How to Cook Country-Style Ribs on the Grill
The phrase "country-style ribs" is a misnomer because they do not come from the rib section of a pig. They are a sub-primal cut from the shoulder section, near the blade end, and typically contain no bones. They are closer to a chop than a rib. Country-style ribs are very meaty and marbled with fat, but can be somewhat tough if prepared incorrectly. The key to grilling country-style ribs is to precook them prior to grilling, then finish them on the grill over indirect heat. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Country-style ribs
- Bowl
- Salt
- Paper towel
- Black pepper
- Dry rub (optional)
- Roasting pan
- Aluminum foil
- Charcoal (optional)
- Grill brush
- Vegetable oil
- Tongs
- Instant-read thermometer
- Barbecue sauce
- Basting brush
- Serving platter
Instructions
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1
Remove the ribs from the refrigerator. Add 2 cups of water and 2 tbsp. salt to a large bowl to make a brine, and mix well. Add the ribs and refrigerate for one hour. Double the amount of water and salt if grilling more than 2 lbs. of ribs.
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2
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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3
Remove the pork from the brine and pat each piece dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the ribs liberally with salt and ground black pepper, and transfer to a roasting pan; you can also dredge the ribs in a dry rub at this time if you'd like. Cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil.
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4
Roast the ribs for about 1-1/2 hours until they no longer appear to be pink. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for about 10 minutes.
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5
Preheat a grill. Set 2/3 of the grill on high heat and the other 1/3 of the grill on low heat if using a gas grill. Arrange the coals on one side of the grill if cooking with charcoal. Clean the grill with a grill brush. Wipe the grill grates with a paper towel soaked with vegetable oil.
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6
Place the ribs on the cooler side of the grill. Close the grill cover. Flip the ribs after about 20 minutes using tongs. Cook for another 20 minutes.
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7
Check the internal temperature of the ribs with an instant-read thermometer; the ribs should register 125 degrees F. Brush the ribs with barbecue sauce and move to the hot side of the grill with the sauce side down. Cook for about five minutes.
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8
Brush the ribs again with barbecue sauce and turn them over. Cook for another five minutes.
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9
Check the internal temperature of the ribs again; they should register 145 degrees F. Allow the ribs to grill for another minute or two if necessary. Remove the ribs from grill and transfer to a large platter. Loosely cover the platter with aluminum foil and let the ribs rest for about 10 minutes.
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Tips & Warnings
Typical dry rubs include such ingredients as onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, paprika, brown sugar and dry mustard. Buy a packaged dry rub or make your own.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
