Cooking pork ribs with barbecue sauce in the oven is a delicious and convenient way to enjoy this classic dish. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving tender and flavorful pork ribs:
Ingredients:
- Pork ribs (baby back ribs or spare ribs)
- Barbecue sauce of your choice
- Salt and pepper (or your favorite dry rub)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 300°F (150°C) for a slow and low cooking process, which helps to make the ribs tender.
Prepare the ribs: If your ribs have a membrane on the bone side, consider removing it as it can prevent flavors from penetrating. To remove it, gently slide a knife under the membrane, lift it slightly, and then use a paper towel to grip and peel it off.
Season the ribs: Rub the ribs with salt and pepper or your preferred dry rub. You can use a store-bought dry rub or make your own with a mix of spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and other seasonings.
Wrap the ribs: For a tender and juicy result, wrap the ribs in aluminum foil. You can either wrap them individually or as a whole rack, depending on your preference.
Slow cook the ribs: Place the wrapped ribs on a baking sheet or in a baking dish and put them in the preheated oven. Cooking time will vary depending on the type of ribs and their size:
- Baby back ribs: Cook for about 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Spare ribs: Cook for about 3 to 3.5 hours.
Preheat the grill: While the ribs are in the oven, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. If you don't have a grill, you can use the broiler in your oven to achieve a similar effect.
Apply the barbecue sauce: After the initial slow cooking in the oven, remove the ribs and carefully unwrap them. Brush a generous amount of barbecue sauce over the ribs on both sides.
Grill or broil the ribs: Place the sauced ribs on the preheated grill and cook for a few minutes on each side, allowing the sauce to caramelize and create a nice glaze. If you're using the broiler, place the sauced ribs on a baking sheet and broil them for a few minutes on each side.
Rest and serve: Once the ribs are nicely glazed, remove them from the grill or broiler and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and succulent meat.
Serve and enjoy: Cut the ribs into individual portions and serve with additional barbecue sauce on the side, along with your favorite side dishes like coleslaw, baked beans, or cornbread.
Now you have a delicious plate of oven-cooked barbecue pork ribs ready to be enjoyed!