Alexandra Ramirez
Perfect, delicious, fall-off-the-bone ribs may seem like the unattainable Holy Grail when it comes to dinner options, but this does not have to be the case. You may think you need to fire up your smoker or grill, but the truth is, perfect ribs can be made right in your oven. Ribs are also perfect for catering if you are throwing a party. You no longer need to wait for the warmer months to come along to have delicious BBQ ribs; baking them in the oven is easy, and while it is time-consuming, it’s mostly just a waiting game.
Hands Off
Depending on the type of sauce you desire on your ribs, oven baked ribs only take about five minutes worth of prep time and just a few ingredients. If you prefer to make your own barbeque sauce or dry rub, you may need to invest an extra ten minutes (which is well worth it!), but if you opt for store-bought sauces or rubs, this recipe is nearly effortless.
Increasing Tenderness
Many people do not realize that the secret to perfectly tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs starts with a little bit of amateur butchery. On the back of your rack of ribs, you may notice a thick membrane that extends from one end to the other. This membrane keeps the ribs from being perfectly tender, so you need to remove it. With a knife, you should gently be able to separate the membrane from the meat of the ribs. Once slightly separated, you can use your hands to remove it fully. If you are having a hard time gripping the membrane, use a cloth or paper towel for assistance. You should also let your ribs sit out for about an hour before you start cooking them. This will take the chill off of them, and help them to cook more evenly.
Store-Bought vs. Homemade Sauce
If you are a grilling connoisseur, you probably don’t shop for pre-made BBQ sauce. For many home chefs, however, making barbeque sauce from scratch can be an overwhelming, time-consuming process. If the BBQ sauces available for purchase were not any good, they obviously would not be on store shelves. Store-bought sauces are convenient for those who do not have the time to make a sauce or take the time shopping that’s required to attain the necessary ingredients. If you have the time, making your own sauce allows you to customize it to your own taste preferences. But fret not; these tender oven baked ribs taste delicious no matter what you choose to sauce them with.
BBQ Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- ⅓ cup of onion, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
- ½ cup of ketchup
- 1 tablespoon of Sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Start by heating the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Once the oil has warmed up, add the onions and cook them until they begin to turn clear. Stir in the cumin and allow the flavors to bloom before adding the rest of the ingredients. Allow it to simmer on low for five minutes. Put this to the side until the ribs are finished cooking.
Oven Baked Ribs
After removing the membrane and allowing your ribs to sit outside of the refrigerator for about an hour, preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Add salt and pepper to both sides of the ribs. Place them, bone-side down, onto a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan. Depending on the size of your pan, you may need to cut them into segments in order to get them to fit. Cover them tightly with tinfoil and put them in the oven. Two and a half pounds of ribs should take about three or four hours at this temperature. You can tell that they are done when the meat starts to fall off of the bone with ease.
Once finished, remove them from the oven and switch your oven to its broiler setting. Brush your barbecue sauce on the ribs, then broil them for three or four minutes. This causes the BBQ sauce to caramelize and brings out its flavor.
