How to BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Barbecue baby back ribs on a gas or charcoal grill.

Baby back ribs need to be cooked "low and slow." This means that the ribs need to be cooked under low heat for an extended amount of time on the grill to lock in their juicy flavor. You can grill baby back ribs on a gas or charcoal grill. Season them with a dry rub or your favorite barbecue sauce. Set aside a sufficient block of time to cook your baby back ribs, so you can prepare and cook them properly to get the tastiest ribs possible.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp knife
• Dry rub or barbecue sauce
• Grill brush
• Charcoal
• Cooking thermometer
• Foil

Instructions

Charcoal Grill

1. Remove excess fat from the ribs with a sharp knife. If you plan to cook a rack of ribs, you will need to place the knife under the membrane to peel it off.

2. Season the ribs with a dry rub or barbecue sauce.

3. Remove dirt and debris from the grill with a grill brush. Light the charcoals and allow them to burn down until a gray ash forms. Open the bottom vents on the grill so that air can circulate.

4. Place the ribs on the charcoal grill over indirect heat--don't place the ribs directly over the charcoal. You may have to move the charcoal to one side of the grill with a grilling utensil.

5. Close the lid on the grill. Barbecue the baby back ribs for two to four hours. Turn them every 30 minutes. Add more charcoal to the grill to maintain a temperature of 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Baste the ribs with barbecue sauce during the last hour of cooking. Remove the ribs once the middle of the ribs no longer appear pink and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow them to cool for 15 minutes.

Gas Grill

1. Remove the membrane from the ribs. Cut off excess fat with a sharp knife. Apply a dry rub seasoning or coat the ribs in barbecue sauce.

2. Turn only half the burners on the gas grill to high. You need to maintain a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit on a gas grill. Clean the grill grates with a grill brush.

3. Place the ribs on the side of the grill that has the burners turned off. Close the grill cover, and turn the ribs every 30 minutes. Cook the ribs until the meat pulls off the bone and no longer appears pink and the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Remove the ribs from the grill. Allow them to cool under tented foil for 15 minutes.

References

• BBQ Institute: How to Cook Barbecue Baby Back Ribs
• The Meat Source: Grilling Baby Back Ribs
• Grilling Companion: Baby Back Ribs Techniques for the Grill