Summer brings a lot of joy to many of us – warmth, swimming, holiday as well as many other activities. And one of the most beloved and popular summer activities is barbecuing. It is a moment that you have fun with your friends and family, spend time outdoors, and don’t even have to clean the kitchen afterward. Moreover, you get to enjoy some amazing grilled food!Â
There are many meat types that we like to grill but undoubtedly beef ribs are probably the most popular and tasty option. That is also proven by the fact that in the last decade or so people are showing more interest in good quality beef ribs.Â
Another thing people often have trouble with is choosing between beef rib types and pork ribs. Well, there are plenty of specific characteristics that differentiate them from pork, and in order to choose the perfect option, you need to understand what each of these types offers.Â
To help you out, we’ve decided to create this little beef ribs review, and explain the difference between pork vs beef ribs and what kind of beef ribs are there. Moreover, we wish to teach you how to choose your favorite types of beef ribs, and many more.
What is the Difference between Pork and Beef RibsÂ
Besides the fact that pork ribs come from pigs and beef from cows, a lot of people are pretty puzzled about the difference between pork and beef ribs, so let’s explore a bit.Â
There are three different cuts of pork ribs – back, spare, and St. Louis ribs. All of them are an excellent choice, and a lot of people love any type of pork ribs since they’re pretty simple to prepare and quite versatile. You can grill, roast, or smoke pork ribs as well as to just cook regularly. For maximum effect, you should cook them for about an hour or two regardless of the type of cooking you chose.
Now when we’re talking about different types of beef ribs, you should know that there are two types – back and short. The first type is similar to pork back ribs and they are not what you would call meaty beef ribs. Back beef ribs come as the remains when meat is taken for boneless ribeye steaks and roasts. Meanwhile, short beef ribs are much meatier as they come from the lower chest of the cow. Such beef ribs are very flavorful if you cook them properly.Beef back ribs are cooked pretty much the same way as pork. However, it is important to remember that even if the preparation styles are pretty much the same, the temperature of cooking the beef and pork ribs would be different.
What Are Beef Ribs Types
As we mentioned above generally there are two types of beef ribs – back and short. But then short ribs are further divided into short plate and chuck short ribs.Â
And unless you’re a hardcore beef connoisseur, then choosing between these 2 can prove to be rather challenging.
So let’s take a look at these beef ribs types in more detail:
Plate Short RibsÂ
This one of beef rib types comes from the lower part of the cow’s chest, say from between 6th and 10th rib, similar to St. Louis pork ribs. Plate short ribs are considered to be the most delicious and they are cut from the short plate known as short plate ribs – hence the name.
How to Cook them Best Way
Short plate ribs are the among the best types of beef ribs that you can grill. And the best way to do so is by putting them on low fire and slowly cook. The fat will break and the meat will stay moist and tender. When it comes to spices we recommend salt and pepper, and if you want to add some color you can mix in ground paprika. But if you feel more daring, feel free to experiment with other spices as well. After all, the reason why beef ribs are considered one of the best meats to smoke.
Back RibsÂ
We already explained that these beef rib types come with less meat than short plate ones. Back ribs come from a higher part of the cow, commonly the place where the ribeye meat for a roast is taken from the bone. But since people tend to take as much meat as possible for the roast – this type of beef ribs has less meat on the bone.
How to Cook them Best Way
Back ribs are great for BBQ. The good thing about it is that as there is less meat you don’t have to grill them as long as you have to with short plate ribs. Even if there is less meat on them, these ribs come with higher quality meat which is also more tender. They go pretty well with sweet BBQ sauce but you can also try other combinations per your preference. Another way is to simply braise them.
Chuck Short Ribs
This is rib meat that is separated from the bone and comes usually from a plate or chuck. They generally consist of meat that comes from the first to the fifth. Chuck short ribs are also commonly found in green markets and supermarkets and are pretty popular for full beefy flavor.
How to Cook them Best Way
They are excellent for grilling but you can also marinate them, make a stir fry, or braise them. These ribs are also excellent smoked. In general, there are plenty of combinations you can make with this type of meat and they greatly depend on your preferences.
What Type of Beef Ribs is the Best for Barbecue
As you can see all of the types of beef ribs are great for BBQ. However, since they have the most meat we think short plate ribs are best for grilling.Â
Additionally, they have a nice amount of fat which also contributes to fantastic taste. On another hand, it is not always simple to find them.
ConclusionÂ
As you see, all these different kinds of beef ribs are a great choice if you want a wonderful and fun BBQ party. And the reason why this is one of the best meat for your barbecue is that you can prepare these ribs however you like (as long as you follow proper grilling safety, of course).Â
Finally, we hope that our review of types of beef ribs has helped you learn more about so many BBQ options you have! So now, it’s all up to you – choose the type you think is the best, look up some good recipes and make sure you have enough ribs for everyone!Â
So best of luck and let us know if you know any special tips for choosing the best beef ribs, or have some amazing recipes you want to share! We would love to learn some things from you too!