How to Cook Perfectly Tender Pork Spare Ribs in a Pressure Cooker

Pork spare ribs are a classic BBQ favorite, but they can take hours to cook until tender and juicy on the grill or in the oven. Luckily, the pressure cooker cuts the cooking time down tremendously while still giving you fall-off-the-bone ribs bursting with flavor.

Cooking ribs in a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot takes only 30-40 minutes compared to 3+ hours using conventional methods. The quick cooking and steam under pressure helps break down the collagen in the meat, making the ribs incredibly tender.

Follow this simple guide to learn how to cook pork spare ribs to perfection in a pressure cooker

Benefits of Cooking Ribs in a Pressure Cooker

Pressure cooking spare ribs offers several advantages:

• Speed – Cooks ribs 3-4 times faster than oven or grill
• Convenience – Simple hands-off cooking
• Juicy and Tender – Pressure extracts more moisture and gelatin
• Flavor Infusion – Meat soaks up spices, sauce and aromatics
• Less Shrinkage – Minimal moisture loss compared to other methods

Nearly any cut of pork ribs will turn out great in the pressure cooker – spare ribs, baby back ribs, country-style ribs, etc. The cooking times stay roughly the same.

Let’s look at how to pick the best rack of ribs and cook them to fall-off-the-bone perfection.

Choosing the Best Racks of Pork Ribs

For the most tender and flavorful pressure cooked ribs, shop for racks of spare ribs with these qualities:

• Meaty – Choose racks with plenty of meat and minimal bone. Avoid skinny racks.
• Uniform – Pick racks that are similar in thickness from top to bottom.
• Flexible – Opt for ribs that bend without cracking. This indicates tenderness.
• Marbling – Some fat marbling is good for flavor and moisture.
• Freshness – Choose ribs without drying or discoloration.

The size of rack (number of bones) doesn’t matter. You can cook anything from individual ribs to a full slab.

Recipe for Pressure Cooker Spare Ribs

This straightforward recipe for pressure cooked pork spare ribs results in finger-licking delicious BBQ ribs every time.

Ingredients

• 1 rack of pork spare ribs (2-4 lbs)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup water or broth
• Dry Rub:
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
• BBQ Sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep the Ribs: Remove membrane from back of ribs. Cut into individual ribs or 2-3 bone sections. Pat dry well.

2. Apply Dry Rub: Mix together dry rub ingredients. Generously coat ribs on all sides.

3. Pressure Cook: Place 1 cup water or broth and onion slices in pressure cooker pot. Add ribs on a steamer rack or trivet above water.

4. Pressure Cook on High for 25-35 mins: Cook baby back ribs 25 mins, country-style 30 mins, spare ribs 35 mins. Allow pressure to release naturally.

5. Baste BBQ Sauce (optional): Brush ribs with BBQ sauce, then broil 3-5 mins to caramelize sauce.

That’s all it takes to make amazingly tender, fall-off-the-bone pressure cooker pork spare ribs in under an hour!

Tips for Perfect Pressure Cooked Ribs

Follow these tips for the best results when cooking ribs in your pressure cooker:

• Use a trivet – Keeping the ribs above the liquid allows flavors to concentrate in the meat instead of the sauce.

• Layer ribs – Stack ribs vertically for more even cooking if needed.

• Brown first (optional) – Quickly browning the ribs first adds deeper flavor.

• Add aromatics – Onions, garlic, herbs and spices amp up the flavor.

• Natural release – Allows time for collagen to fully break down for super tender ribs.

• Check doneness – Meat should shrink back from bones by 1/4 inch when done.

• Watch time – Avoid overcooking or ribs will fall apart completely.

• Let rest – 5-10 minutes of rest time allows juices to redistribute.

How Long to Cook Pork Ribs in a Pressure Cooker

Pork rib cooking times can vary slightly based on the thickness of the ribs. Here are general pressure cooker guidelines:

• Baby back ribs – 25 mins
• Country-style ribs – 30 mins
• Pork spare ribs – 35 mins
• St. Louis ribs – 35 mins

Always allow the pressure to release naturally, which takes about 15-20 minutes after cooking finishes. This slower release prevents overcooking.

Check for doneness and adjust cook time up or down 5 minutes as needed. Undercooking is better than overcooking when unsure.

Flavorful Marinades & Sauces

One of the best parts of cooking ribs in a pressure cooker is that you can infuse them with lots of flavor.

Try marinating for 1-24 hours before pressure cooking or use these sauces:

• BBQ Sauce – Classic, bold & sticky sweet
• Teriyaki – Sweet & salty with Asian flavors
• Jerk Style – Spicy and robust Caribbean spices
• Korean BBQ – Gochujang & sesame oil marinade
• Coca-Cola – Sweet cola flavor
• Hoisin – Thick sauce with garlic, chili and five-spice
• Molasses – Sticky with rich maple & brown sugar

Brush on your favorite marinade or sauce after pressure cooking and broil to caramelize.

Side Dishes for Pressure Cooker Ribs

Complete your BBQ rib feast with classic pairings:

• Corn on the cob
• Coleslaw
• Mac and cheese
• Baked beans
• Collard greens
• Potato salad
• cornbread

Having homemade side dishes ready lets you spend more time enjoying those irresistible pressure cooked ribs!

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

Follow these simple pictured steps for foolproof pork spare ribs every time.

1. Prep Ribs

Remove membrane, cut into sections, pat dry. Apply dry rub generously on all sides.

2. Add Water & Aromatics

Place 1 cup water, broth or sauce and aromatics like onions in pot.

3. Put Ribs on Trivet

Arrange ribs on a trivet or steam rack above the liquid.

4. Pressure Cook Ribss

Pressure cook on High for 25-35 minutes depending on rib type.

5. Baste on Sauce

Brush your favorite BBQ sauce on ribs after cooking.

6. Broil (optional)

Broil sauced ribs 3-5 minutes to caramelize and sticky up.

7. Enjoy Tender Ribs!

Dig into these crazy tender, fall-off-the-bone pressure cooker spare ribs!

Now you’re ready to make phenomenally tender, juicy pork spare ribs easily at home with your pressure cooker!

FAQs

Get answers to some common questions about making ribs