How Long To Cook A Slab Of Baby Back Ribs

BBQ baby back ribs are loved all yr long! This your go-to guide for cooking infant dorsum ribs on grill, in an oven, or in an Instant Pot!

Whether cooked tender and juicy, with the meat falling off the os or slathered with viscid sauce, Americans are in honey with ribs!

BBQ infant back ribs

The ii most unremarkably sold types of ribs in the Usa are both pork; babe back ribs and St. Louis fashion spare ribs (besides known every bit country ribs).

Why practise they call them babe back ribs?

The upper ribs of a hog are chosen baby dorsum ribs, not because they come from a babe grunter, but because they are shorter in relation to the larger spareribs.

St. Louis manner spareribs are meaty and cut from the belly of the hog They are usually trimmed downwardly by cutting away the breastbone so the slab is more rectangular in shape.

How long does it accept to grill bbq infant back ribs?

On a gas grill preheated to 225°F., it takes approximately four 1/two to 5 hours to cook six pounds (2 full racks) of pork ribs

Video: How to cook baby back ribs on grill

To see the entire process of grilling ribs from start to end, be sure to watch the video in the recipe card at the bottom of this mail service!

While I take several rib recipes already here on the site, I figured it best to start at the beginning. Whether you programme to cook infant back ribs on grill, in an oven, smoker, ho-hum cooker, or Instant Pot, information technology'south important to prepare the meat.

Instructions

I always start past marinating the pork with a dry rub marinade. Dry rubs are a blend of spices that are rubbed into the meat to assist tenderize it. I recommend using my pork rib rub for your dry marinade.

During cooking, I baste with a mopping sauce, and end the cooking procedure by brushing on barbecue sauce until the ribs are sticky and tender.

Remove the membrane.

How to remove the membrane from babe back ribs:

To remove the thin, papery membrane (called silverskin) from the back of each rack, insert the tip of a pocketknife under the membrane. The best identify to start is on ane of the middle bones.

Utilize a paper towel or pliers to secure a grip, then peel off the membrane. Many times, a butcher has already washed, this , but not always, so be sure to look.

Apply dry out rub and marinate overnight.

Fourth dimension to rub the baby back ribs! I like to wear kitchen gloves to proceed my hands clean. Really get in there with the dry rub and don't exist shy; employ information technology liberally with spices on BOTH sides of the rack.

Transfer the ribs onto a baking sheet and refrigerate for at to the lowest degree 2 hours, simply overnight is fifty-fifty better.

Bring meat to room temp, then bbq baby back ribs on the grill.

As they cook on the grill, occasionally castor the meat with mopping sauce. Brush once again with bbq sauce subsequently they're tender and cooked through if you'd like. And then, proceed grilling the ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbling; it takes a couple minutes per side.

Rest the meat, then piece and serve!

Remove the pork ribs from the grill and let the meat balance for a few minutes, then cutting and serve. It's that like shooting fish in a barrel.

process photo collage shows how to remove membrane from baby back ribs

Cooking ribs in oven

When the weather condition isn't cooperating, oven broiled ribs are the perfect solution!

Ready the oven to 325°F, and identify the meat os side down on top of a wire rack set in an aluminum foil lined baking tray.

Utilise the same cooking instructions every bit shown above. Cooking fourth dimension varies depending on the thickness of the babe back ribs. You want the pork to cook to an internal temperature of 145°F, only for super tender meat that falls off the bone, bake until the internal temperature reaches 195-200°F.

Cooking them to 195° F volition still give you a little chew and resistance. 200° F and above will give you fall off the bone goodness.

Smoked bbq infant back ribs

If grilling ribs isn't an option, you can use a smoker.

Ready and light the smoker according to the manufacturer'south instructions and preheat it to low (225°F). Place the ribs in the smoker bone side downwards and fume until cooked through, 4 to five hours.
Brush the ribs with the mop sauce afterward an hour, and then mop the ribs again once every hr until cooked tender. Cooking fourth dimension varies depending on thickness of ribs. (Come across cooking times in the notes, below)
Castor with your favorite BBQ sauce if yous'd similar, so continue smoking baby back ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbling, a couple minutes per side.
Remove bbq baby back ribs from the smoker and let the meat rest for a few minutes, then slice and serve.

step by step process photos show how to cook baby back ribs

If y'all don't have a smoker yous can improvise using your grill and using or improvising a smoker box. You can read about Smoker Boxes and Woods Fries for Smoking in a post I wrote to make your own!

