what do you soak ribs in to make them tender

3 ingredient sweet & tangy pork ribs marinade and hints how to make easy fork tender ribs. Start in the oven…finish on the grill!

I’ve been married over 19 years now and for the first few years of our marriage, I was always trying new recipes. Although cooking wasn’t new to me, getting to plan menus, grocery shop and cook meals for my little family was new. And I loved it.

All these years later, I still like tackling new things in the kitchen, whether it’s a new cooking technique, how to use a new ingredient or a new-to-me cut of meat.

These sweet & tangy pork ribs are my latest successful challenge and I’m so excited to share them with you! Let’s talk about how to make easy fork tender ribs!

Thanks to the Ohio Pork Council for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Soak ribs in apple cider vinegar for two hours. Remove from vinegar, pat dry, and coat ribs with rub evenly on all sides. Place meat-side up in a shallow baking dish, add enough water to coat the bottom of the dish, and wrap tightly with foil. Cook for 3 hours at 300 degrees F.
what do you soak ribs in to make them tender

Difference between Baby Back Ribs and Spare Ribs

Choose baby back pork ribs. What’s the difference between baby back ribs and spare ribs? Baby back ribs are smaller, which can seem less intimidating than the larger, rectangular spare ribs. Baby back ribs are more curved than the flatter spare ribs. Baby back ribs are also leaner and more tender than spare ribs. Since I was new to cooking ribs, I chose baby back, but you can feel free to use spare ribs if you’d like. You may have to cook them longer since they are a larger cut.

How to Cook Ribs in the Oven

Bake pork ribs in the oven. For easy, fork-tender pork ribs, start the ribs in the oven. Place them in a baking pan, pour your favorite pork marinade recipe overtop and cover the pan with foil. Bake the pork ribs “low and slow”…..low oven temperature (300 degrees) for 3 hours. The exact time will depend in the size of the pork ribs. Test the ribs…they should be fork tender before removing them from the oven.

How To make Tender and Juicy BBQ Ribs – for beginners

FAQ

Should I soak my ribs before cooking?

You soak the ribs in vinegar for a couple of hours, drain and dry with a paper towel, and then marinate with a rub (brown sugar and some spices). The vinegar adds flavor and the acidity tenderizes the meat.

What does soaking ribs in vinegar do?

Essentially, the vinegar solution “cleanses” the meat and makes the flavors shine through without any “gamey” flavor. According to Elizabeth, you don’t need a charcoal grill to achieve deliciously-barbequed ribs.

What is the secret to tender ribs?

The best, most fool-proof way to make sure that your ribs are fall off the bone tender is to bake them, covered, at a low temperature in your oven. We bake our ribs in a 275°F oven for two to three hours. It is this simple method that guarantees tender ribs!

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