Smoking meat is one of the ways my husband shows love, and I agree that a rack of ribs smoked low and slow over hickory wood chips is a real treat.
Since most people don’t have a smoker, I’m going to share my easy and unbelievably tasty oven-baked ribs recipe. Yes, you can get lip-smackin’, finger-lickin’-good ribs that fall off the bone from your oven.
Every time I make these I’m stunned over how delicious they are. They come out perfect every single time!.
Pork ribs are a classic barbecue staple but they can also be easily prepared in the oven with outstanding results. When baking ribs, using the right temperature is crucial for ensuring the ribs turn out juicy tender and packed with flavor. This comprehensive guide provides tips on choosing the ideal temperature based on the type of pork ribs you are cooking.
A Guide to Popular Pork Rib Cuts
There are a few different cuts of pork ribs to choose from:
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Baby back ribs – These ribs come from the upper ribcage near the spine and are shorter, meatier and more tender. They have less fat than spare ribs
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Spare ribs – The spare rib primal cut runs along the belly and side of the pig Spare ribs are longer and contain more fat than baby backs
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St. Louis-style ribs – These are trimmed spare ribs without the rib tips. They are rectangular in shape.
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Country-style ribs – These meaty ribs come from the upper side of the ribcage near the pork shoulder.
Each type of rib has slightly different characteristics that impact cooking time and technique.
Baking Temperatures for Uncovered Vs. Covered Ribs
Baking ribs uncovered vs. covered makes a significant difference in cook time and final texture:
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Uncovered – Bake at higher temperatures of 300-350°F. The ribs will cook faster and develop a nice crusty bark.
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Covered – Bake at 250-325°F. The ribs cook slower but retain more moisture. Finish under broiler to crisp up.
Here are recommended oven temperatures based on rib type:
- Baby backs uncovered – 300-325°F for 1 hour
- Baby backs covered – 375°F for 1-1/2 hours
- Spare ribs uncovered – 350°F for 2 hours
- Spare ribs covered – 300°F for 3 hours or 400°F for 1-1/2 to 2 hours
Step-By-Step Guide for Baking Amazing Oven Ribs
Follow these simple steps for finger-licking oven-baked ribs:
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Choose the desired rib type and prepare them. Remove membrane if still attached.
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Create a spice rub. Coat ribs generously with dry rub and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to the temperature based on your chosen method. Arrange ribs on a foil-lined baking sheet.
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Bake ribs bone-side down until tender and meat pulls away easily. Rotate pans halfway through.
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Once baked, let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before cutting into individual ribs.
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Finish ribs by basting with barbecue sauce and broiling 3-5 minutes until sauce caramelizes.
Helpful Tips for Perfect Oven Ribs
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For the juiciest ribs, choose fattier cuts like spare ribs over lean baby backs.
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Cut ribs into individual ribs prior to baking for maximum browning and crispiness.
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Add liquid like beer, juice or water to the baking pan to help keep ribs moist.
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Wrap ribs in foil if struggling to keep them from drying out in the oven.
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Apply sauce during last 10-15 minutes so it doesn’t burn.
The Takeaway on Oven-Baking Ribs
The oven can produce incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs that are just as delicious as grilled ribs. Use a lower temp around 300°F for baby back ribs and up to 350°F for meatier spare ribs. Covering ribs while baking will extend cook time but result in juicier meat. Finish uncovered under the broiler to crisp and caramelize. Mastering the perfect rib roasting temperature helps you achieve competition-worthy results right from your oven.
Watch How to Make Them
For me, Easy Baked Ribs are like slow cooker recipes because I can prepare them ahead of time and then let them bake slowly in the oven while I do other things. The ribs are popular on busy sports nights when the kids come home hungry or when they have different activities and need to spread out dinner. They taste good hot or warm.
Simple spices are used to season these oven-baked ribs, which are then slathered in BBQ sauce and fall apart tender. This is the easiest rib recipe you’ll ever make.
Step 2: Peel away the silver skin.
On the back of the ribs is a connective tissue layer called silver skin. No matter what method you use, the tough tissue has to be cut out before the ribs are cooked. Sometimes it’s already been removed by the processor but sometimes it hasn’t.
Silver skin has a purply-white color (silver, I guess, lol) and is not hard to remove. If there is silver skin on the rib rack, slide a pairing knife under it between two rib bones near one end. If you need to, use a paper towel to get a good grip on it and peel it off along the length of the ribs.
All easy from here on out!
How to make BBQ Ribs in the Oven | Oven Baked Barbecue Ribs EASY!
FAQ
What is the best temperature to cook pork ribs in the oven?
Should I bake ribs at 250 or 275?
How long to cook ribs on 400?
How long do you bake pork ribs in the oven?
The baking time for pork ribs in the oven depends on the type of rib you’re cooking. For baby back ribs, it’s recommended to bake them at 275°F for 2-3 hours. Spare ribs, on the other hand, require a higher temperature of 350°F for 2 1/2 hours. It’s important to keep in mind that the size of your rack of ribs will also affect the baking time.
What is the best oven temperature for pork ribs?
When it comes to pork ribs, the best oven temperature varies depending on the type of ribs you have. For baby back ribs, a lower temperature of no higher than 300-325°F is recommended. This will ensure that the ribs don’t get overcooked and tough.
What temperature should ribs be cooked at?
For optimal smoke flavor in our ribs, we usually cook them at 225 or 250°F (107 or 121°C) for the first few hours, at least until we wrap them. That’s a slow-cooking temperature. But in an oven, where we’re not putting any smoke on anything, we can crank the heat up a bit and get to our goal—juicy, tender ribs—much more quickly.
How do you cook a rib rib in the oven?
Gather ingredients and preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Mix ancho chile powder, white and brown sugars, salt, black pepper, cumin, dry mustard, cayenne, and chipotle pepper in a small bowl until combined. Place rib rack, meat-side down, on heavy-duty aluminum foil.