Coffee-Crusted Barbecue Beef Ribs (With a Versatile Rub) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to season beef ribs before smoking? ›

Season. Slather the trimmed ribs in spicy Dijon mustard (make sure to get a variety that contains horseradish), and season liberally with either my Beef Rub or equal parts salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The mustard gives a little hint of flavor while also helping that dry rub cling to the outside of the ribs. Smoke.

Heat up the grill to 400 degrees and set it for direct heat. Place the seasoned ribs directly on the grates for 2 minutes per side. Once the cook is done, take the ribs off the grill and set aside for 15 minutes while the meat rests.

Combine the water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Once the rack has had at least 2 hours of smoke, spritz with the vinegar mixture every hour or so. Cook until an instant read thermometer reads 206-210f at the thickest part of the meat.

I like to serve beef ribs on a bed of rice, preferably flavored with herbs. That way you don't miss a drop of the sauce and juices on the ribs. I also like something a little lighter and crunchy on the side. A cabbage slaw works well, and I have made a chopped vegetable salad that was a hit.

To prevent the beef ribs from drying out during smoking, make a mop spritz made of one part apple cider vinegar and three parts water. I like to use a spritz bottle to spray the beef rib down every hour after the first two-hour mark.

Smoke for at 250-275 degrees until the meat is probe tender, anywhere between 205-210 degrees internal. Approx 6-8 hours. Wrap the ribs in pink butcher paper and rest for 1 hour in a cooler before slicing.

When smoked at 275°F (135°C), beef ribs become tender and well-rendered in record time. You can put them on after breakfast and eat them for a late lunch. Of course, the 3-hour time is a rough guide: the ribs will be done when they have cooked sufficiently and the collagen in them has dissolved enough.

Because ovens have controlled temperature you are less likely to overcook or under cook your ribs. You can also put the ribs in the oven and leave them as the heat will be even the entire time that they are inside. Ovens also have the added benefit of cooking faster than BBQ.

Remove the ribs when the internal temperature reaches 205f (96c). Measure the temperature using the thickest part of the ribs. The probe should insert into the meat without resistance and like it would into butter. Allow for 5+ hours in time.

Braising, which is actually slow simmering (after browning in a bit of oil or butter), brings irresistibly tender and boldly flavored results to this meaty cut of beef. Because short ribs require long, slow cooking for tenderness and flavor, braising is the perfect technique for cooking them.

How do you prepare beef ribs before cooking? ›

To prepare beef ribs, start by removing the membrane so you don't wind up with chewy meat. If you want to use a rub you'll have to let the ribs sit overnight. Alternately, you can apply barbeque sauce while cooking. Once you know how you want your ribs, preheat your grill or oven to 225 °F.

With that in mind, what I tend to use and find is the best spritz for smoking is apple cider vinegar but water will work as well, or a 50/50 mix. Another great alternative is apple juice where the sugars in the juice also add another level of flavour to your bark.

Spritzing the beef back ribs is acceptable, and will keep the meat nice and moist throughout the process. If you're open to a little more effort, using a mop sauce for ribs adds a lot more flavor and creates a better bark. Give the smoke a chance to set the seasoning.

Place lids or covers on the containers and place the ribs in the fridge overnight or for at least 2 hours. This allows the salt in the rub to draw the juices to the outside of the meat where it can mix with the rub and be drawn back into the meat.

I think the best rib rubs start with sugar as a base. Pork and sweet were just made to go together. From there, you'll see recipes with salt and pepper plus a mix of things that are custom to each pitmaster. I like to add in smoked paprika for a boost of wood-fired flavor as well as a gorgeous red color that pops.

Mix all of the ingredients—paprika, lemon pepper, brown sugar, black pepper, white pepper, onion salt, garlic, and chili powder—and store the rib seasoning in an airtight container in a cool dark place. Apply the rub to pork with a shaker right before it goes into the smoker, charcoal grill, gas grill, or oven.