Origin of the Term “Spareribs” The term actually comes from the German Rippenspeer which literally translates to “spear ribs,” as this cut was traditionally roasted on a spit or spear. In English, it became ribspare and eventually sparerib.

The city’s rib pioneer was John Mills, who in the late 1920s opened a barbecue stand on 4th Street, just around the corner from the famous nightlife district on Beale. He cooked his ribs on a charcoal-fired brick pit in the alley out back and mopped them with a peppery hot sauce.

In 2007 Israeli scientists at University of Haifa uncovered evidence that early humans living in the area around Carmel, about 200,000 years ago were serious about barbecue. From bone and tool evidence, these early hunters preferred large mature animals and cuts of meat that had plenty of flesh on them.

There are basically two kinds of pork ribs. Those most commonly found in supermarkets are spareribs. The thicker and meatier ribs from the pork belly, they’re what’s leftover (or spare) after the bacon has been cut away. Back ribs are leaner and smaller, from the top, back, or loin side of the hog.

6. Country-Style Pork Ribs These, the meatiest of ribs, come either from the loin, in which case they cook quickly, or, more often, from near the shoulder, which means they’re tougher and benefit from low, slow cooking.

Louis-style spare ribs are the meatier ribs cut from the belly of thehog after the belly is removed. Louis-style ribs are flatter than baby back ribs, which makes them easier to brown. There is a lot of bone but also a higher amount of fat, making them very flavorful.

Depending on how they’re butchered, they may have around half an inch of loin meat attached to the top. Baby back ribs are more tender and leaner than spare ribs, and are typically more expensive. Each rack is around 2 pounds, around half of which is bone, and one rack feeds around one hungry adult.

Since both styles are cooked the same way, you can substitute baby back ribs for spare ribs and vice versa. Just note that because they are smaller, if you substitute baby backs for spare ribs, you will need to almost double the amount to feed the same number of people.

In general, butchers and others who know meat recommend 3/4 pound to 1 pound of pork ribs per person. To avoid burning on the grill, don`t baste the ribs with sauces containing tomato or sugars.

St. Louis-style spareribs are flatter than baby back ribs, which makes them easier to brown. There is a lot of bone but also a higher amount of fat, making them very flavorful if cooked properly. Each slab usually weighs 2 1/2 pounds or more and feeds about three to four people, although the meatier, the better.

Wondering What to Serve with Ribs? Here are 27 Quick and Easy Side Dishes for Your Barbecue

• Light and Tangy Coleslaw.
• BLT Pasta Salad.
• Sweet and Spicy Cornbread.
• Baked Mac-and-Cheese Bites.
• Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad.
• Quick-Pickled Onions.
• Buttermilk Skillet Cornbread with Tomatoes and Scallions.

21 Insanely Delicious Ways To Cook Ribs

1. Best-Ever Barbecued Ribs. Marcus Nilsson / bonappetit.com.
2. Sweet Tea Ribs with Lemony Potato Salad. foodnetwork.com.
3. Chili-Glazed Spareribs.
4. Mahogany-Glazed Spareribs.
5. Sticky Asian Pork Ribs.
6. Margarita-Glazed Baby Back Ribs.
7. Slow Cooker Barbecued Ribs.
8. Memphis-Style Dry Spareribs.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cut the racks of ribs in half crosswise.
3. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake until the meat begins to pull away from the ends of the bones and the ribs are just tender, about 1 hour.
4. Preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Place pork chops in a baking pan. Spread 1 teaspoon of butter over each chop, then spread 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise over butter.
3. Bake 35 minutes in preheated oven, or until the internal temperature of the chops has reached 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

Preheat your smoker, charcoal grill, or gas grill to 225°F – the ideal temperature for cooking ribs. Smoke/slow cook for 3 hours using indirect heat. Wrap the ribs in foil with some liquid and continue cooking for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake ribs in a baking dish in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Spread sauce over ribs and return to oven; bake until sauce bubbles and ribs are tender, 1 hour.

Country-style Ribs are Usually Boneless Instead, they come from the shoulder area — specifically from the fatty, muscular section of the shoulder blade near the loin. When country-style ribs have a bone in them, it is not rib bone but the scapula or shoulder blade.

Bake the ribs at a low temperature (275F) for 3 to 4 hours or until they are tender. Slather the baked ribs with barbecue sauce then broil (or grill) the ribs for a few minutes until the sauce is caramelized.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Place the short ribs on a baking sheet, season with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven for 15 minutes.

You will need to brown the short ribs before braising. Using a dutch oven or a sauté pan, add the short ribs on one layer and use medium-high heat to brown them. Sear them on each side and let them get a deep brown. Browning is an art form that can take years of practice.

Also Known As: Beef Ribs; Braising Ribs; Short Ribs. A crowd favorite, known for their richness and meatiness. Flavorful, moist and tender when slow-cooked.

Smoke the ribs, being certain to maintain the smoker temperature and add wood as needed and occasionally spritz the ribs with the spray bottle, until the ribs are a very deep brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), 2 to 6 hours, depending on the exact temperature of your smoker and the thickness of the …

What is the best wood for smoking beef ribs? Fruit woods are recommended for beef ribs, such as cherry or apple wood. Strong hardwoods are likely to be overpowering when it comes to beef ribs.

The 3-2-1 rib method is a simple and foolproof way of cooking ribs to yield juicy, fall off the bone tenderness – every time. It’s ideal for spare ribs, and it’s the perfect starter recipe for first-timers or anyone looking for that melt in your mouth rib style.

Wrapping the meat in foil will limit the amount of smoke on the surface of the meat thus yielding a better color and flavor on the final product. It also adds moisture and speeds up cooking time. Wrapping should be done about half way through the cooking process or when internal meat temp is 150-160 degrees.

Remove all packaging. Pre-heat the oven. Place the ribs on a foiled baking tray and put the sauce to one side. Cook for 45 minutes turning occasionally.