How to Cook Ribs Perfectly

Ingredients

• 1 tbspbrown sugar
• 2 tspkosher salt
• 1.5 tspsmoked paprika
• 1 tspgarlic powder
• 1 tspmustard powder
• 1 tspground cumin
• 0.5 tspcrushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1rack (2–3 lb) baby back ribs or St. Louis Style spare ribs
• 9 ozbottled BBQ sauce (sweet variety with honey or brown sugar, or your favourite classic/smoky recipe)

Method

1. 1Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. 2In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, mustard powder, cumin, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using).
3. 3Optional: Remove the membrane from the bone side of the ribs.
4. 4Lay each rack of ribs on a large piece of aluminum foil. Sprinkle each side of each rack with ¼ of the rub mixture. Wrap each rack tightly in the foil making sure the scrunched-up folded seam is along the top of the racks. Lay each foil-wrapped rack seam side up on another large piece of foil and wrap tightly with the seam along the top again.
5. 5Put the ribs onto a large pan with a lip to catch any juices that escape. Place the pan in the preheated oven.
6. 6Cook baby backs for 1.5–2 hours; St. Louis spare ribs for 2–2.5 hours. The shorter cooking time will fully cook the ribs and get them tender but still hugging the bone. The longer cooking time will yield ribs that fall off the bone.
7. 7Remove pan from oven and allow ribs to cool for 15 minutes (this sets the juices, making it easier to cut the ribs and helping the meat stay on the bone when you grill). Proceed to grill, or transfer ribs to the fridge overnight.
8. 8Carefully unwrap the ribs. Transfer the racks to a cutting board.
9. 9Preheat your grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat.
10. 10Cut the ribs into servings with 1–2 bones each. Brush each serving liberally with sauce. Put the sauced rib portions on the grill for 5–7 minutes turning occasionally. All you're doing is heating them up and getting a bit of char here and there. Taste one to see if it's heated through.