Country style ribs have become an increasingly popular pork cut over recent years. Unlike traditional pork spare ribs that come from the ribs section, country style ribs are cut from the shoulder. This makes them far more affordable, while also giving you that classic rib shape and flavor.
If you’ve never cooked them before, you may be wondering what exactly country style pork ribs are and the best way to cook them. Here’s a complete guide on how to cook pork shoulder country style ribs to perfection every time.
What Are Country Style Pork Ribs?
Country style ribs are a long, meaty cut from the shoulder or blade end of the pork loin. They contain a significant amount of connective tissue and marbling, which requires long, moist cooking methods.
The term “country-style” refers to the classic Southern style of cooking pork slowly over low heat. This allows the fat to break down and tenderize the meat, while infusing it with plenty of flavor.
Unlike spare ribs or baby back ribs, country style ribs do not contain any rib bones. The boneless cut is taken from the fatty upper area of the pork shoulder. It’s sometimes called pork shoulder ribs or pork butt ribs.
You’ll usually find country style ribs sold in slabs around 8 inches long by 3 inches wide, weighing 1 to 2 pounds. Due to the high fat content, they are very moist and flavorful when cooked properly.
Benefits of Cooking Country Style Pork Ribs
There are several advantages to cooking country style ribs rather than traditional rib cuts:
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More economical – Country style ribs are substantially cheaper per pound than spare ribs or baby backs. The inexpensive cut makes it easy to serve a crowd.
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More meat – With no bones to carve around you get more edible meat per slab. There is also more marbled fat running through the meat, keeping it tender and adding flavor.
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Easy to eat – The boneless cut means no struggling to neatly eat around bones. Just grab dip and enjoy these saucy ribs.
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Tender and moist – The high collagen content breaks down into gelatin when slow cooked, ensuring tender, fall-apart meat that holds moisture well.
Choosing the Best Country Style Ribs
For delicious results, it pays to choose your country style ribs carefully:
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Select meaty ribs with plenty of marbling and minimal sinew or hard fat areas. Avoid ribs that look very lean.
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Get slabs that are evenly sized so they’ll cook at the same rate. Individual ribs can dry out if uneven.
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Choose flexible ribs that bend rather than feeling stiff and tough. This indicates tenderness.
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Look for ribs from the shoulder, not the loin. Shoulder ribs suit moist cooking better.
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Check the size – Slabs around 8 x 3 inches are ideal. Larger ribs may need longer cook times.
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Pick ribs with some fat cap left on for added flavor during cooking. This outer fat layer keeps them moist.
How to Prepare Country Style Ribs for Cooking
Before cooking your country style pork ribs, it helps to carry out some preparation:
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Trim off any hard fat or sinewy membrane for more tender ribs. Leave some fat cap on for moisture.
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Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess surface moisture that can hinder browning.
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Season with a dry rub of spices like salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, brown sugar etc. Apply rub evenly.
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Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to allow seasonings to penetrate meat. This firms them up for better searing later.
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Bring to room temp before cooking so they cook evenly. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
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Heat your oven and cooking vessel like a roasting pan while you prepare the ribs. Preheating helps sealing and browning.
With your ribs prepped, you’re ready to start cooking using either moist braising, oven roasting, grilling, or smoking methods.
How to Cook Country Style Ribs – Braising Method
Braising is ideal for ultra moist and tender country style pork ribs:
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Preheat oven to around 300°F. Use a heavy pot with lid like a dutch oven.
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Brown the ribs in batches in the pot over medium-high heat to build flavor. Don’t overcrowd pan.
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Remove ribs then sauté aromatics like onions and garlic in the same pot until softened.
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Return ribs to pot and add braising liquid, like low sodium chicken broth, to come about 1/3 up the ribs.
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Bring to a boil then cover and transfer to oven. Braise for 2 – 2 1/2 hours until fall-apart tender.
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Uncover and bake for 30 mins to reduce braising liquid to a tasty sauce consistency.
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Rest ribs for 10 minutes before serving with the reduced braising liquid spooned over.
How to Cook Country Style Ribs – Oven Roasting
Oven roasting is a simple, hands-off way to cook pork shoulder country style ribs:
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Preheat oven to around 300°F. Use a roasting pan or rimmed baking sheet.
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Place ribs meaty side up in a single layer. Try to avoid overcrowding for even cooking.
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Season ribs then tightly cover pan with foil to trap in moisture.
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Roast for 2 hours then remove foil and drain juices. Ribs should be very tender.
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Brush with barbecue sauce then return to oven uncovered at 275°F for 45-60 mins until sauce caramelizes.
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Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting ribs into individual portions.
How to Cook Country Style Ribs – Grilling
Grilling imparts delicious smoky barbecue flavor to country style pork ribs:
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Prepare ribs – trim, season as desired and let sit while heating grill.
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Preheat grill to medium heat, around 350°F. Use indirect heat by heating only one side.
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Place ribs meaty side down over unlit side of the grill. Close lid to trap in heat.
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Grill for 75-90 minutes with lid closed until very tender, flipping halfway through. Add more coals as needed.
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Baste ribs with barbecue sauce then move them directly over the lit side of the grill.
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Quickly char ribs for 2-3 minutes per side to caramelize the sauce.
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Let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting into individual ribs to serve.
How to Cook Country Style Ribs – Smoking
For ultimate flavor, slow smoke country style ribs low and slow:
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Prepare and season ribs – let them sit while heating smoker to 225-240°F.
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Place ribs meaty side up in smoker, avoiding direct heat. Add soaked wood chips.
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Smoke ribs for 4-6 hours with occasional spritzing, until fork tender. Check hourly after 4 hours.
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Wrap each slab in foil then return to smoker for 1-2 hours to finish cooking tender.
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Unwrap, brush with sauce then put back in uncovered for 30 mins until sauce sets.
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Rest ribs for 10 minutes before slicing into individual ribs for serving.
Tips for Cooking Perfect Country Style Pork Ribs
Follow these helpful tips for the best results when cooking country style ribs:
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Cook low and slow – Slow cooking between 250-300°F tenderizes the meat nicely.
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Use a meat thermometer – Pull ribs when internal temp reaches 195-205°F for fall-off-the-bone meat.
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Add liquid – Braising liquid, sauce or broth keeps the ribs moist while cooking.
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Flip halfway – This ensures even cooking and color on both sides of the slabs.
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Let rest before cutting – Resting for 5-10 minutes allows juices to reabsorb for moist, tender ribs.
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Slice between bones – Cut into individual ribs before serving for easy eating.
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Add sauce at the end – Brush on thick, sticky barbecue in the last 30 mins so it doesn’t burn.
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Serve any reduced pan sauce – Spoon over the rested ribs for added moisture and flavor.
With this complete guide to preparing and cooking pork shoulder country style ribs, you can enjoy these economical and flavorsome ribs often. The tender, saucy ribs are sure to become a new family favorite.