Beef ribs in a restaurant always taste next level and I used to struggle to replicate the intense flavor at home. That was until I found out what the secret step was: Boiling the ribs before baking them! Not only does it improve the flavor but it helps to tenderize the meat before you bake or grill it, resulting in the perfect texture, every time! This is your complete guide on how to correctly prepare your ribs before cooking them.
Table of Contents
- Should You Boil Ribs Before Baking?
- How Long Does It Take To Boil Beef Short Ribs?
- How to Boil Beef Ribs
- How Long Should I Bake My Ribs After Boiling Them?
- Boiling Beef Ribs – The Mystery, Solved!
- FAQs
Should You Boil Ribs Before Baking?
Boiling your ribs before baking is an excellent way to obtain a super tender texture where the meat will just fall off the bone. If you grill or bake the meat after boiling, this give your beef that extra charred flavor.
Baking after boiling will help to add a crispier texture to your meat, depending on how long you cook your beef for after. The beef will have the extra flavor which was imparted from boiling with the seasonings and vegetables.
An easy way to make country-style ribs is by slathering them in BBQ sauce before you grill or bake the ribs. There are many other styles of ribs you can make, which I will run through below.
It truly is a no-brainer when it comes to making ribs at home. You are sure to have tender ribs every time!
How Long Does It Take To Boil Beef Short Ribs?
The length of time it takes for your ribs to tenderize truly depends on other ways in which you are cooking your ribs. It also depends on the cut of meat you are using and the purpose. Are you serving the ribs straight after boiling? Or perhaps you are planning on tenderizing your beef through boiling and then grilling after?
Of course, there is a technique to boiling ribs because if they are left to boil for too long, you will be left with good texture but the taste of the beef will be compromised. This is another reason why seasoning is so important to add, such as salt and pepper at the very least.
| Purpose | Boiling Time | Recommended Boiling Time |
| Reheating pre-cooked beef ribs | 20 minutes | If you have already cooked your beef ribs and want to recover the initial tenderized texture, 20 minutes will be enough |
| Tenderizing your beef ribs before baking or grilling | 45 minutes | Before you bake or grill, you can tenderize your ribs on a medium-low heat for around 45 minutes before transferring to the oven or grill. |
| Boiling your ribs only with no grilling or baking | 60 minutes | If you just want to boil them without doing anything else, make sure to check the taste after 60 minutes. Ensure you utilize a sufficient amount of herbs and spices to maintain a good taste and texture. |
How to Boil Beef Ribs
Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients I recommend adding to your beef but you can get creative and try some other tasty vegetables. You should boil these in the same pot as the beef to truly enhance the flavor of the beef.
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Onion, Loosely Cut
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 4-5 Baby Carrots
Instructions
Here’s how to boil beef ribs before baking!
Total Time: 55 minutes
Cut Your Beef Ribs
Once you have chosen the right ribs for this dish, you can start off by cutting the ribs into smaller parts. Then place them into the cooking pot.
Add Water And Boil
Next, you need to add around 1 ½ liters of water to your pot, or until all of the ribs are fully submerged by about 2 centimeters in the water. Then, you can cover your pot and place on medium-high heat until the water has boiled.
Add Your Spices And Vegetables
As soon as the water has begun to boil, this is when you should add the vegetables and seasonings. The blend of extra vegetables and spices will help to elevate the taste creating a solid base to your delicious ribs
Stir and Cook
Give your mixture a good stir and then let your dish simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. This is the optimal length of time for the texture of your meat to tenderize and complete the cooking process. The meat may not be to your desired texture yet because it still needs to be baked
Drain and Transfer
Next, you can drain the liquid from the beef, keeping the vegetables in the pot. You may want to transfer your ribs now to a baking or grilling tray.
Coat and Cook
Next, you can coat your ribs with store-bought BBQ sauce with some brown sugar if you want to add a caramelized flavor. You can also try some other types of coatings, such as mustard and thyme. Next, pop your ribs on the grill or in the oven for 10 minutes, making sure to rotate. Cook to your desired level of crispiness. Serve with buttered corn, bread or air fried curly fries.
Would you like to try an alternative way to cook your ribs before you bake or grill them? You can check out this youtube video below for more tips and tricks!
How Long Should I Bake My Ribs After Boiling Them?
Once you have boiled your ribs, it won’t take you very long at all to bake your beef. Whether you are baking or grilling your beef, it should only take you approximately 10 minutes in total.
Grilling or baking your beef after you boil it will help to add an extra flavor to your beef. The exterior will have that charred taste if you are to grill it. If you bake it, then this will help to crisp the exterior of your beef.
If you have frozen beef that you want to cook in the oven, then look no further. I have written a previous blog post with a full guide on how to bake a frozen beef roast in the oven. Make sure to check it out!
Boiling Beef Ribs – The Mystery, Solved!
So there you have it! Boiling ribs is actually a super easy trick that you can use when you have bought some ribs you think will need some extra tenderizing. It is an easy method to do before you stick it in the oven or on the grill.
It is another great way to add in some extra flavor. In particular, when you have added lots of vegetables and seasonings.
If you want pork ribs instead and would like a recipe, here’s a great 3-2-1 ribs you’d love.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please check out some of my other posts. If you have any comments or queries, just let me know in the comments section below!
FAQs
How Long Should You Boil Beef Ribs Before Putting Them On The Grill?
If you plan on cooking your beef ribs after boiling them, you should only cook them for approximately 30 to 45 minutes in order to soften the meat up before baking or grilling.
How Do You Tenderize Beef Ribs?
If you have very tough ribs and want to soften their texture before cooking, you can slowly simmer them in water with some fixings and seasoning to add to the flavor.
Can You Boil Country Style Beef Ribs?
Country-style ribs are infamous for their tender texture and BBQ flavor. In fact, country-style ribs are actually made using the boiling and grilling technique.
The trick with country-style ribs is that they must be slathered in BBQ sauce before you pop them on the grill or in the oven. This is what gives your ribs the intense flavor.
If you are truly going for that sweet flavor, you could try sprinkling some brown sugar onto the ribs before applying the BBQ sauce. Once you place it on grill, this will begin to caramelize.
How to Boil Beef Ribs
- Total Time: 55 minutes
Description
Below is a list of ingredients I recommend adding to your beef but you can get creative and try some other tasty vegetables. You should boil these in the same pot as the beef to truly enhance the flavor of the beef.
Ingredients
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Onion, Loosely Cut
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 4–5 Baby Carrots
Instructions
- Once you have chosen the right ribs for this dish, you can start off by cutting the ribs into smaller parts. Then place them into the cooking pot.
- Next, you need to add around 1 ½ liters of water to your pot, or until all of the ribs are fully submerged by about 2 centimeters in the water. Then, you can cover your pot and place on medium-high heat until the water has boiled.
- As soon as the water has begun to boil, this is when you should add the vegetables and seasonings. The blend of extra vegetables and spices will help to elevate the taste creating a solid base to your delicious ribs
- Give your mixture a good stir and then let your dish simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. This is the optimal length of time for the texture of your meat to tenderize and complete the cooking process. The meat may not be to your desired texture yet because it still needs to be baked
- Next, you can drain the liquid from the beef, keeping the vegetables in the pot. You may want to transfer your ribs now to a baking or grilling tray.
- Next, you can coat your ribs with store-bought BBQ sauce with some brown sugar if you want to add a caramelized flavor. You can also try some other types of coatings, such as mustard and thyme.
- Next, pop your ribs on the grill or in the oven for 10 minutes, making sure to rotate. Cook to your desired level of crispiness. Serve
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Category: meat
