Barbecue beef ribs are an ideal choice for any occasion, whether it’s a cookout, picnic or Sunday night dinner. Even people who don’t own a grill can enjoy them by baking them in the oven. Cooking ribs in an oven is very different from grilling them, but the results can be far superior to other cooking methods. Here’s how to bake BBQ beef ribs.
Contents
What You’ll Need
Enough beef ribs for everyone
Barbecue sauce
Barbecue seasoning (optional)
Meat tenderizer
Paper towels
Salt to taste
Choosing the Ribs
How your ribs turn out depends largely on the particular rack you select. Because lean beef can be very dry and tough, it’s recommended that you choose ribs that possess a generous layering of fat. This fat will also contribute massively to the flavor of the finished product. The amount of ribs is also something to think about. Beef ribs are mostly bone, so even a large rack may not be enough to feed more than a few people. It’s always a good idea to buy extra just in case. Similarly, try to get the least bony ribs you can find if you want more value for your money. Unfortunately, this can require visiting different stores.
Seasoning or Sauce?
Barbecuing doesn’t always have to include sauce. There are also a number of delicious barbecue rubs available on the market. If you prefer something homemade, you can do that, too. Some people like to use both sauce and a seasoning rub, and often times, the rub helps the sauce cling to the meat more. Furthermore, it gives the meat that smoky taste that you would normally get from a grill. Here’s are recipes for a homemade sauce and a homemade rub.
Barbecue Sauce
1 cup of dark brown sugar, packed down
1 cup of ketchup
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
1/4 cup of water
1 1/2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon of mustard powder
1 teaspoon of paprika
1 1/4 teaspoons of salt
3/4 teaspoon of black pepper
Barbecue Rub
1 tablespoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of chili powder
1 tablespoon of onion powder
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of ground chipotle pepper
1 tablespoon of ground ginger
2 teaspoons of mustard powder
Smoke flavoring
Preparing Your Ribs
If you want the best possible results, don’t be hasty to get the ribs in the oven. Rinse them off, set them on a cookie sheet or in a baking dish and pat them dry with paper towels. Generously sprinkle some meat tenderizer on both sides, followed by salt. If you’re only planning to use sauce on your ribs, wait until the last 45 to 60 minutes of cooking. If you want a bolder flavor, any seasonings or rubs should be applied now and massaged into the meat thoroughly.
Let the ribs stand in a warm place for about 40 minutes. This gives the enzymes in the meat tenderizer an opportunity to break down the protein in order to make it more succulent. At the same time, the salt will draw moisture and seasonings deep into the meat, further aiding its flavor and tenderness. Set your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and be prepared to be taunted by the aroma for a few hours. Check on them once in a while to monitor their progress.
Testing for Doneness
No matter how good they smell, try not to pull them from the oven prematurely. Slow, prolonged cooking produces the best results, so patience is a must for a memorable rack of ribs. When you suspect that they’re nearing doneness, you probably won’t be able to tell just by looking because of the sauce and seasoning. Instead, take a sharp knife and insert it into the center of the rack in a meaty part between bones. If they’re cooked to an ideal state, the knife should slide in effortlessly. If there’s still a lot of resistance, let them cook longer.
Although baking BBQ beef ribs in an oven requires some adjustment, it can be much better than grilling. That means no more costly fuel tank refills, no more tending meat in the cold and no more struggling to get the charcoal lit. By following these easy instructions, you can enjoy succulent barbecue beef ribs without a hassle.
Related Video:
