How to Make Baby Back Ribs in a Slow Cooker

Slow-cooking baby back ribs allows you to avoid all the work of more complicated baby back ribs recipes.

Baby back ribs can be succulent and tender or dry and tough. Cooking the perfect batch of baby back ribs boils down to using the right methods (and the right baby back ribs recipe). One of the most popular methods for cooking baby back ribs is smoking; but, not everyone has access to a smoker. However, there are other cooking methods. Slow-cooking baby back ribs not only makes them tender and succulent, but a slow cooker also takes out all the work.

Things You'll Need

• 5 or 6 slabs of baby back ribs
• 16-oz. bottle of barbecue sauce, any flavor
• Slow cooker or crock pot

Instructions

Baby Back Ribs Made Easy

1. Begin with your slab of baby back ribs and insert a knife under the membrane from the back of the slabs of ribs, then pull the membrane away from the ribs. The membrane usually comes off in one piece.

2. Layer the slabs of baby back ribs in a large slow cooker so that they overlap slightly.

3. Cover the ribs with barbecue sauce.

4. Cook on low for eight to 10 hours.

5. Test the ribs for tenderness; the ribs are done when the bones can be pulled apart easily. If there is resistance, the ribs need to be cooked longer.

Tips & Warnings

• A large, rectangle or oval slow cooker is best for cooking baby back ribs. A large slow cooker can hold several slabs of ribs so you don't have to cut the ribs into smaller sections.

• Liquid smoke can be mixed with barbecue sauce to give the ribs a "fresh from the smoker" flavor.

• A rub can be used in place of barbecue sauce.

• Ribs can be layered in the slow cooker and covered in sauce the night before cooking.

• Don't overcrowd the slow cooker or the cooking process will take longer.

• Ribs won't be as tender if they are cooked on high.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Crock-Pot: Hints and Tips