Introduction: Make Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs... in an Oven
My girlfriend's dad learned to make these ribs from his roommate in Maryland about 15 years ago. All you need is an oven, a pan, and some basic ingredients.
Step 1: Hardware/Software
Hardware
- Oven
- Roasting Pan + Rack (2 inches deep should do)
- Razor Sharp Blade
- Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil
- Tongs (just makes things easier)
Software
- Baby Back Ribs (We got three racks at Sam's for $20)
- 12 Pack of Dark Beer
- Liquid Smoke (available at any grocery sore)
- Your choice of seasoning (We used Canadian Steak Seasoning and Mesquite Spice.)
- BBQ Sauce
Step 2: Meat Prep
Before you start cooking its very important that you read and understand '''Basic Food Safety'''. Your dealing with raw meat here which means cleanliness is key.
First, you want to wash your ribs and get all the excess juices off them. This way you're not dripping blood everywhere. Then pat them dry with a few paper towels. You may need to cut your racks in half depending on the size of your pan and how many racks you're cooking.
Next, use a sharp knife or razor blade to cut an "X" into the silverskin on the back or the ribs. This will keep them from curling up.
Step 3: Pan Prep
Now's a good time to preheat your oven to 400 F in preparation for step 4.
The amount of beer you use depends on the size of your pan and how much meat you have. I'd say use about one beer for every three pounds of meat and 1 tbsp for of liquid smoke for every beer. You want enough liquid to last throughout the four hour cooking process. The beer and liquid smoke will evaporate and not only tenderize but flavor the ribs.
You can season your ribs however you want. Some people choose to use a dry rub and others brush on a wet sauce. Both taste great. We're using Tone's Canadian Steak Seasoning and McCormick Mesquite. So liberally cover both sides of the ribs with your spice and arrange them on the rack so the fat can drip into the pan.
Use heavy duty aluminum foil to cover and seal the ribs.
Step 4: Into the Oven
What we're doing here is braising the ribs; cooking them on low heat in a moist environment. This breaks down all the connective tissues in the ribs making them tender.
Place the pan in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
Then, drop the heat down to 250 degrees for about 3 hours. (This is where you use the rest of that 12 pack.)
Check on the ribs at 2 1/2 hours. If you can grab a bone and pull it out, it's ready. Once fully cooked, uncover and let rest for 20 minutes.
Step 5: Sauce and Serve
Enjoy :]
8 Comments
8 years ago
Oops and i fotgot to add, i slathered some sweet baby rays bbq sauce on top b4 i baked a bit more then broiled, i kinda make stuff up as i go along ehen i cook
8 years ago
I made these tonight and they were to die for. Omg. I upped the temp to 350 towards the end and then finished them off under the broiler. I used a dry rub of random including goya adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, chila powder, smoked paprika....
8 years ago on Introduction
OK So I just realized I had another SNAFU! I didn't go to the last step on the next page, sooooo you're supposed to turn the heat down to 250? How did my ribs turn out so good? Maybe it was a good thing I accidently turned off the oven! I guess this speaks well for the technique because I sure made a couple big mistakes and they still turned out wonderful! Thanks for the recipe!
8 years ago on Introduction
I made these ribs. I had a snafu when I accidentally turned off the oven about an hour and a half into the process and wasn't sure how long it had been off when I found it. So I baked them another hour past when they should have been done. When I opened the foil, the rub had darkened and I thought they were burnt. My husband stuck a fork in the meat and it fell off the bone! It was so moist and tender! We stood at the stove and ate a couple of ribs before we even thought about getting a plate! All's I can say is "Yum, I'm so stuffed! You have to try this!"
12 years ago on Introduction
These look awesome! I'm definitely going to try these soon!
14 years ago on Introduction
"What we're doing here is searing and then braising the ribs; " - you are not searing the ribs; to sear is to char or lightly burn the surface of a meat (to lock the meat's natural juices inside while braising, roasting, steaming, or otherwise cooking). Searing would be another step before you wrap them up and bake (braise) them.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yeah, your right. Searing is done in a drier environment so caramelization can occur. However, searing doesn't lock in flavor as much as it creates new flavors. Thanks for the correction :]
14 years ago on Step 5
Nice write-up.. An excellent touch is to put the rack under the broiler for a few minutes after you sauce them up.. That gives it the 'roasted over fire' taste with a few black bits. You need to watch it closely, or they will burn to a crisp. Thanks!