The Perfect BBQ Spare Ribs

Spare ribs are a staple food in southern states, but are becomingly increasingly popular as southern cooking is sweeping its way across the country. There are several ways to cook the ribs, but nothing tastes better than bbq spare ribs.

Many people believe that ribs are available in both beef and pork. This is true, but pork ribs are used the majority of the time. This is true for bbq spare ribs since the ribs are taken from the underbelly of the pig. These are the smallest ribs and contain the least amount of meat per rib. This is made up with the flavor. Consider that a pound of uncooked spare rib will yield 1 1/2 servings of cooked bbq spare ribs.

How to Prepare BBQ Spare Ribs

The first thing to consider when preparing the perfect bbq spare ribs is the cut of meat. It is always best to buy meat straight from the butcher. The ribs should be uncut. Cooking the ribs with the fat will help to tenderize them.

While most bbq spare ribs are known for their amazing sauces, it is actually the rub applied before cooking that gives true flavor to the ribs. Most people agree that the rub should be applied no more than two hours prior to cooking and some people feel strongly that these should be stored in a plastic bag. This is a personal choice and may result in several different attempts at the perfect bbq spare ribs.

There is a difference of opinion when it comes to the perfect way to grill bbq spare ribs. Some people feel that it is ok to put the ribs directly on the grill over a medium heat. They feel this is acceptable since the meat has very little fat. Others feel that smoking or grilling on low or indirect heat is the correct way to cook these ribs. They feel that by slow cooking the meat, the fat will seep into the meat and make it tenderer. Again, this is going to take some trial and error to find the way that suits each cook.

All cooks agree upon one thing, and that is to apply the sauce during the final fifteen to twenty minutes of cooking. The sauce is simply the icing on the cake when it comes to the flavor of the bbq spare ribs. This is done to enhance the flavor of the ribs. Cooking the ribs with the sauce for longer would cause the meat to absorb too much flavor and may cause the sauce to dry out.

Cooking the perfect bbq spare ribs is an art. The meat should be flavorful and tender. This may take a lot of practice to perfect, but the outcome will be well worth the effort!