Whether you cook your ribs on the grill, smoker, oven, or Instant Pot, this quick and easy Rib Marinade will make them taste great! This marinade recipe is made with real, simple ingredients, so it will always make your ribs tender.
Marinating is a simple yet highly effective way to infuse pork ribs with bold, complex flavors. But exactly how long should you marinate ribs to achieve the best results? While recommendations vary, the ideal marinating time for pork ribs falls somewhere between 2-12 hours.
Marinating works by allowing rib meat to soak up flavorful ingredients from a wet marinade solution. Over time, the marinade permeates the meat, tenderizing it while adding delicious taste. Marinating for too short of a time won’t allow the flavors to properly penetrate. But going overboard can make ribs mushy.
Finding the right balance is key for irresistible ribs bursting with flavor. Read on for tips on marinating duration, recipes, and techniques for finger-licking ribs.
Recommended Marinating Time for Pork Ribs
For best results, marinate pork ribs for:
- At least 2 hours – This allows some flavor penetration
- 4-8 hours – Flavor infuses more deeply into the meat
- Overnight or 12 hours – Maximum flavor infusion
Shorter marinating times around 2-4 hours are suitable if you’re in a pinch. But for intensely flavorful ribs, aim for 8-12 hours in the marinade.
Thicker meatier ribs may need a full 12 hours to absorb flavors. Go for a shorter marinating time of 4-6 hours for thinner types of ribs.
Use these benchmarks when tweaking any pork rib marinade recipe to your liking
Key Tips for Marinating Pork Ribs
Follow these guidelines to get the most out of the marinating process
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Trim membrane -Trim silverskin membrane so marinade contacts meat.
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Use a baking dish – Lay ribs in a baking pan or dish to marinate.
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Flip halfway – Occasionally flip ribs in marinade for even coverage.
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Chill marinade – Marinate ribs covered in the fridge at 40°F or below.
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Discard used marinade – Don’t reuse marinade that touched raw meat.
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Pat ribs dry – Blot off excess marinade before cooking.
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Add sauce later – Brush on thicker sauce glazes in the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Best Marinade Ingredients for Pork Ribs
From sweet to savory and spicy, marinades with any of these ingredients will infuse fantastic flavor into pork ribs:
- Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup – Sweet
- Soy sauce, Worcestershire, hoisin – Savory Umami
- Chili sauce, hot sauce, chili powder – Spicy
- Garlic, onion, ginger – Aromatic
- Vinegar, wine, citrus juice – Acidic
- Mustard, molasses – Pungent
- Herbs – rosemary, thyme, oregano – Fresh flavors
Experiment with combinations to find your perfect marinade recipe for pork ribs.
Sample Marinade Recipes for Pork Ribs
Here are a few tasty marinade recipes to get you started:
Sweet & Tangy BBQ Marinade
- 1⁄2 cup ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Ginger Soy Marinade
- 1⁄2 cup soy sauce
- 1⁄4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1⁄4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Jamaican Jerk Marinade
- 1⁄4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon Caribbean jerk seasoning
- 1 tablespoon minced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper, minced
**Whiskey Molasses Marinade **
- 1⁄2 cup apple cider
- 1⁄4 cup molasses
- 3 tablespoons whiskey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Tips for Cooking Marinated Pork Ribs
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Cook low and slow – Roast, grill, or smoke ribs at 250-325°F.
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Check doneness – Look for tender, shrinking meat pulling back from bones.
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Add glaze last 30 min – Brush with sauce only at the end to avoid burning.
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Let rest 5-10 min – Allow juices to redistribute before cutting ribs.
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Save extra marinade – Boil then serve reserved marinade as a sauce.
With the right marinating time, technique, and flavors, you’ll be rewarded with succulent, lip-smacking pork ribs. Aim for 8-12 hours in the fridge for maximum infusion of taste. Then pat dry, cook low and slow, glaze at the end, and enjoy the finger-licking ribs hot off the grill.
The Best Rib Marinade
When we have a Fourth of July party or barbecue in our backyard, we always make full racks of ribs. This is the best rib marinade recipe that we keep coming back to. Spread this simple marinade all over the ribs and leave them to sit for at least 30 to 60 minutes, or overnight if you have time. You can then cook the ribs in any way you choose to make them perfect and fall off the bone. These ribs are sure to please everyone! For the perfect summer cookout, serve them with slow cooker baked beans, pasta salad, creamy cucumber salad, and cornbread muffins.
Want to try a dry rub on your ribs? We have a tried-and-true dry rub recipe that works great on ribs too!
What You Will Need
- Soy sauce is a basic ingredient that adds a lot of salt and flavor.
- olive oil – every homemade marinade recipe needs some!
- garlic – everything is always better with a little garlic.
- It has kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder,
- Lemon zest adds a bit of acidity to bring out all the great flavors.
- ketchup is great for sauces and adding a little sweetness.
- apple cider vinegar—this will help the pork ribs get tender and add a little tang.
The Secret Ingredient to BBQ Baby Back Ribs with This *Surprising* Marinade Recipe!
FAQ
How long can I marinate pork ribs?
Should I marinate my ribs overnight?
How long can ribs be seasoned before cooking?
How long should you tenderize ribs?
How long do you marinate ribs?
Seal the bag and give it a light shake until the sugar is dissolved and the marinade is well combined. Marinate. Add the ribs are marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator or even marinating overnight and up to 3 days if you want. The longer they marinate, the deeper the flavor.
How long should you marinate pork?
Turning every 30 minutes is ideal, but for longer marinating times, every few hours is fine. The primal cuts of the pork, or the first cuts that a butcher makes to portion out the carcass, are the shoulder, butt, loin, and ham. Those cuts are then broken down further into roasts, ribs, chops, and pork belly.
Should you marinate ribs before smoking?
Well, when it comes to marinating ribs before smoking, the key is to give them enough time to soak up all those delicious flavors. Generally, you’ll want to marinate your ribs for at least 4 hours, but if you can, letting them sit in the marinade overnight (or about 12 hours) is even better. There’s a lot that goes into marinating ribs.
How do you cook ribs on a grill?
Preheat grill on medium high. Cut one end of pouch, and carefully remove ribs, retaining the majority of the sauce in the pouch (reserve for basting). Heat ribs, turning as needed for about 10 minutes. Baste with retained sauce and caramelize as desired. For best results cook on the BBQ/grill. Defrost before heating.