How do you pick baby back ribs?

Choose slabs with good meat coverage over the bones and no large areas of surface fat. Avoid “shiners”—slabs where the meat has been cut too close to the bone. These exposed bones may fall out during cooking. For best quality, avoid buying ribs that are frozen or have been previously frozen, if you can.

How do you pick out good spare ribs?

You want pork spareribs with pinkish-red color.

To ensure you take home a good piece of meat, use visual cues to help you buy spareribs. Look for ribs that are pinkish-red in color with some marbling in the meat (remember that fat equals flavor!). Steer clear of meat that's pale in color or has dark spots on the fat.

What are the different cuts of baby back ribs?

Pork ribs come in three basic cuts – back ribs, spare ribs, and country-style ribs – depending on the section of the hog where they originated. A special cut of spare ribs, formalized by the USDA as “Pork Ribs, St.

What ribs are the best to buy?

Spare ribs, or side ribs, come from under the babies and are larger, tastier, and meatier, with a lot of bone and more fat. Looking for a tender, lean rack of ribs and don't mind paying out a bit more? Go for baby backs. For a larger rack with more flavor, but more bone and fat, go for spare ribs.

Why are baby back ribs so expensive?

The Price. The price tag on a portion of baby back tends to be larger than for any spare rack. This is purely due to the high demand for this tender and lean option.

How To Pick The Tastiest Ribs #BBQFAQ

Which is better baby back or spare ribs?

Baby back ribs are more tender and leaner than spare ribs, and are typically more expensive. Each rack is around 2 pounds, around half of which is bone, and one rack feeds around one hungry adult. Spare ribs are cut from the ends of baby back ribs and run along to the pig's breast bone.

Which ribs are the meatiest?

6. Country-Style Pork Ribs These, the meatiest of ribs, come either from the loin, in which case they cook quickly, or, more often, from near the shoulder, which means they're tougher and benefit from low, slow cooking.

Which is better St Louis or baby back ribs?

Louis-Style Ribs. St. Louis-style ribs (cut from the spare ribs) may not be what you initially picture when thinking of barbecued ribs, but they'll get you salivating nonetheless. Compared with baby backs, these ribs have more meat between the bones and are fattier, making them a more flavorful choice.

What's the difference between baby back ribs and St Louis style ribs?

Baby back ribs contain the meat that gets left behind after the butcher has removed the pork loin from the carcass. St. Louis style ribs, which are spare ribs that have been trimmed to give them a more uniform shape, come from the belly of the hog.

What is the difference between side ribs and back ribs?

Side ribs are the ribs that extend down the sides of the animal over the belly and have had the breast bone removed. They are less tender than back ribs but are still very flavourful and less expensive. Because they are less tender and have more connective tissue, side ribs will take longer to cook.

Do you cut up ribs before cooking?

By cutting the ribs into single pieces with a bone that runs through the center, you end up with more meat surface area for the smoke to get into and ultimately you can apply sauce and rub to the cut sides instead of just the top and bottom of the rib.

What is the difference between back ribs and baby back ribs?

Back ribs are cut from where the rib meets the spine after the loin is removed. The upper ribs are called baby back ribs because they are shorter in relation to the bigger spareribs — not because they come from a baby pig.

How many ribs do you need for 2 people?

Pork Ribs. Generally speaking, a rack of spare ribs can feed two to three people. You'll want to plan on serving four to five ribs per person, so if the rack contains 13 ribs and you'll have three adults at your party, you should be all set.

How do you pick ribs with less fat?

Purchase boneless instead of bone-in short ribs whenever possible, since the boneless cuts contain less fat. Use a sharp knife to trim off all visible surface fat. Braise, stew or slow-cook the short ribs in your choice of liquid and seasonings one day before you plan to serve them.

How many ribs do you need per person?

If you are planning on making the ribs the main part of your meal, here is a rough guide: Count on half a rack, or six ribs per person if you are serving baby back ribs. Aim for four or five ribs per guest if you are serving spare ribs. Plan for two or three ribs per guest if you are cooking up beef back ribs.

Do baby back ribs come from baby pigs?

These are the small ribs pictured in the middle. But they're not from baby pigs! I repeat: not from baby pigs. Whereas spare ribs come from the belly area, baby back ribs are taken from around loin, the muscle that runs along the pig's back on either side of the spine.

How many baby back ribs are in a half rack?

BBQ Baby Back Ribs - 1 half rack (6 ribs)

What are the 3 types of ribs?

According to their attachment to the sternum, the ribs are classified into three groups: true, false, and floating ribs.

Are pork loin ribs the same as baby back ribs?

Loin back ribs, loin ribs, pork back ribs, and baby back ribs are all different names used for the same cut. These names all refer to the cut of pork taken from the top of the hogs rib cage – the part directly underneath the loin muscle where the backbone and the ribs meet.

How many pounds of ribs do I need for 4 people?

Select baby back ribs that are 2 pounds or less for the most tender, juicy meat. Plan on 1-pound servings for two people, or half-pound servings for four people.

How many pounds of ribs do I need for 8 adults?

A good rule of thumb to follow is 3 to 4 spare ribs per person, especially if you're serving a variety of dishes. For baby back ribs, which are smaller than spares, plan on 5 to 6 ribs for each guest.

Why do my ribs taste like ham?

The danger is that you get “hammy” ribs. This happens where the salt, smoke and long cooking accidentally “cures” the meat. Now you'll get some of that in pork butts but it's not as much of a problem given the large amount of interior meat to mix with it.

How much is a full rack of baby back ribs?

How Much Does a Rack of Baby Back Ribs Cost? The regular price for a rack of baby backs hovers at around $5.99 per pound.