime rib cuts with sauce. Ensure that the meat is fully covered so that it will not dry out.
3. Then carefully wrap the entire meat in aluminum foil. Make sure that every slice is kept inside the foil.
4.  Place the rib slices in the steamer and turn the microwave on for 2-3 minutes. 
5. You can also check for the internal temperature of the ribs, it should reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 
6. Use this only if you are reheating boneless prime ribs.

Reheating leftover prime ribs using boiling water 

This is a not-so-popular method, but it’s still worth a try.

1. You’ll be needing a big pot and food-grade plastic wrap.
2. Place the leftover prime ribs inside the plastic. Then get another plastic bag, we need to wrap the ribs twice in a plastic bag.
3. Boil water in a pot on the stove, it should reach 130 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Remove the pot from the stove. Then place the ribs in the pot of boiling water.
5. Let the leftover ribs sit in the water for half an hour.

Reheating leftover prime ribs by grilling

Alternatingly, you can also grill the leftover ribs to warm them up. Or you can even broil it. This is a great option if you’re already grilling other food and you can easily squeeze the leftovers to heat it.

Add some gravy or sauce and place the leftover ribs on the griller until the meat is heated all the way through.

Can you Reheat Food in an Air Fryer?

Why yes of course!

Most air fryers come with a reheating option. So all you have to do is determine how long you should reheat the food and just push the reheat button.

Using an air fryer for heating food is also even better than using a microwave. One, it’s simpler. 

And two, you’ll be able to maintain the juiciness of the meat. There Is a high risk of burning food or meat when you’re using the microwave, it can also turn out soggy. 

Reheated food will also taste as if they’re freshly made. You’ll be surprised at how convenient air fryers are. Whether for cooking or reheating food, it’s a kitchen must-have.

Tips for Cooking and Reheating Food in an Air Fryer

1. Do not overcrowd

 Leave room for all the food that you need to reheat or cook. This ensures that hot air circulates evenly. So you will always come up with evenly cooked and evenly reheated meat.

2. The temperature may vary depending on the food 

So to avoid burning and overcooking your food, always start with the lower setting and check for doneness. If it still needs some more time, you can always pop it again in the air fryer. But there’s no going back once it gets burnt. So we err on the cautious side. 

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3. Preheating may be necessary

Like ovens, you can get the best results if you preheat first your air fryer before popping the food inside, especially if you’re cooking.

What are Prime Ribs?

Prime ribs can be expensive cuts of meat taken from the entire rib section of the animal. These cuts are very tasty, juicy, and flavorful. They have excellent marbling and can be very tender.

Ribeye vs prime rib 

Like the ribeye, it comes from the same part of the animal, the rib. But these two are not entirely the same. Prime ribs have more fat and bone and can be tastier than rib-eye meat. 

As for the texture, they basically have the same texture. But tib eye is often prepared as steak while prime ribs can be cooked in more ways than one. Though the most popular is by roasting and broiling them. 

How to Reheat Leftover Prime Ribs Without Drying Them Out?

There are several ways that you can reheat leftover prime ribs without drying them out. You can use the stove, the oven, and even the microwave. But the air fryer can be the simpler and faster method. It also ensures that the meat stays tender and juicier.