How to Cut Through Pork Rib Bones Like a Pro

Pork ribs are a delicious and popular cut of meat, but their tough bones can make them challenging to portion and prepare. With the right tools and techniques, you can easily cut through pork rib bones to separate ribs or trim them down for recipes. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to cut through pork ribs like a professional.

Why Cut Through Pork Rib Bones?

There are a few key reasons you may want to cut through pork rib bones:

• Separating ribs into individual portions – This allows you to cook ribs individually or stack ribs in neat portions.

• Removing rib tips – Trimming down the cartilage-heavy rib tips can give your ribs a neater presentation.

• Fitting ribs into pots/pans – Cutting ribs into smaller pieces allows them to fit better into cookware for braising or stewing.

• Cutting country-style ribs – Country-style ribs are cut across the bone into short 2-3 inch sections.

Tools You’ll Need

Cutting through pork bones requires specialized tools to get through the tough cartilage and marrow Here are the best tools for the job

• Sturdy chef’s knife – A good quality 8-10 inch chef’s knife is ideal for cutting through pork rib joints. Look for one with a sharp tapered blade.

• Meat cleaver – The thick, heavy blade of a cleaver can chop cleanly through pork rib bones. This works well for chopping ribs into country-style portions.

• Kitchen shears – Strong kitchen shears are great for snipping through pork rib cartilage to trim and shape ribs.

• Cutting board – Use a large wooden or plastic cutting board to protect your counters and dull your knife blades less.

Techniques for Cutting Through Pork Ribs

Follow these techniques using your chef’s knife, cleaver, and shears to masterfully cut through pork ribs:

Separating Ribs

• Place the slab of ribs bone-side up on a cutting board. Locate the natural joints between the bones where they will be easiest to cut through.

• Using a sharp chef’s knife, carefully cut down along the joints to separate the ribs into individual portions. Let the knife do the work, using steady even pressure rather than forcing it.

• For thicker slabs with larger bones, use a cleaver to chop through the joints in a controlled motion, being careful not to cut yourself.

Trimming Rib Tips

• To remove the cartilage-heavy rib tips, place the ribs meat-side up. Use kitchen shears to cut vertically along the lower edge of the bones to trim off the tips.

• You can also use a chef’s knife to slice off the rib tips, cutting parallel to the bones.

Cutting Country-Style Ribs

• For country-style ribs, place the ribs bone-side up and locate the midpoint between bones where you want to cut.

• Using your chef’s knife, cut down through the meat and bones to create 2-3 inch portions. A cleaver also works well for chopping across bones.

• Cut across as many ribs as needed to achieve your desired portion sizes.

Pork Rib Cutting Tips

• Always use sharp knives and shears – dull tools will make cutting more difficult and dangerous.

• Cut at the rib joints – never try to cut through the middle of bones.

• Use a sturdy cutting board and secure the meat while cutting to prevent slipping.

• Let the knives do the work – don’t force them through the bones.

• Watch your fingers! Keep them curled under when cutting near bones.

With the right tools and proper cutting technique, you can easily slice through pork ribs like a professional. Follow these tips for safe, simple rib cutting to portion ribs or trim them up for stellar recipes.