How Long To Grill Beef Back Ribs
Beef back ribs come from the same section of a steer as the prime rib roast. In case you didnt know, prime rib is a prized cut of beef and butchers can typically get top dollar for it. Because of this, beef back ribs typically have bone exposed and minimal meat on top of the bones. The fingers in between each of the bones will house the meaty goodness of beef back ribs.
Beef back ribs are a tough cut of meat that requires some time on the cooker to truly tenderize. Get it right and your BBQ ribs will be the stuff of legend.
The Slow Way :
For low and slow cooking, set your grills temperature to 225°F and place the beef back ribs on the grill to cook for about 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours.
The Fast Way:
For low and slow cooking, set your grills temperature to 325°F and grill the ribs on the indirect side for approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Smoked Beef Short Ribs Internal Temperature
Beef short ribs cook at a higher temperature than other smoked beef. They tend to soften somewhere between 205 and 210 degrees F. I prefer to use my Thermapen Mk4 to keep an eye on the internal temperature as Im smoking. The ThermoPop is a good budget-friendly option if youre needing something smaller that will still get the job done well.
Youll know your ribs are done when your thermometer slides into the meat just like butter. That tenderness should be a helpful indicator of how close your short ribs are to being done. And once they reach that perfect internal temperature, prepare yourself for some tasty, tender meat. These guys fall off the bone with barely a touch.
Making Beef Ribs On A Pellet Grill
Step 1: Start your pellet grill and set temperature for 250 °F. I like to use oak or hickory pellets for beef short ribs but use your favorite.
Step 2: While the grill is preheating, trim off any excess fat on the beef short ribs. There usually isnt much, but if there is, just clean it up with a sharp boning knife so they look like this:
Step 3: Whisk together all ingredients for the rub in a bowl. Generously coat the beef short ribs with the rub, ensuring you coat the sides. Dont worry about getting the bone side of the ribs. Youre not eating that side where the membrane is, so seasoning it is a waste.
TIP: Unlike pork ribs where the membrane should be removed, on beef short ribs leave the membrane in place to hold them together while youre smoking the ribs.
Step 4: Place ribs on a wire cooling rack inside of a cookie sheet. This allows for easy cleanup and prevents your grill from getting filthy with the dripping rendered fat. Place the ribs on the smoker, and close the lid.
Step 5: Mix beef broth, hot sauce, and soy sauce and pour into a spritz bottle. After the ribs have been on the smoker for one hour, give them a light misting of the liquid. This moisture helps the ribs take on some smoke and builds an incredible bark. Repeat every hour for the first four hours.
Step 8: Remove beef short ribs from grill, cover with aluminum foil and wrap in an old towel. Let ribs rest for at least an hour, but preferably 90 minutes, before opening up and slicing.
Recommended Reading: Blackstone Gas Tailgater Combo Grill Griddle
How To Tell If Ribs Are Ready To Eat
The USDA recommends that pork and beef both be cooked to an internal temperature of 145°F to be considered done. Many professional chefs cook beef steak cuts to only 128°F or so before they are served.
Its important to note here the difference between safe to eat and finished.
Since ribs are tougher cuts of meat, they should be cooked longer and until they reach a higher internal temperature so that the connective tissues and fats have ample time to break down and render.
Ribs are generally cooked until an internal temperature of 190°F to 205°F. Aaron Franklin, a BBQ idol of mine, recommends that you cook to an internal temperature of 203°F.
The best way to tell if ribs are ready is to measure internal temperature of your meat with a probe meat thermometer. When measuring, make sure that the probe measures a thick section in the center of the slab. The bones are sure to be piping hot and will throw off your temperature reading if the probe gets too close.
There are also a couple of quick checks you can do if you dont have a thermometer handy:
How Long Do You Cook Short Ribs At 400 Degrees
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, pepper, and dark chili powder until well combined. Place the beef short ribs on a large baking sheet and massage the spice mixture all over the meat, including the bone. Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake for 15 minutes. Short Ribs with a Barbecue Glaze Baked in the Oven
Recommended Reading: Dual Grill Gas And Charcoal
Prepare And Apply Your Rub To All Sides Of The Ribs
Lightly coat your ribs but do not overseason. Be prepared to move your ribs to the grill within 10 to 20 minutes of applying the spices. Any longer than an hour and any rubs will begin to change the texture of the meat. Some accept this for additional flavoring.
*Pro-tip #1 If you apply a light coat of mustard to your ribs before the rub you will help the spices stick to the meat during cooking. You will never taste the mustard, and the smoke can penetrate the meat just fine.
*Pro-tip #2 To give your ribs more flavor, you can apply the rub, wrap the ribs tightly in plastic, and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours.
