Seasoning Ribs For The Oven

How To Make Tender Fall

When making ribs in the oven, the most important ingredient is time. Cooking low and slow or at a very low temperature for a long time is the secret to ribs baked in the oven.

We heat our oven to 275 degrees F and cook the ribs around 2 hours sometimes a little longer if the ribs are larger or more meaty. While the oven heats up, we prepare the ribs we treat spare ribs and baby back ribs the same way. Remove the membrane on the back of the ribs it can be a little tough when cooked. See our recipe below for photos and the how-to on that one, its really simple.

Once the membrane is dealt with, we season our ribs with anything from simple salt and pepper to a flavor-packed spice rub. This is where you get to play use what you love! After seasoning the ribs, cover with some foil and bake.

Fast-forward 2 to 3 hours and youll have tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs ready for sauce. This is where we broke out our bacon bourbon laced homemade sauce, but if youve got a favorite store-bought or homemade sauce, use that. And there they are: tender, juicy ribs. Try this one soon, guys. Were pretty sure youll be hooked. We are.

WATCH: Weve shared oven baked ribs with you before and have even made a video showing you how we do it. This recipe uses a simple spicy sauce, but the method for baking the ribs is the same. .

Recipe updated, originally posted July 2015. Since posting this in 2015, we have tweaked the recipe to be more clear. Adam and Joanne

What Kind Of Ribs To Use

Pictured are the St. Louis variety, but we use baby back ribs and St. Louis based on availability. Cooking time will depend on the overall size and thickness more than the kind you use. If you want to read a detailed comparison between the kinds of ribs, you can read my post on pork ribs on our sister site.

• St. Louis Although these often take longer to cook, they tend to be more flavorful because of the higher percentage of fat. The bones are also wider and thinner, creating a more uniform shape and size.
• Baby back These are the smaller in size because they come from the section closest to the spine. The bones are more curved and contain more meat than other cuts. The meat is also leaner and more tender which is why they tend to be more expensive.

Faqs For Oven Baked Ribs

What is the best temperature to cook baby back ribs in the oven?

I find the best ribs are cooked at 300ºF for 2-3 hours, then broil them at 475ºF for 3-4 minutes. The lower and slower cook time achieves that fall-off-the-bone tender texture while the final few minutes at a higher temperature helps crisp up the exterior!

How long should I leave ribs in the oven?

This depends on the size of the ribs youre cooking. If they are 2-3 pounds, check them at 2 hours. If they are 3-4 pounds, check them at 2.5 hours. Youll know they are done when the meat is falling off the bone.Although pork is cooked to a safe internal temperature at 150 degrees F, truly tender ribs take a little longer in the oven.

Should oven-baked ribs be covered?

Yes! The best way is to wrap the ribs in foil while they cook to trap in the moisture and prevent the outsides from burning. Once they are cooked through, you can remove the foil before broiling so the outside can get nice and crispy.

How to store:

Leftover baked ribs will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. To reheat, coat in additional BBQ sauce to moisten, wrap in foil, and warm at 275ºF for 20-30 minutes or until heated through. Once cooked, you can remove the foil and broil for 2-3 minutes to re-crisp.

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Low And Slow Then Turn It Up

The key to these dry rub ribs is to roast them covered at low heat for most of the cooking time. After two hours, youll remove the foil, crank up the heat, and let them get crispy under the broiler.

The luscious texture and luxurious flavor youll get from it will certainly surprise you. Its a must-make for barbecue lovers of all kinds!

How Long Should You Cook Pork Ribs

Cooking pork ribs can be an interesting task, but its important to remember that they should be cooked for a specific time frame. The general rule is to cook them for about 2-3 hours, but there are some factors you can consider when cooking them. For example, if youre using a pressure cooker, make sure to cook them for a longer time- it will give the meat a better flavor and texture.

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How Do You Cook Pork Baby Back Ribs

Seasoning your ribs with salt, pepper and garlic can give them a delicious, nuanced flavor that will make them more tender and juicy. Additionally, using different types of herbs or spices can also add extra depth of flavor to your ribs.

Seasoning your ribs with salt, pepper and garlic can give them a delicious, nuanced flavor that will make them more tender and juicy. Additionally, using different types of herbs or spices can also add extra depth of flavor to your ribs.

Slice And Serve The Ribs

All of your waiting has finally paid off, because it’s time to tuck in! Remove the ribs from the oven and allow to sit for a moment while you heat up some extra barbecue sauce. Then, simply cut the racks into individual ribs or portions and serve.

