Recipe
Video Instructions
Written Instructions
Serves 2 - 4 people
You will need:
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1 rack baby back ribs (1.5-2.5 lbs) or St. Louis style ribs (2.5-3 lbs), membrane removed
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BBQ rub as needed
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1 can dark beer or about 1 1/2 cups water
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BBQ sauce to coat, plus additional BBQ sauce as desired
Method
1. Season the Ribs.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Coat ribs in BBQ rub on both sides as if dipping them into sand (use at least 3 1/2 tbsp rub and up to 6 1/2 tbsp); they should be completely covered in the rub.
2. First Cook
Transfer seasoned ribs to roasting pan or sheet tray with a wire rack and bake ribs for 45 mins - 1 hr 10 mins depending on size.
3. Steam the Ribs
Take ribs out of the oven and pour the beer/water into the roasting pan/sheet tray. Drop the oven temperature to 275 degrees. Then, cover ribs and their cooking apparatus thoroughly with tinfoil to steam, making sure to tent the foil over the ribs as best as possible.
4. Second Cook
Return ribs to oven and continue baking for between 1 hr 20 mins - 2 hr 10 mins, depending both on size and desired tenderness.
5. Remove the Foil, Third Cook
Take ribs out of the oven and remove tinfoil. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Return ribs to oven for 15-25 mins, or until the top of the ribs develops a crusty ‘bark.’
6. Apply BBQ Sauce, Broil/Grill
Once ribs have finished cooking, remove from the oven and set the oven to broil. Meanwhile, brush ribs with BBQ sauce (should only be a thin layer) on both sides with a pastry brush or a spoon. Return ribs to the oven and broil for about 5 minutes, or until the ribs are caramelized and bubbling on the top. One could alternatively finish the ribs on the grill.
7. Serve and Enjoy!
Take ribs out of oven and transfer to a serving plate. Some cooks like for ribs to fall right off the bone, but in my opinion, the optimal doneness for ribs is when they are very tender, but can still be handled without breaking. Serve ribs with more BBQ sauce and enjoy!