So, picture a cow. The rib section sits behind the shoulder, hanging over the stomach. When butchers talk about a “standing rib roast,” they mean the whole bone-in section. A prime rib is that same roast, usually bone-in, cooked as a whole and then sliced. It’s essentially a gigantic, celebratory steak that feeds a crowd.
Fun fact: The ribeye steak is just prime rib that has been cut into individual steaks before cooking. Same muscle, different destiny. A ribeye is a solo act; prime rib is the band performance. Both are delicious, but the prime rib gets the dramatic entrance.