These ribs are delightful on their own, but you can also serve them with your choice of classic barbecue sides. Biscuits, cornbread, mac and cheese, coleslaw, or baked beans all make lovely accompaniments.

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Why Make Dry Rub Homemade

There are a few different reasons you may want to make your own homemade dry rub. One of the reasons I like to make homemade dry rubs and seasonings is because I dont always remember to grab it at the store.

How many times have you gone to the store and totally forgot to grab something for the meat whether its dry rub, seasoning packets, or BBQ sauce? Instead of running back to the store, you can make your own right at home.

Some people make their own dry rub and seasoning mixes because they need a low sodium diet. When you make your own mixes, you can control how much salt goes into it.

Making your own dry rub is easy and you are able to control what goes into your homemade spice mix. Its easy to customize and its great for all kinds of meat, not just ribs! Plus, you likely already have all the seasonings needed to make it at home!

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How Do Dry Rubs Work On Ribs

A dry rub function is that it holds the typical taste and dampness of the meat while adding a unique surface and flavor simultaneously. Contingent upon the cooking system, a dry rub does this by shaping an external hull layer that solidifies around the meat as its cooked.

Given its absence of fluid part or component, dry rubs tend not to add more dampness to the meat as the flavors leak their direction inside, given its absence of fluid part or component. The outcome is a crunchy external surface and a delicate and tasty inside.

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Recipe Notes And Helpful Tips

• Always remove the silver skin from your ribs before starting this and other rib recipes. Here is a great article with pictures on how to do it from Fine Cooking.
• I like cayenne pepper in my rub however if you are sensitive to spicy food than omit it or add a very small amount at a time and taste the rub after each addition.
• Slow cook the ribs in the aluminum foil until fork tender.
• If you like your ribs a little crispy on the edges turn the broiler in the last phase for the final few minutes of cooking. However stay close as I have always found broilers unpredictable.
• Sometimes I throw the ribs on the grill after the initial cooking of 1 1/2 hours. I might do this if the rain clears and if I want to crisp the edges of my ribs.

How To Cook Ribs In A Slow Cooker

In this recipe I am providing different cook times depending on the results you are looking for.

LOW: 7 HOURS / HIGH: 3 HOURS Ribs that are soft but stay on the bone .

LOW: 9 HOURS / HIGH: 4-5 HOURS Tender, fall apart in your hands ribs that melt in your mouth like butter .

Place your ribs on the bowl of a 6-qt slow cooker bowl, pour the sauce all over to evenly coat and let the slow cooker do all the cooking for you. Once they are done, transfer ribs to an oven tray, baste with more sauce/juices mixture and broil for 5-10 minutes until charred on the edges and bubbling!

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What To Serve With Baby Back Ribs

Looking for a side dish to serve with these ribs? Why not try one of these:

• BBQ Pork Belly Slices

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Cook The Oven Baked Ribs

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and cook the oven baked ribs for an hour and a half. When time is up, pull the ribs out and spread on 2/3 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce. Return the ribs to the oven and cook for another 20-30 minutes. When you can tug on one of the bones and the meat starts to pull off, you know theyre done.

If you can get them onto a pretty platter with a little parsley garnish, youll have an irresistible and eye-catching centerpiece for your next dinner party or BBQ. But to be honest, this is a rare sight in my house. I was standing over these oven baked ribs with one hand on my camera and one hand holding back my husbands grabby hands. See, you just never know whats going on behind the scenes, lol!

Because I knew Dan would eat half the rack himself, I opted for healthy veggies as a side. I made my 10 Minute Oven Roasted Brussel Sprouts while the ribs were cooling, and I steamed some zucchini with kosher salt and pepper in a strainer on the stove. It was the worlds easiest dinner, but to my husband I had climbed Mt. Everest in flip flops. By the way, this is what I think of him when he unclogs the sink or fixes my car. We make a good team: he fixes stuff and I feed him!

These ribs would be sensational for a backyard BBQ with some of my Grandma Ruths Chunky Potato Salad. If you need other side dish ideas, check out my Recipe Index or follow me on Pinterest. Happy cooking yall!

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Bake The Baby Back Ribs

To make baked baby back ribs in the oven, you need to create the perfect environment for them to steam cook. Wrapping them in tin foil is the easiest way to do that. You can also use butcher paper or parchment paper if you dont like cooking with foil.

Cut off a piece of tin foil thats large enough to make a packet for the ribs. They need to be completely encased in the foil. Crimp the edges together to keep the steam in. This is how the ribs become so tender.

