This recipe for Prime Rib works every time, thus the word magic. I have relied on it for holiday dinners and special occasion meals for over 25 years. It really gives the chef a lot of wiggle room to make the rest of the meal. It does take 2 1/2 hours of oven time. And it does work! I have the butcher debone then retie it for the best flavor. I have had good luck with this method of cooking for many years with 3-5 pound roasts, but several chefs here at Zaar have said that the roast should be 5-7 plus. Just always go to the butcher and order Prime or get Choice. None of this Select or Blue Ribbon stuff. If you're spending the money for a prime rib roast, please don't go for these cheap and flavorless grades of meat. We learned this the hard way and should have known better, Hubby's Daddy was a butcher. And they are a dying breed. I hope you enjoy this cooking method and the results!