Learn to make ribs in your oven

Oven-baked ribs recipe

Tender ribs scream “summer”, but you can enjoy them all year-round by mastering the oven-baked version. Create a fall-off-the-bone rack by choosing the right dry rub, sauce and heat level. This oven-baked ribs recipe can help you elevate this classic dish into something your family can’t wait to enjoy in December.

Step 1. Prepare the dry rub

In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, onion powder and garlic powder and then set aside. Next, use a knife to peel the silverskin from the back of the ribs. The last step is to pat the ribs dry with a paper towel.

Step 2. Massage in the dry rub

Apply the dry rub onto the ribs, covering the entire outer layer and then massage it into the meat. To maximize flavour, place ribs on a large plate or dish and cover them with plastic wrap before letting them rest in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.

Step 3. Cook the ribs

Preheat the oven to 110°C (225°F). Pour the apple juice onto the bottom of the cooking pan, ensuring that the ribs are not fully submerged in liquid. This lets the dry rub remain on the outer layer of the meat. Next, cover the ribs with aluminum foil and bake for 3 hours or until the meat reaches a temperature of 82°C–88°C (180°F–190°F).

Step 4. Apply barbecue sauce

After the ribs have baked for 3 hours, remove them from the oven and add barbecue sauce to them. A basting brush can ensure an even coating on the ribs.

Step 5. Broil ribs

The final step is to use the broiler to char the top of the ribs. Spread barbecue sauce over the top every 3 minutes to help ensure they don’t dry out. Do this as many times as you want to achieve your desired sauce-to-meat ratio and char level.

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What types of ribs are best to make in the oven?

Pork spare ribs are a perfect type of rib to make in the oven, as they feature additional fat and take more time to cook. By slow-cooking spare ribs in the oven on low heat, the pork and marbled fat melt to create a juicy, tender bite filled with a sweet, fatty flavour.

It’s up to you whether you use beef or pork ribs, and you should choose based on the recipe and flavour profile you desire. Pork ribs are the most popular option, and for a good reason. They deliver a deliciously sweet and succulent flavour that contrasts with savory dry rubs and sugary barbecue sauces.

How long should ribs rest?

Let ribs rest for roughly 10 minutes. If you want, you can tent foil over the top of the ribs so they retain their heat. Monitor the temperature of your ribs after removing them from the oven and as they rest to give yourself the best chance of serving them at your desired temperature.

Should you cover ribs in the oven?

Covering ribs with aluminum foil as they cook in the oven can help ensure that any other liquid, like apple juice, placed in the bottom of the pan will get incorporated into the meat. Leaving ribs uncovered in the oven could dry them out and even slightly scorch the outer layer.

What to do if the ribs are dry?

Ribs can turn dry if you don’t remove the membrane, which is also called “silverskin”. Another way that ribs can become dry is if you cook them on high heat for too long.

One solution to dry ribs is to use an apple cider vinegar mixture to help tenderize them. Mix half barbecue sauce and half apple cider vinegar in a bowl, slather the mixture on your ribs and then return them to the oven on low heat.

How to refrigerate ribs

It’s fairly simple to store leftover ribs. Place your cooked ribs in a shallow container and let them cool. Then, either vacuum seal them with their sauce or place them in an airtight container. It’s important not to let your ribs sit out for too long.

Ribs can usually last up to 4 days in the refrigerator, but only if stored properly

Can you freeze cooked ribs?

If you want to freeze cooked ribs, first let them cool to room temperature. Then, wrap them in two layers of foil, ensuring they are completely sealed, before putting them in the freezer.

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