Place the baking sheet in the oven at 275° F. This is a bit of a set it and forget it exercise. The exact amount of time it needs to cook depends a great deal on the size of the rack of ribs youre cooking.

• It will take around 2 to 2.5 hours for a small rack or ribs.
• Medium rack will take around 3 hours. A large rack could take up to 4 hours.
• It needs to cook in the oven for a minimum of 2 hours before you check it for the first time. After that time, give it a peek.

The meat should have pulled back from the edges of the bones. If youre not sure if its done, insert a fork into the meat and give it a gentle tug. It should give easily.

If it doesnt, put it back into the oven for another 30 minutes. Remember, it could take up to 4 hours to cook the ribs to perfection, depending on the size of the ribs youre cooking.

Be careful not to over do it. Its harder to pick up the bones to eat when its too tender. You want the meat to pull back from the bones, but not completely let go of the bone.

Cook Ribs Covered Or Uncovered

For this particular dry rub rib recipe I cook it uncovered because I want a crispier dry rub crust.

It can certainly be cooked covered in aluminum foil to have it steam a little more and soak in it’s fat , but I would recommend minimally taking the aluminum foil off in the last 30 minutes of cooking if you go that route. This will ensure that crispy dry rub crust on the ribs.

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Why We Love These Baked Ribs

• So flavorful: The flavor is pretty unbelievable because there is a tasty dry rub AND homemade BBQ sauce.
• Amazing texture: These ribs in the oven leave you with tender ribs that are juicy, but not quite fall all the bone. And the skin on the outside is so crispy and delicious.
• Versatile: You can serve these ribs for a weeknight dinner or at a dinner party!

Marinate The Ribs With Dry Rub And Mustard

This recipe uses my homemade dry rub, but you can use your own dry rub or spice mix. Rubs that include garlic powder, chili powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and other spices are the best flavors for pork

There is a wide variety of store-bought seasonings with plenty of flavors to choose from. I prefer a smoky, Texas-style flavor.

First, place your ribs on a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Slather the mustard on the front and back of the ribs, and along the sides of the ribs. Then, apply the spice rub in the same way.

Adding the mustard to the ribs will help the seasoning adhere to the meat more evenly and not fall off. The vinegar in the mustard helps with tenderizing the meat without adding any strong flavor.

Wrap your ribs in the aluminum foil, creasing down the length of the rib rack and folding at the ends. Place on a baking sheet in the fridge until you are ready to cook.

Allowing the ribs to marinate for several hours will give you more flavor, but its not necessary. Because of the lengthy cooking time, marination will occur naturally during the cooking process.

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Should I Brown My Ribs Before Cooking

Cooking methods can create a great deal of variance in results, so its important to be specific about what youre looking for when cooking ribs. Browning them before cooking will add an even gorgeous crust and give your meat a delicious, deep flavor.

Cooking methods can create a great deal of variance in results, so its important to be specific about what youre looking for when cooking ribs. Browning them before cooking will add an even gorgeous crust and give your meat a delicious, deep flavor.

How To Make A Dry Rub For Baked Ribs:

We make our own dry rub for these ribs but if you have some that you like to use then by all means use it, but our rub consists of:

Once they are done cooking you then slather then in some bbq sauce. We usually use a brown sugar bbq sauce then mix it with a little honey to make a honey bbq sauce and it really compliments the dry rub really well. To finish these off we sprinkle with a little parsley and go to town!

Once you try these Fall Off The Bone Ribs youll never want anything else, we havent gone back to any recipe besides this one and we dont regret it one bit!

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Baked Marinated And Grilled

Try this recipe: Barbequed Ribs

Give yourself plenty of time for this three-part recipe, although like all baked rib recipes, most of the time is hands-free. First, you’ll bake the ribs low and slow for a couple of hours, then you’ll season them with a dry rub and let them sit in the fridge overnight. The next day, you’ll brush them with homemade BBQ sauce and finish them off on the grill.

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Why Make Ribs In The Oven

I love oven baked ribs, especially baby back ribs, because they are so easy to make and come out perfect every time! With a grill, so many factors come into play with the weather being good and the heat being consistent – using the oven is totally hassle free. Cooking at 300 degrees F gives you a 2.5-3 hour cooking time, which is really fast for ribs.

This recipe:

• Does not require a grill.
• Can be used for baby back ribs or St. Louis style.
• Is perfect for dairy free and gluten free family members.
• Super simple ingredients.

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