How to Grill Ribs

Co-authored by Santos Aviles

Last Updated: February 22, 2023

Ribs recipes vary widely. Some call for hickory chips to smoke the meat while others require a special dry rub. Whatever your recipe calls for, a few basic grilling techniques can help you get the most out of your ribs. Follow these steps to grill ribs.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Cleaning and Seasoning Your Ribs

1
Decide what kind of ribs you want to grill. The 2 most popular types are baby back ribs and spareribs, but there are significant differences between the 2 cuts.
- Baby back ribs come from the top of the rib cage. They range in length from 3 inches (7.6 cm) to 6 inches (15 cm) and are meatier than spareribs.
- Spareribs are from the section of the rib cage under the back ribs. Sparerib meat often is tenderer than back ribs because of its high fat content.
2
Remove any tough tissue from the ribs. Ribs often have a tough membrane, sometimes called silver skin, on the underside or bone side of the ribs.^{[1]
X
Research source} Cut this excess tissue from the ribs and discard it. Rinse the ribs in cold water to remove any loose material.
- You can loosen this tissue by sliding a sharp knife underneath it, then peel it off with your hands. If you have a hard time gripping it, grab on with a clean paper towel.
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3
Smooth on a dry rub to add flavor and lock in moisture. Pour the dry rub onto both sides of the rack of ribs. You can either make your own rub using brown sugar, black and white pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and other spices, or simply buy dry rub at the grocery store.
- If you are making your own rub, keep in mind the taste you want to achieve, because different proportions of spices will give you different results.
- Rub the mixture into the meat and place the meat on a plate.
- Cover the ribs with tin foil and refrigerate them for 1 hour to let the spices soak in.
- You can also brush on a little olive oil for moist, tender ribs.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Cooking the Ribs

1
Choose the kind of wood chips you want to use to smoke the meat. Mesquite and hickory are popular and give the meat a distinctive flavor.
2
Immerse the wood you choose in water for 30 minutes. If you have a gas grill or a propane grill, use chips. If you're using a charcoal grill, use larger wood chunks.
3
Heat up your grill. You want to cook your ribs slowly to make the meat tender, so keep your grill on medium heat. Follow the procedure below for the type of grill you're using.
- Gas or propane grill: Create an indirect heat source by lighting only about half of the burners. Put the wood chips in a smoking box and place the box between the flame and the grill surface.
- Charcoal grill: After ash forms, move the briquettes to 1 side of the grill. Place 2 or 3 wood chunks on the coals. Put a small baking pan with about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water in it on the cool side of the grill. The steam from the water helps keep the rib meat moist and tender.
4
Grill the ribs until they’re tender and cooked through. Pay attention to how the ribs are cooking, particularly with charcoal grills, where regulating the intensity of the heat can be difficult. Recipes vary in the amount of time it takes to grill ribs, but spareribs often take longer than back ribs. Ways to tell if your ribs are ready include:
- Meat thermometer: Rib meat should be about 180 °F (82 °C) at the center when it's done. However, it can sometimes be difficult to get an accurate reading because the meat is so thin.
- Visual inspection: Ribs should be a rich brown color and slightly crusty.
- Tenderness test: Use tongs and pick up the ribs at the center of the slab. If the meat slumps and cracks from the bone, your ribs are ready.
5
Brush the slab with barbecue sauce. Give the ribs another 10 minutes on the grill to let the sauce cook into the meat.
6
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

Is it appropriate to take the whitish layer on the bottom of the ribs off, or just slice it a bit?

Community Answer

Definitely. This layer will prevent spice from penetrating on that side and will be impossibly tough to eat. Use a knife to lift one corner clear then grab it with a piece of paper towel and strip it away.
Question

Can I grill ribs then finish in the oven?

Carolee Klein

Community Answer

Yes. They tend to be much easier to eat this way, and are just as tasty.
Question

When grilling ribs, do I turn them to cook on both sides?

Beverly Birds

Community Answer

Yes, you do, so that both sides get evenly cooked and cooked thoroughly.