How Long Do Short Ribs Take To Grill
Salt and pepper the short ribs thoroughly before placing them directly over the embers. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes total, rotating often, until browned on all sides and a probe thermometer put into the thickest portion of the steak registers 125F. Transfer to a chopping board and let aside for 5 minutes, covered with foil.
Read Also: Weber Grill Igniter Not Clicking
How To Buy Short Ribs
Beef short ribs are actually a broad phrase that can include a few different cuts from any area of the rib section. They can also be butchered in a few different ways, either cut into slightly longer, individual pieces or kept in sections and sliced thinly .
To be honest, you can use any cut of short ribs for this recipe. If you get the thicker cut , you will have a meatier section attached to each bone. This will be slightly chewier but I kind of like it. If you get the flanken cut ribs, youll get something closer to Korean BBQ short ribs .
If you are unsure, ask your butcher what they would recommend and what they have ready to go!
How To Cook Beef Short Ribs On The Grill
Its time to show you how to cook beef short ribs on the grill in the most efficient manner.Place the ribs on the grill and cook until done.Allow them to sizzle and hiss for 4 to 5 minutes before removing them.These tips will assist you in achieving that mouth-watering sear that is full of flavor and delicious richness.Turn the ribs over after a few minutes to cook on the other side.Dont forget to turn the ribs over so that they are on their sides as well.
You May Like: Oklahoma Joe Smoker Grill Combo
Difference Between Beef Short Ribs And Beef Back Ribs:
Short ribs are smaller than beef back ribs and are located more to the breastbone or underside of the cow. Conversely back ribs come from the ribs nearest to the shoulder of the cow, closest to spine.
Visually, short ribs are smaller and the meat is on top of the bone. Back ribs are elongated / longer and the meat is in the middle of the bones.
Interesting enough, the cooking method is the same for both cuts because they’re a tough cut with bones, if that makes sense. Low and slow cooked in the oven or crockpot for both beef rib cuts.
Beef short ribs are also expensive. If you’re looking for a more economical cut, check out my BBQ oven baked Beef Back Ribs. These ribs are the bones that are cut off from a Prime Rib Roast. They may not be as meaty but they are just as delicious.
Lay the beef bone side down and fat side up while cooking in the oven. The bone is on the far left in this close up of a short rib. The left side with the bone will face down.
How Do You Foil
- Preheat the grill to medium-high.
- Half of the ribs should be placed in a single layer in the center of a large piece of heavy-duty foil. Raise the long sides of the foil.
- Grill for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the ribs are cooked through. Return the ribs to the grill after removing them from the foil wrappers.
Read Also: Marinade Recipe For Grilled Chicken
How To Cook Ribs On A Charcoal Grill
In a 15 x 10 inch pan, whisk together the marinade ingredients .Add the ribs to the marinade, turning to coat, and allow to marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours at room temperature before serving.Heat a grill to a medium-high temperature.Oil the grill with a pastry brush.Grill the ribs until they are fully done .Remove the flesh and bones from the carcass.
Faqs About Cooking Beef Short Ribs In The Oven:
Can you cook beef short ribs in the oven fast?
Nope! They are a tough cut of meat and can not be made quick. They require low and slow cooking if you want them tender.
How long do beef short ribs take to bake in the oven?
3 ½ – 4 hours depending on your oven.
What temperature are beef short ribs cooked in the oven at?
Bake short ribs at 275F.
Are beef short ribs cooked covered?
Yup! Cover the beef ribs tightly in a pan with aluminum foil or a tight lid.
Does this recipe work for boneless as well as bone in beef short ribs?
Yup! This recipe works for boneless and bone in beef short ribs.
You May Like: City Grill And Wings Harrisburg
Purchasing And Prepping Short Rib Steak
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Also sold as: galbi or kalbi , Jacob’s Ladder , asado de tira .
Where it’s cut from: The ribs. Short ribs can be cut numerous ways, but come from the area of the ribs a bit further down towards the belly than rib steaks or strip steaks . When cut into long slabs with bone sections about 6 to 8-inches in length, they are referred to as “English cut.” When sliced across the bones so that each slice receives four to five short sections of bone, they are known as “flanken style.”
Like all meat, short ribs can vary in quality. The very best short ribs come from high up on the ribs, close to where ribeye steaks are cut from. The top six inches or so is what you’re looking for. With steaks cut from this region, you’ll find a bone about six inches long, one and a half inches wide, and half inch thick along with a slab of meat sitting on top of it about an inch tall.