My favorite woods for smoking are Alder, Cherry, Walnut and Hickory. The container that holds the soaked forest chips or pellets needs to restrict the airflow. This ensures that the chips don't catch fire and burn up.

Also, the container box holds the burned ashes and allow y'all to move the fries so that they don't burn also quickly if need be. Hopefully this will aid in making some choices.

cooked pork ribs with meat falling off of the bone

Instant Pot pork ribs

Place trivet in lesser of pot and add i loving cup of water (or apple/pineapple juice, optional).
Set ribs upright on the trivet so they are not stacked on top of one another.
Close lid and set the Instant Pot to vent. Select Manual Pressure and set timer for 24 minutes (25-28 minutes depending if they're extra meaty).
Once done, allow the Instant Pot to perform a natural release of pressure.
Remove bbq baby dorsum ribs from Instant Pot and place on wire rack set in a foil lined blistering tray.
Brush with charcoal-broil sauce (or olive oil/seasoning for dry ribs) and broil in oven until slightly sticky and slightly charred.

overhead image: 2 full racks of baby back ribs with barbecue sauce

Tips and Tricks

skin the ribs (remove that membrane on the back)
put a rub on the meat
employ a mop sauce
glaze with a barbecue sauce
cook low and tedious

I prefer to let that dry rub soak in overnight, but at to the lowest degree allow it rest for two hours minimum. Whether you lot use the grill or in a smoker, or in the oven, this is an amazing recipe I know you'll love.

What to do with leftovers

If there are any leftover ribs, I typically make my BBQ Pork with Cheesy Grits . Leftover pork ribs get shredded and simmered in your favorite BBQ sauce and served over creamy, cheesy grits for a Southern inspired dinner that's sure to satisfy!

For something a bit simpler, serve the meat with cornbread muffins.

Serve these bad boys aslope my Oven Fried Chicken, Classic Potato Salad,Salary Mac and Cheese Casserole, or thisCommon cold Tarragon Broccoli Salad. Relish!

This post, first published on Kevin Is Cooking on January. 12, 2022, was concluding updated with new content on October. 23, 2022.

vi lbs baby dorsum pork ribs (two racks minimum)

Mop Sauce

3 tbsp butter
one cup apple tree cider (or apple juice)
iii tbsp soy sauce
i tsp hot sauce (I employ Tabasco)

Dry out Rub

4 tbsp dark-brown sugar
2 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp smoked paprika
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic pulverisation
2 tsp dry out mustard
1 tsp footing celery salt
1 tsp red chili flakes (half for less boot)

To make the rub: mix the brown carbohydrate, salt, pepper, paprika, onion and garlic powders, dry mustard, celery table salt and cerise pepper flakes in a small bowl and mix with a small whisk or your gloved fingers to break up whatsoever lumps.
Remove the sparse, papery membrane from the dorsum of each rack past inserting a knife under it. The all-time place to start is on i of the centre bones. Using a paper towel, or pliers to secure a grip and skin off and discard the membrane.
Wear latex gloves (optional) and sprinkle dry rub over both sides of the ribs, rubbing information technology onto the meat. Cover the ribs with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for 2 hours minimum or best overnight.
For the mop sauce melt the butter in a small bucket over medium heat. Stir in the cider, soy sauce and hot sauce. Keep warm until set to use.

For the Grill:

For Low and Slow: Preheat gas grill or smoker to 225°F. Add smoker chips per manufacturer's instructions if using. Fix up the grill for indirect grilling (See Note ane).

Identify the ribs, bone side down, in the eye of the grate, cover the grill and cook the ribs for 30 minutes.

Brush both sides with mop sauce. Re-comprehend the grill and continue cooking the ribs for about iv to four 1/two hours brushing with mop sauce every 15 minutes. Cooking time varies depending on thickness of ribs. You lot want the ribs to have an internal temperature of 145°F, but for super tender keep them on until 195-200°F. 195° F will withal give you lot a piddling chew and resistance, 200° F and to a higher place volition requite y'all fall off the bone goodness.

