Beef short ribs are a real treat – when cooked properly, the meat becomes incredibly tender and flavorful. But getting the cook time just right can be a bit tricky. Undercook them, and you’ll end up with tough, chewy meat. Cook them too long, and the short ribs will dry out. So how long should you cook beef short ribs to achieve tender, fall-off-the-bone perfection?
In this article we’ll go over everything you need to know to get amazing results when cooking beef short ribs including
- What Are Beef Short Ribs?
- Factors That Affect Cook Time
- Recommended Cook Times
- How to Tell When Short Ribs Are Done
- Tips for Perfectly Cooked Short Ribs
- Sample recipes
Let’s get cooking!
What Are Beef Short Ribs?
Beef short ribs come from the belly primal cut near the cow’s chest. They contain a significant amount of fat marbling, collagen, and connective tissue. This makes them ideal for moist cooking methods like braising, stewing, and roasting.
There are two main types of beef short ribs
- English-style – Long cut, meat still attached to the bone
- Flanken-style – Cut crosswise across the bones into 1-3 inch segments
The style of short rib affects cook time. In general, short ribs need to cook low and slow in order to become tender.
Factors That Affect Beef Short Rib Cook Time
Several factors impact how long you’ll need to cook beef short ribs:
- Cut of ribs – English-style ribs take a bit longer than flanken-style
- Amount of ribs – More ribs require longer cook time
- Cooking method – Braising, stewing, roasting, etc.
- Cooking temperature – Lower temp = longer cook time
Taking these factors into account will help you determine the perfect cook time.
Recommended Beef Short Rib Cook Times
Here are general guidelines for recommended cook times based on cooking method:
Braising/Stewing on Stovetop
- 250°F – 300°F – Braise for 3-4 hours
- 325°F – Braise for 2-3 hours
Simmer ribs in broth, wine, or sauce until very tender.
Baking/Roasting in Oven
- 250°F – Roast for 4-6 hours
- 300°F – Roast for 3-4 hours
- 325°F – Roast for 2-3 hours
- 350°F – Roast for 1.5-2.5 hours
Cook low and slow until meat is fall-apart tender.
Slow Cooker
- Low Setting – Cook for 8-10 hours
Let the slow cooker work its magic until ribs are super tender.
Pressure Cooker
- High Pressure – Cook for 45-60 minutes
- Natural Release – Allow 10-15 minutes after cook time
Pressure cooking significantly reduces cook time.
How to Tell When Short Ribs Are Done
Here are some ways to test beef short rib doneness:
- Meat easily pulls away from the bone
- Meat shreds easily with a fork
- Internal temp of 195°F-205°F
- Bones wiggle loose when moved
- Meat has shrunk back from bones by 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch
Check doneness in a few spots to ensure even cooking. If undercooked, continue cooking and test again every 10-15 minutes.
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Beef Short Ribs
Follow these tips for flawlessly cooked short ribs every time:
- Season generously – Use salt, pepper, garlic, herbs, etc.
- Sear before braising – Quickly brown all sides to boost flavor
- Use flavorful braising liquid – Broth, wine, beer, etc.
- Don’t peek! – Resist lifting the lid to allow even cooking
- Flip halfway – Rotate and flip ribs for even doneness
- Make a foil tent – Trap in moisture by tenting foil over pan
- Let rest before serving – Allow meat to relax for better moisture
Sample Beef Short Rib Recipes
Want to put your short rib know-how into delicious action? Try these amazing beef short rib recipes:
Oven-Braised Short Ribs
- Season ribs with salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Sear ribs on all sides in a hot skillet
- Place ribs in baking dish, add onions, beef broth, red wine
- Cover tightly with foil, bake at 325°F for 2-3 hours
Guinness Braised Short Ribs
- Dredge ribs in flour, salt and pepper
- Brown ribs in oil, remove from pan
- Cook aromatics then return ribs to pan
- Deglaze with Guinness beer and broth
- Simmer on stovetop until tender, 2-3 hours
Slow Cooker Short Ribs
- Coat ribs with favorite BBQ rub
- Brown ribs in batches if desired
- Place in slow cooker and add 1 cup broth
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours
Get Fabulous Short Ribs Every Time
With the right technique, beef short ribs transform into one of the most delicious, fall-off-the-bone meaty treats. Follow the guidelines above on cook times, methods, and doneness cues for tender, juicy home-cooked short ribs. Now get cooking and enjoy these beefy beauties!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/oven-braised-beef-short-ribs-recipe-3051365-6-3ace229c92cc4592beabf99ea95cb662.jpg)
Short Ribs & Braising:
“Short” ribs come from the beef chuck portion of a cow and there are usually five of these small pieces of meat that are too small to be sold as good steaks. So, they are exactly what the name implies; short (small) ribs.
Braising is a cooking method where you brown the meat and simmer it on low heat. You dont need any special equipment to braise ribs. First, brown or sear the ribs at a high temperature then cook them in liquid at a lower temperature for a longer period of time. This is an excellent cooking method for tougher cuts of meat that will become tender after prolonged cooking!
Thankfully as short ribs have become increasingly popular they are also more readily available at all grocery stores. When picking them out before to look for:
- Boneless vs bone-in ribs: I recommend Bone-in short ribs as they are more flavorful and will cook more evenly. However, you can substitute boneless short ribs for this recipe and cook them just the same.
- Check the color: Look for bright red meat, and avoid meat that is turning grey in areas.
- Check for marbling: by nature, short ribs can be a little fatty. Look for a package that has some marbling but isnt excessively fatty. The ribs are small but the more meat on the bone, the better!
How to make braised short ribs:
- Gather your ingredients. Chop the carrots and onion. while the meat rests at room temperature.
- Sauté carrots and onions. In a large, oven safe pot with a lid, heat one tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Sauté carrots and onion, then remove them to a plate.
- Sear ribs. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pot. Lightly flour the ribs on all sides, place them in the pot and sear them over high heat until they are nice and brown on all sides. Remove to a plate.
- Deglaze the pot. Add wine to deglaze the pot. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Boil for 2 minutes. Add beef broth, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in tomato paste. Taste broth and add additional seasonings, if needed. Add veggies, meat, and herbs.
- Bake: Cover pot with a lid and place it in the oven to cook. Over the next couple hours, just let the oven do the work. The end result is super tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs in the most delicious sauce!
Barefoot Contessa’s Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs | Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro | Food Network
FAQ
How long to cook 2 lbs of beef short ribs?
Beef short ribs are marbled with fat which makes them super tasty but due to the connective tissue and sinew they need to be braised in liquid or better still smoked low and slow using a BBQ or smoker. Low and slow beef short ribs need at least 5-6 hours if not more to be tender.
How long does it take to cook a 2 rib of beef?
Place the Beef Rib joint in the centre of the hot oven and allow about 25 minutes cooking time for every 450g in weight, plus another 25 minutes (timings can …
How long do you cook beef short ribs in the oven?
Cover the roasting tray with foil and cook in the preheated oven for 3–4 hours, basting now and then until the meat is tender and falling away from the bone. About 10 minutes before the short ribs are ready to come out, fry the pancetta for 2–3 minutes until crisp and golden.
How long to cook pork short ribs at 350 degrees?
Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook ribs on baking sheets, switching the position of baking sheets halfway through cooking. Bake ribs until meat pulls away easily from the bones, 1 1/2-2 hours.