How to Grill Ribs

Well prepared pork ribs that are tender yet succulent are among my favorite foods. However, this is one mouth-watering delicacy that does not come easy, and requires a fair amount of time and energy put in to achieve perfection. In fact, grilling ribs is almost an art. If you are a novice at grilling ribs, a few good instructions will keep you away from the usual pitfalls, and prevent you from going to bed hungry and dejected. To start with, for really great results overnight marination is recommended, or at least 12 hours, after which they must be cooked over a low heat grill for three to four hours.

While my favorite are pork ribs, you need to decide if you want beef or pork ribs. The former are long with a fair amount of meat on them. They are usually available in slabs of six or seven ribs. Pork spareribs are cut from the underbelly of the pig. They have lesser meat on them but have quite a bit of fat, which add much to the flavor.

Steps to Grill Ribs

Preparing the Ribs: The first step in how to grill pork ribs or beef ribs is to marinate the ribs. First, remove the silvery membrane that you can see along the bone-side of the ribs. To season the meat, you have several options. One is to use a combination of herbs or spices to flavor the ribs. A simple but flavorful for seasoning is salt, black pepper, sugar, paprika and garlic powder. Jab the ribs all over with a fork. Combine the spices and coat the ribs with them. Cover the ribs with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Marinade: Your next option is to season the ribs with a marinade. The good thing about marinades is that they don't just flavor the meat but, also tenderizes it. The best kind of marinades are the ones that are thin and sugar-free, for they can penetrate the meat the best. Jab the ribs all over with a fork. Place the ribs in a large food-safe plastic bag or in a deep bowl, and pour on the marinade over it. Seal the bag/cover the bowl and refrigerate it overnight.

Preparing the Grill: Grilling ribs on a gas grill is a good choice as, the gas grill heats up faster and is easier to clean. However, the charcoal grill has the advantage of lending the meat a smoky flavor. Get it ready by using a wire brush or aluminum foil to clean the grate of the grill. Then, brush the grate of the grill with vegetable oil and place an oven thermometer on the grill, close to where you will be placing the ribs. Whether you are using a gas or charcoal grill, heat it to a temperature between 200F and 225F.

Grilling: Once the grill has reached the mentioned temperature, place your ribs on the grate area opposite of the coals or the burner and close the lid. The trick of how to grill beef ribs or pork ribs to perfection is to cook it over low indirect heat for a long period of time. After about 45 minutes, check to see if the temperature is the same. To keep the ribs moist, keep brushing them with a sauce of your choice, such as barbecue sauce, while they are being cooked. Pull one of ribs of the grate after three hours of cooking, to check if it is done.

Visual indications that the meat is done is, if it is white or tan close to the bone and pinkish towards the surface. However, know that if the slab of meat is thick, then it can take up to 5 hours to cook. If you want a quick way for grilling ribs, you can braise the ribs for 30 minutes to an hour.