Mastering Slow-Cooked Oven Beef Back Ribs

Beef back ribs are an underrated cut that can yield incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone meat when cooked low and slow With the right technique, oven-baked beef back ribs become meltingly tender and packed with flavor. This method requires patience, but the results are so worth it.

Why Cook Beef Back Ribs in the Oven?

Cooking beef back ribs in the oven has a few advantages:

• No need to monitor a grill or smoker for hours. Just set the oven temperature and walk away.

• More even cooking since the ribs are surrounded by ambient heat on all sides.

• Ability to cook a large batch at once – great for feeding a crowd!

• Infuses the ribs with flavor as they cook in their own juices

• Requires minimal hands-on time. Once in the oven, you just let the heat work its magic.

Choosing the Best Beef Back Ribs

For the juiciest oven-baked ribs, look for ribs with:

• Good marbling and fat distribution – This keeps the ribs from drying out

• Meaty ribs around 1.5-2 lbs each – Avoid skimpy ribs with lots of bare bones.

• Bright red color – The ribs shouldn’t look brown or gray.

• Flexible ribs – They shouldn’t feel stiff.

• Fresh, beefy aroma – No off smells.

Pre-Cooking Prep Work

Before the ribs hit the oven, do a few things to set them up for success:

• Trim excess fat – Leave about 1⁄4 inch of fat cap.

• Remove membrane – Use a knife to loosen and peel off the papery membrane.

• Apply a dry rub – Generously season all sides with a homemade rub or use store-bought.

• Let them rest – Once seasoned, let the ribs rest for 30-60 minutes so the rub flavors penetrate the meat.

How to Cook Beef Back Ribs in the Oven Slow

Cooking low and slow is key for melt-in-your-mouth ribs. Follow these steps:

• Prep the pan – Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy-duty foil for easy cleanup.

• Wrap in foil – Place ribs meaty side up on pan and wrap tightly in foil, sealing the edges to lock in steam.

• Cook covered – Bake at 275-300°F for at least 3 hours. This braising step infuses flavor.

• Uncover and brown – Unwrap, brush with BBQ sauce if desired, and broil to caramelize the outsides.

• Check for doneness – Use a fork to test. Meat should shred easily off the bones when fully cooked.

• Rest and serve – Let rest 10-15 minutes before cutting into portions. Goes great with classic BBQ sides!

Cooking Times for Oven Beef Back Ribs

Beef back ribs require a low oven temp and plenty of time to break down the collagen. Cook times vary based on ribs’ weight and thickness.

• 1.5-2 lbs ribs: About 3 hours covered, 15-30 mins uncovered
• 3-4 lbs ribs: Around 4 hours covered, 15-30 mins uncovered
• 5 lbs and up: At least 5 hours covered, 30+ mins uncovered

Use a meat thermometer to confirm ribs reach 185°F when done. If unsure, it’s better to overcook than undercook!

Flavor Boosts for Oven-Baked Beef Back Ribs

Beyond just salt and pepper, there are many ways to add flavor nuance to your oven ribs:

• Spice rubs – Chile powder, paprika, cumin, garlic, onion, mustard, brown sugar

• Marinades – Wine, vinegar, citrus, Worcestershire, soy sauce, herbs

• Barbecue sauces – Sweet tomato-based sauces or bold South Carolina-style mustard sauces

• Bastes – Brush with apple juice, beer, cola, bourbon, honey during cooking

• Aromatics – Roast garlic, onions, shallots, ginger, chiles in the pan

Get creative with layers of flavor either in the dry rub, mop sauce, or finish sauce.

Step-By-Step Oven Beef Back Ribs Recipe

Follow this simple recipe for foolproof results:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs beef back ribs
• Dry rub: 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp each salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce

Instructions:

1. Pat ribs dry and remove membrane.
2. Apply generous amount of dry rub all over ribs. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes.
3. Heat oven to 300°F. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil.
4. Place ribs meat-side up on pan and wrap tightly in foil.
5. Bake ribs covered for 4 hours.
6. Carefully remove foil. Brush ribs with barbecue sauce.
7. Broil 5 minutes until sauce caramelizes.
8. Let rest 10 minutes before slicing into portions.

Serve With:

• Baked beans
• Cole slaw
• Cornbread
• Potato salad

Storing and Reheating Leftover Oven Ribs

• Refrigerate leftover ribs up to 4 days.

• To reheat, wrap ribs back in foil and bake at 325°F for 15-20 minutes until hot.

• Microwaveindividual portions for 30-60 seconds until warm.

• Chopped leftover rib meat is great in baked beans, sandwiches, omelets and more!