Some less scrupulous butchers will sell sections cut from much lower down on the rib as “short ribs.” You’ll recognize these by the skimpy amount of meat on them. Don’t bother with these, they won’t work at all . Look for meaty ribs with plenty of intramuscular fat known as marbling.
Either English or flanken cut will work just fine on the grill, but I personally prefer to buy my ribs English cut. This affords me the possibility to remove it from the bone into one, relatively thick steak, like this:
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Grilled Boneless Short Ribs Faqs
How long can I keep short ribs in the refrigerator?
Store cooked leftover beef short ribs for up to 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. They are best kept in shallow, air-tight containers or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
Can I freeze beef short ribs?
Yes, you can freeze beef short ribs! Store in air-tight containers, freezer bags, freezer wrap, or aluminum foil. If you want to be extra sure they freeze well, wrap them in foil or freezer wrap first, then add to a freezer bag or air-tight container.Cooked short ribs will freeze well for up to 3 months, but I guarantee you will eat them before then.
What temp should I grill beef short ribs at?
Beef short ribs grill best over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. This produces a beautiful sear and juicy, perfectly cooked medium-rare middle.
Recommended Reading: Grilled Rack Of Lamb Recipe
How Long Does It Take To Smoke Ribs At 300 Degrees
How Long Should Ribs Be Smoked at 300 and 350 Degrees? A rack of spare ribs will take around 2.5 to 3 hours to smoke at 300 degrees when the smoker is set to high heat. Because of their smaller size and thinner texture, baby backs may take even less time to prepare than regular backs. Baby back ribs should be cooked within a 2-hour timeframe at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Score Some Boneless Short Ribs
Sure, bones add deep flavor when you’re slow-cooking short ribs. But when you’re sizzling them in a flash, it’s all about exposed surface area. When the robust direct heat of the grill meets the abundant fat in beef short ribs, you’ll get irresistibly crispy bits on the outside. Even better, the marbling means that the interior stays juicy after it’s hit with medium-high heat.
Recommended Reading: Oceans One Bar And Grill
Best Short Rib Recipe
Grilling beef is a regular occurrence at my house. If I could get away with cooking on the grill every day, I just might! My family and I are a little bit obsessed with these sweet and spicy beef short ribs on the grill.
Try them just once, and you’ll know why: they are so tender and juicy, and the flavor is out of this world!
What really sets this BBQ short ribs recipe apart is that it uses super simple ingredients: boneless beef short ribs, a sweet and spicy steak rub you can make at home in minutes using common spices, and butter.
Not to mention, grilling beef short ribs takes less than 20 minutes. What could be better than an easy steak dinner that’s ready in no time? I especially love to make a grilled prime rib for our Holiday dinners.
Ready Vs Done: Understanding The Difference
The difference between ready and done determines whether youre serving out-of-the-world delicious ribs or only good ribs. As we mentioned above, just because theyre fully-cooked, it doesnt mean theyre perfectly cooked.
Ready ribs are cooked to a safe internal temperature at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Theyre safe to eat, but most likely still tough and chewy.
Done ribs have had a chance to reach higher temperatures between 190 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. As the meat cooks to these higher temperatures, the fat and collagens melt and make the meat tender, moist, and absolutely delicious.
Read Also: Recipe For Grilled Rack Of Lamb
How Long To Grill Ribs
Heres a quick reference guide for how long to grill a few of the most common types of ribs. For each type, well give guidelines on how long to cook the fast way or the slow way .
Remember, its generally best for your end results to go with the lower temperature and longer time option. Personally, I would never cook ribs fast as I believe far superior results can be achieved by doing things the low and slow way. But sometimes life happens and we get into a hurry before dinner time.
Its also worth noting that these guidelines for how long to cook ribs are only general rules of thumb. What youre really trying to do is cook your ribs until they reach an internal temperature of 203°F , which is the optimal time to take your ribs off of the cooker. More on this in a moment.
The longer you cook , the more time your meat has for fat to render and connective tissue to break down which leads to the mouthwatering and tender results were after.
What Is The Best Temperature To Cook Ribs On The Grill
When it comes to cooking your ribs on the grill, you must make certain that they are exposed to indirect heat in order to avoid drying out the meat. The aim for your rack of ribs while grilling them is to raise the internal temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit . It is even quite vital to be unwell.
Recommended Reading: Eggs Up Grill Myrtle Beach
How To Cook Korean Bbq Ribs On A Gas Grill
Heat a grill to a medium-high temperature. Oil the grill with a pastry brush. Grill the ribs until they are fully done . Remove the flesh and bones from the carcass. Wrap the meat in lettuce leaves and serve it with a tiny quantity of miso and sticky rice on the side for dipping. Easy Grilled Beef with a Sweet and Savory Korean BBQ Sauce