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Tender, succulent, and savory ribs are the star of the show in any cookout. While it’s definitely going to take some time and effort, tasting that mouthwatering piece of meat is worth the labor of love. There are numerous ways you can cook fall-off-the-bone ribs. To help you out, here’s a handy guide to let you in on the simple secrets to cooking the perfect ribs.
Time
One of the first things you need to do is budget your time. This varies greatly depending on the cooking method you choose. If you’re preparing instant pot ribs, cook time can take just about 25 – 45 minutes. But if the oven or grill is your cooking item of choice, it’s going to take about 3 to 4 hours. Make sure you have that much time in your hands so you won’t run into problems later.
Prepping the Ribs
Since cooking ribs is time-consuming compared to other menu items you have in your cookout, it’s important to make the necessary preparations ahead of time. You don’t want to keep hungry guests waiting. Some of the things you need to do beforehand are remove the membrane, prepare your dry rub, and have your BBQ sauce in hand. Also, you need to keep your recipe in mind to keep the cooking in a fluid motion. Some recipes require overnight prep, so watch out for that too.
On the Grill
Craving for that authentic, smoky taste? The grill is one of the most popular ways to achieve that. The best technique to make sure the ribs are perfect is to cook them on indirect heat. If you have a gas grill, you just light one side and then cook the ribs on the other unlit side. That way, you won’t get dried out or burnt ribs. Instead, you’ll have a beautiful crust and juicy insides.
In the Oven
Some people think cooking ribs in the oven is a hard task, but it really doesn’t have to be complicated. First, what you do is remove the membrane so it’s super tender when it’s done. Next, season both sides of the ribs with salt, pepper, and other spices you want. After seasoning, cover the ribs with aluminum foil. Now you’re ready to bake. Set the temperature at 275°F and let the ribs bake for 3 to 4 hours. Once you take them out of the oven, apply barbecue sauce then grill them for a few minutes to let the sauce caramelize beautifully.
In a Slow Cooker
Another way you can cook fall-off-the-bone ribs is by using a slow cooker. Just prepare your sauce, place the ribs on the cooker bowl, and pour the sauce to coat the ribs. Then, just let the slow cooker do all the work. This can take from 3 to 8 hours of cooking time. You can also grill the ribs for 5-10 minutes and baste it with more sauces for added flavor.
