How to Cook Juicy, Tender Beef Ribs in the Oven – The Ultimate Guide for Aussies

Beef ribs are considered a culinary delicacy in Australia. Their rich, meaty flavor and fall-off-the-bone tenderness make them acrowd-pleasing dish. However, achieving the perfect oven-baked ribs takes some skill.

As an Australian home cook, I’ve experimented with various methods over the years. In this article I’ll share my tips and techniques for cooking beef ribs in the oven. With the right preparations and cooking steps, you’ll be able to make restaurant-quality ribs from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Choosing the Best Beef Ribs

The first step is selecting high-quality ribs. Look for ribs with good marbling, as the fat content helps keep them moist and flavors the meat For home cooking, beef spare ribs or short ribs are ideal Aim for a rack around 2-3 pounds, which will serve 4-6 people.

Beef ribs can be found at most Australian butcher shops and supermarkets. Always choose ribs that look moist and have a fresh, beefy smell. The bones should be white, not dried out. Grass-fed local beef offers superior flavor and tenderness.

Preparing the Ribs for the Oven

Before cooking, the ribs need some prep to maximize flavor. First use a sharp knife to remove the thin membrane on the underside of the rack. This membrane can make the ribs tough.

Next, create a flavorful dry rub. The rub permeates the meat and forms a tasty crust when roasted. A basic rub contains salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, and chili powder. Customize yours with extras like cumin, thyme, oregano, coffee, or spices like cinnamon.

Generously apply the rub on all sides of the ribs. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, allowing the rub to soak into the meat. For even deeper flavor, rub the ribs the night before cooking.

Choosing Your Cooking Vessel

When baking ribs, use a baking sheet with a wire rack inside. This elevates the ribs, allowing air flow for even cooking. The rack also prevents the ribs sitting in rendered fat. Alternatively, a broiler pan works well too.

For easy cleanup, line the pan with foil or parchment paper. Avoid any vessel that will crowd the ribs, as they need space for the fat to drip away as they cook.

Low and Slow Is Key

Cooking the ribs low and slow is vital for tenderness. Preheat your oven to around 130 ̊C. At this temperature, the collagen in the ribs breaks down to create fall-apart texture.

Place the ribs meaty side up on the wire rack. Try not to overlap them. Pour 1 cup of liquid like water, apple juice or beer in the bottom of the pan. This keeps the environment moist.

Cover the ribs loosely with foil, tenting it so it doesn’t touch them directly. The foil holds in heat and steam to cook the ribs evenly.

Let the Oven Do Its Magic

Cooking time ranges from 3-4 hours, depending on thickness. Check periodically by lifting the foil. When done, the meat will have shrunk back from the bones. A fork should slide easily into the meat.

For the last 30-60 minutes of cooking, remove the foil and baste the ribs all over with your favorite barbecue sauce. I love using a sweet and smoky hickory sauce. Return the ribs to the oven uncovered to caramelize the sauce.

Rest and Slice for Service

Once cooked, always let the ribs rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t spill out when sliced. Cut the ribs between each bone into individual portions.

Serve while hot, accompanied by classic rib sides like cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans or macaroni salad. A cold beer or cider pairs perfectly.

Handy Tips for Oven Rib Success

• For maximum flavor, rub ribs the night before and let marinate in the fridge.

• Cook ribs on a wire rack over a baking sheet to allow air circulation.

• Spray ribs with oil before applying rub so spices stick better.

• When foil covering ribs, make sure foil is loose and not touching meat.

• Use a digital meat thermometer to check doneness; ribs are perfect at 90°C.

• If ribs start getting too brown, loosely tent foil over them to slow cooking.

• Look for “pull back” from bones and fork tender meat to test doneness.

• Let ribs rest after cooking so juices redistribute before cutting.

• Slice ribs between each bone before serving for easy eating.

• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and enjoy ribs again later!

Cooking Methods for Leftover Ribs

Leftover baked ribs present an opportunity for creativity. Here are some tasty ways to savor them:

• Chop and add to salads, macaroni salad, or fried rice.

• Make rib sandwiches with BBQ sauce and crunchy slaw.

• Toss in buffalo wing sauce and broil until caramelized.

• Dice and add to soups, stews, chilis, or beans.

• Coat in your favorite barbecue sauce and grill or broil until hot.

• Simmer in tomato sauce with veggies for ribs ragu pasta dish.

-Heat ribs gently in the oven with a splash of liquid to keep moist.

Simple Oven-Baked Beef Rib Recipes

Once you’ve mastered the basic oven ribs technique, try these easy recipe ideas:

Memphis-Style Barbecue Ribs

Coat ribs with a sweet and spicy dry rub of brown sugar, paprika, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Roast low and slow until tender. Glaze ribs with a sauce of ketchup, molasses, cider vinegar and Worcestershire.

Asian Flavor Short Ribs

Marinate beef short ribs in a blend of soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger and garlic. Roast in the oven until done. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds to serve.

Tandoori Spiced Beef Ribs

Blend Indian spices like coriander, cumin, turmeric, curry powder, paprika and cayenne for the rub. Roast as usual. When nearly done, glaze ribs with plain yogurt and lime juice for tang.

Italian Herb and Garlic Beef Ribs

Use an Italian blend of herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil and parsley to coat the ribs. Add plenty of minced garlic. Roast and finish with a drizzle of balsamic reduction.

With the right preparation and cooking technique, you can achieve tender, juicy oven-baked beef ribs worthy of a fine steakhouse. A flavorful dry rub, low slow roasting, and proper resting are the keys to success. Dress up basic roasted ribs with creative sauces and spice blends to make a mouthwatering meal. Get your oven mitts ready and amaze your family with your own home-cooked beef rib feast. Enjoy!