In terminal thirty minutes brush with your favorite BBQ sauce several times, or not, and grill the ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbles, a couple minutes per side.

Remove from the grill and let the ribs balance for 5-ten minutes, then cutting the ribs.
If short on time: Preheat gas grill or smoker to 325°F. Add smoker chips per manufacturer's instructions if using.

Place the ribs, bone side down, in the center of the grate, embrace the grill and melt the ribs for 45 minutes.

Lift from grill and place on aluminum foil (enough to wrap). Brush both sides with mop sauce and seal foil. Place back on grill, re-cover the grill and continue cooking the ribs ane hr and 45 minutes to ii hours longer until tender. At this bespeak they should be tender enough to pull apart with your fingers. Cooking time varies depending on thickness of ribs. You want the ribs to have an internal temperature of 145°F, but for super tender keep them on until 195-200°F. 195° F will nonetheless give yous a little chew and resistance, 200° F and higher up will requite you fall off the bone goodness.

In concluding thirty minutes, open up foil and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce several times, or not, and grill the ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbling, a couple minutes per side.

Remove from the grill and let the ribs balance for 5-10 minutes, then cut the ribs.

For the Smoker:

Gear up and light the smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions and preheat it to low (225°F).

Place the ribs in the smoker os side down and smoke until cooked through, iv to 5 hours. Brush the ribs with the mop sauce after an hour, so mop the ribs again once every hr until cooked tender. Cooking time varies depending on thickness of ribs. Y'all want the ribs to have an internal temperature of 145°F, only for super tender keep them on until 195-200°F. 195° F will still give you a piffling chew and resistance, 200° F and to a higher place will give yous fall off the bone goodness.

In final 30 minutes brush with your favorite BBQ sauce several times, or not, and smoke the ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbles, a couple minutes per side.

Remove from the smoker and permit the ribs rest for 5-10 minutes, and so cut the ribs.

For the Oven:

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Identify the ribs, bone side downwardly, on acme of a wire rack ready in an aluminum foil lined blistering tray. Melt the ribs for 45 minutes.

Elevator from tray and place on aluminum foil (enough to wrap). Castor both sides with mop sauce and seal foil. Place back in oven and continue cooking the ribs 1 hour and 45 minutes to ii hours until well browned and tender (experience free to mop every 15 minutes).

Turn and mop again. Continue cooking, bone side down, another xxx minutes. two 1/2 to 3 hours total cook time. Cooking time varies depending on thickness of ribs. Yous want the ribs to have an internal temperature of 145°F, but for super tender keep them on until 195-200°F. 195° F will withal give yous a picayune chew and resistance, 200° F and above volition requite you lot autumn off the os goodness.

In terminal thirty minutes, open foil and castor with your favorite BBQ sauce several times, or not, and melt the ribs until the BBQ sauce is browned and bubbling, a couple minutes per side.

Remove from the oven and permit the ribs rest for a v-10 minutes, then cutting the ribs.

For the Instant Pot:

Place trivet in bottom of pot and add together 1 loving cup of h2o (or apple/pineapple juice, optional).

Ready ribs upright on the trivet and so they are not stacked on summit of i another.

Shut chapeau and vent. Select Manual Pressure and set timer for 24 minutes (25-28 minutes depending if they're actress meaty).

Once done, allow the Instant Pot to become through natural release.

Remove from Instant Pot and identify on wire rack in lined blistering tray.

Brush with marinade or barbecue sauce (or olive oil/seasoning for dry ribs) and bake or grill until slightly gluey and slightly charred.

Grilling with indirect heat: For gas grill practise the ii Zone ready which is either one-half the grill is lit to achieve desired temperature and the meat is placed on opposite side, or have sides lit leaving the centre Not on or everyman temperature. To grill using indirect rut on a charcoal BBQ or smoker, ignite charcoal and place it to 1 side of the grill, creating a space for the food or the center with meat you're cooking not directly over those lit coals. Typically apply a drip pan under the meat to avoid any flareups.

The information shown is an estimate provided past an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.