12 Awesome Ideas For Pork Ribs On Memorial Day Weekend You Can Grill Outdoors In 6 Hours
Are you searching for the perfect Memorial Day weekend food to serve your family and friends this year? If the answer is yes, I have the solution for you. Pork Ribs!
Since Memorial Day is the unofficial start to grilling season, throwing a couple racks of pork ribs on your grill or smoker is a fantastic way to begin!
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Why Should You Serve Pork Ribs For Memorial Day Weekend?
Memorial Day weekend is a very special time in my family. The purpose of this holiday is to remember and honor those who have passed while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We attend Memorial Day services at my community back home and make it a big event with family.
Anytime family comes together, there needs to be food! A great way to accommodate them while they sit around and visit is by slow cooking some awesome meat such as pork ribs.
If you've never eaten pork ribs from the grill or haven't tried making them yourself, you are missing out. Ribs are an American classic meal but are really popular all over the world.
Aside from the amazing taste, another thing that I like about preparing ribs is how low maintenance they are. The prep work is easy and once on the grill, you can walk away and get other activities done without babysitting the ribs while they are cooking.
Also, you will probably find the delicious smell from your grill will bring your neighbors around for a bit of socializing. Food has a way of uniting people and anytime you can get to know a neighbor better is a win in my book. You never know when this might be handy!
Are There Different Cuts Of Pork Ribs?
There are 4 different cuts of pork ribs and they each have their unique attributes.
1. Baby Back Ribs
Out of the four cuts of ribs, baby back ribs are the leanest but yet are very meaty. They are the most expensive cut for a reason! They are located high on the hog and are very versatile and hard to mess up. A great choice for someone who is grilling ribs for the first time.
2. Pork Spare Ribs
Spare ribs are located much lower, towards the belly of the pig which means they are a fattier cut than baby backs. They are very flavorful however and are popular. Spare ribs just require a bit more cooking time to melt away the fat.
3. St. Louis Style Ribs
St. Louis Style Ribs are basically a trimmed up version of spare ribs. Instead of a somewhat rounded slab, they are cut and squared off eliminating some of the excess trimmings which aren't needed. Again, a very flavorful style with a bit more fat.
4. Country Style Pork Ribs
Country Style Pork Ribs will give you the most meat for your buck. The trade off is they need to be cooked slower to tenderize all of that glorious meat. This cut is made from the upper shoulder end of the loin. These are great for the oven or slow cooker.
What Kind Of Pork Ribs Should I Make?
The simple answer is, "all of them!" However, this is probably not realistic for your Memorial Day weekend plans.
I would suggest choosing between baby back ribs and St. Louis Style ribs for your event.
As mentioned earlier, baby backs are great for beginners as they are hard to mess up. They are lean, low maintenance to prep and are a good quality rib.
The St. Louis Style ribs are a great choice too because although they have a bit more fat and trimmings to remove, the flavor really stands out.
Both cuts require about the same amount of time to prep and cook.
No matter which style you choose, you can make a fantastic meal your family and or friends will talk about for the foreseeable future.
How Do I Cook Pork Ribs Outdoors or Indoors In Case Of Rain?
The hands down, very best way to cook pork ribs is outside on a grill or smoker. There simply is no substitute to the flavor and pure enjoyment you will get from preparing your ribs this way.
The key for cooking ribs is to remember, low and slow. Meaning low temperature and a slow cook, as in allowing for about 6 hours of grill time. This amount of time is critical for not only flavor, but for the tenderness of the meat.
In case weather decides to rain on your cooking parade, you can certainly use a slow cooker or the oven to cook your ribs. I've had a few occasions where I had to do exactly that. Nothing like getting half way through the grilling process and a stray thunderstorm moves in. But fear not, the ribs will still be delicious.
Baby Back Pork Ribs Recipes
3-2-1 BBQ Baby Back Ribs
Currently, my favorite baby back rib recipe is the 3-2-1 BBQ Baby Back Ribs recipe. This recipe is designed for a Traeger pellet smoker which is also what we have and use, but really you can use it on any smoker or regular grill.
