💥This is the absolute best short rib recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Do short ribs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Like other tough cuts of meat, when slow cooked, short ribs break down and become incredibly tender and delicious.

Braising beef short ribs: why and how

Braising allows the ribs to tenderize while bathing in a flavorful liquid, absorbing the flavors as they also melt their connective tissue and release their own meaty essences into the mix.

Short ribs that are cooked completely submerged in liquid will come out with a thin, watery sauce, while those cooked in just a thin layer of liquid—enough to provide a moist environment under your Dutch oven's lid—will produce a rich, flavorful sauce.

Heat the grapeseed oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over high. Add the short ribs and sear until browned on both sides, 2 minutes per side. Add the beef stock, carrots, celery and green pepper. Turn the heat to low, cover, and cook until the meat is falling off the bone, 2 1/2 hours.

Boiling makes it easier to get that skin and membrane off the inner ribs before you cook them too. Some recipes will call for you to simmer the ribs a bit longer, around 60 minutes. Doing it this way will greatly reduce the cooking time once you get them on the grill.

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.

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

The secret to incredibly tender ribs is baking them low and slow. Baking ribs in the oven is so easy. 95% of the cooking time is spent relaxing while your ribs transform into fall-off-the-bone perfection.

You will need to brown the short ribs before braising. Using a dutch oven or a sauté pan, add the short ribs on one layer and use medium-high heat to brown them. Sear them on each side and let them get a deep brown. Browning is an art form that can take years of practice.

Pour in beef stock. Cover and simmer over low heat until ribs are very tender, about 2 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Can you slow cook short ribs too long? ›

Technically, yes. Anything can become overcooked in the slow cooker if it goes for too long. Fortunately, since there's plenty of liquid in a stew, there's very little risk of that happening in this recipe. Still, I don't recommend cooking longer than the 8 hours listed!

Arrange your seasoned short ribs on the oiled grates, cover the grill, and cook, flipping the ribs every two minutes and then closing the grill again, until they're golden brown on the outside and beautifully medium rare within.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Season ribs all over with salt and pepper. Stack slabs on a large piece of heavy-duty foil; seal tightly, and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Cook until meat is fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours.

Rinse the Short Ribs

Begin by rinsing the ribs in cold water. These short ribs are cut flanken style, which may mean they have some loose bone fragments on them and extra sediment, which you definitely don't want to eat. Rinse the ribs, drain the water, and set them aside!

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.

When using a slower method like the grill, smoker, or oven, you'll need about 3-5 hours. Slower methods can be ready in as little as 30 minutes - however, keep in mind that the longer you cook your pork back ribs the more tender and succulent they'll be.

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

Bake bone in short ribs in the oven at 275F for 3 ½ - 4 hours. Go the extra mile. 3 ½ hours may be perfect in your oven, but most ovens need 4 hours. Ribs are done when the meat is visibly pulling away from /shrinking from the bone and they are fork tender.