It's the perfect, easy recipe that will deliver outstanding flavor and makes your ribs tender and succulent.
Gas Grill Baby Back Ribs Recipe
For those who prefer grilling on a gas grill, here is a recipe just for you. You'll notice quite a decreased cooking time compared to the 3-2-1 recipe above. In 3 hours or less, you can have ribs hot off the grill!
Also, there is a recommended overnight marinade which will be sure to make your ribs burst with flavor.
Sticky Oven Barbecue Ribs
Sometimes, the weather just doesn't cooperate with your outdoor cooking plans. During these times, you need an oven recipe that is finger licking good. Look no further than the Sticky Oven Barbecue Ribs recipe.
Fair warning, the pictures will make your stomach growl!
Pork Spare Ribs Recipes
Not Your Every Day Smoked Pork Spare Ribs
Fire up your smoker and throw a big slab of spare ribs on and use this recipe to make your ribs sweet and spicy. The blackened bark on the ribs will look and taste tremendous!
Fall-Off-The-Bone Oven BBQ Pork Spare Ribs
These saucy oven baked ribs will make your taste buds water! With a homemade bbq sauce and frequent basting, this recipe won't be short on flavor.
Asian BBQ Pork Spare Ribs
Want to change up the flavor profile a bit on your next batch of ribs? Check out this Asian BBQ Pork Spare Ribs recipe. A quick look at the ingredients will tell you this isn't your normal type of rib sauce. Yum!
St. Louis Style Pork Ribs Recipes
Competition St. Louis Style Ribs
This recipe (and video) comes from a competitive BBQer so you know it's going to be good. Christie's recipe uses the 3-2-1 cooking method and even includes some inside knowledge regarding what BBQ judges look for in their ribs!
St. Louis Style Pork Ribs Gas Grill and Oven Recipe
Undecided if you want to use your gas grill or oven? Here are delicious recipes for both versions along with a good description and pictures of the cuts of ribs.
Fall Off The Bone Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs
Get your smoker warmed up for this one! An excellent step-by-step instructional guide with video on how to smoke a tremendous rack of ribs. I enjoyed the emphasis on getting the final bit of char on the ribs. I certainly will be modifying my own recipe to include this next time!
Country Style Ribs Recipes
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Want to make Country Style Ribs in a short amount of time? No problem if you have an Instant Pot. With a total cook time of 45 minutes, this Instant Pot Country Style Ribs recipe will deliver a wonderful home cooked meal in a fraction of the time!
Braised Country Style Ribs Recipe
Are you craving some comfort food and not sure how to satisfy your appetite? Try this Braised Country Style Ribs recipe. This is perfect for an evening meal when you just want to stay indoors.
Grilled Country Style Ribs
Even though Country Style Ribs are often done indoors in an oven or slow cooker, they can be done on a grill. This awesome Grilled Country Style Ribs recipe calls for a dry rub instead of BBQ sauce. No worries, you can still add the sauce if you want to of course!
By grilling, you will get a nice crust on the meat. Tasty!!!
Final Thoughts On Grilling Pork Ribs For Your Next Outdoor Cookout This Summer
If you have a big holiday event such as Memorial Day weekend coming up, one of the best ways to kick off the start of summer is by firing up a grill.
Slow cooking meat such as delicious pork ribs is a great way to serve your family and pass the time visiting.
If you have all day to slow cook pork ribs on a smoker, try some baby back pork ribs as these are an excellent cut of meat, and pretty easy for first time grillers.
No need to fear if you have rain, any type of pork ribs can be finished off in the oven. I always prefer my meat to fall off the bone which can take a few hours, but it's worth it!
Get creative with your pork ribs! Try the different style of cuts, marinating it and different sauces or rubs. We suggested a few recipes today for you to try but the possibilities are endless!
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What's Your Favorite Style Of Pork Ribs? Comment below!
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