Slow Cooking Beef Ribs

The slow cooker is a humble kitchen appliance that regularly enjoys periods of popularity and renewed interest. If you’ve been ignoring your crock pot for the last few years in favor of the grill or smoker, you might be making a big mistake. This handy electric device can transform certain cuts of meat into delicious dinners that require almost no work on your part.

Instead of hovering over the grill for multiple hours to create the ribs you’ve been dreaming of, consider using the slow cooker. Slow cooked beef ribs will melt in your mouth after a long day of cooking while you enjoy some fun activities.

Benefits of Slow Cooking

No matter the cut of meat, slow cooking can transform it in many ways. First, the long application of a low level of heat transforms the muscle fibers into a soft and tender texture even if they start out tough. Cooking the meat long enough can cause it to fall apart at the touch of a fork.

Second, using a slow cooker generally means you’re braising meat in some kind of flavorful liquid. Most slow cookers need the liquid to transfer heat evenly to the food you’re cooking. Braising meat produces moist and tender results no matter what you’re cooking.

Third, slow cooking is easy and almost foolproof. You simply add your ingredients, set the slow cooker to the right heat level, and wait a few hours. Low heat cooking is less likely to toughen the meat, drown out your favorite flavors, or lower the nutrient profile of your meal. It also produces an even level of cooking for increased food safety. Finally, slow cooking encourages the fat and cartilage to melt into the meat for a richer flavor and mouth feel.

Choosing the Ribs

Beef ribs work well for slow cooking, especially in a slow cooker. They’re lower in fat than pork ribs and won’t become too soft and fall apart after 8 hours or more of cooking. The meat also benefits from the slow cooking process because of the cartilage and other tissue that will melt in your mouth. Unless you have one of the largest slow cookers in the world, you’re not likely to fit a full slab of beef ribs in it. Look for short ribs instead of back ribs. Trimmed short ribs should fit in most sizes of crock pots and have a little more fat for tender results.

Preparing the Beef Ribs for Slow Cooking

Slow cooking beef ribs is a simple process, but doing a little prep work on the ribs before you start cooking them does produce better results. If you buy a full slab of beef ribs complete with fat and silverside, you’ll need to remove the membrane from the back side and trim away the surface fat. A large and heavy chef’s cleaver can help you separate the full-sized rib slab into smaller sections that fit in the slow cooker.

After trimming down your ribs or starting with a trimmed set of short ribs, you’ll need to remove the meat from the refrigerator about 1 hour before cooking. This allows the meat to come up to room temperature. At that point, you can apply your seasoning rub and then put the ribs in the slow cooker to start the process.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• If you don’t want to use pre-made beef stock, you can use a concentrated stock product or make your own with leftover bones and meat. This gives you a chance to control the salt level of the finished dish.
• Trimming the ribs into smaller sections will make them cook faster and keep them easier to handle. Shorten the cooking time to 4 to 6 hours at the same heat level if you cut your ribs down to sections of two to three bones.
• Make sure not to skip the searing step at the beginning of the recipe. The ribs will not have the texture or flavor you expect without it. You don’t need to get the surface of the meat too dark, but you do want an even and visible sear over the whole surface for the best results.
• Keep the slow cooker tightly covered the whole time. If you lose too much moisture because of a loose-fitting lid, consider pressing aluminum foil around the edge of the lid to help seal it.
• Give yourself some extra time in case you want to cook the ribs a little longer for a softer texture. After you get a chance to practice with your specific slow cooker and the beef ribs you prefer, you’ll know exactly how long to cook the meat for your desired results.

Flavor Suggestions and Recipe Variations

This method turns out barbecue sauce covered ribs similar to the ones you’d get from the grill, just with a softer and juicier consistency. Yet there are many other options for flavoring this dish to give it a different twist. Consider options like:

• Asian-inspired flavors like lemongrass, soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, and fresh ginger mixed with garlic and a base of beef stock
• A rich red wine-based gravy that pairs perfectly with starchy sides like potatoes, including caramelized onions, garlic, bay leaves, and a pinch of brown sugar
• Topped with chimichurri sauce after cooking in beef broth and Worcestershire, letting the flavor of the fresh herbs shine when combined with the rich meat
• Hungarian-style stewing methods that blend the sweet taste of smoked paprika with mushrooms, garlic, and onions for a flavor similar to classic goulash.

Slow Cooker Beef Ribs Recipe

Once you give this method for slow cooking beef ribs a try, you might never want to go back to dealing with the grill or smoker. Make sure you follow all the steps since forgetting to sear the meat or adding the wrong amount of liquid could lead to unwanted toughening or a lack of flavor.

Ingredients

• 4 lbs of beef short ribs or trimmed back ribs
• ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 cups of beef stock
• ½ cup of tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons of honey or 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon fresh ginger root, grated
• 1 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Take the short ribs out of the refrigerator. Trim them as needed and let them rest for about 1 hour to come to room temperature.

2. Blot the surface of the meat with paper towels. Rub the surface of the meat with half of the olive oil and sprinkle on the salt and pepper. Heat the other tablespoon of olive oil in a cast iron pan. Sear the beef ribs until there is an even browning on the surfaces. Set the meat aside.

3. Mix the garlic and ginger together with the honey and tomato paste. Rub this onto the surface of the ribs when they’ve cooled. Add the beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, and bay leaves to the crock pot. Set it to high heat and add the ribs.

4. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook for around 6 to 8 hours. Test the meat and remove it when it’s soft enough to pull apart easily with your fingers. Let the ribs drain, then baste on a layer of barbecue sauce. You can put them on a baking sheet and give them a few minutes under the broiler to add a little char and to thicken the sauce like it does on the grill.

What to Serve With Beef Ribs?

These ribs are juicy enough to serve alongside starchy side dishes like mashed potatoes, french fries, or buttered rice. Adding a green salad or your favorite pasta salad really rounds out the meal. Flavorful roasted corn or freshly picked green beans highlight the rich flavor of the slow cooked beef.

Conclusion

Make the most of your slow cooker by using it to create ribs that will rock your world. Let the beef ribs transform into juicy fall-off-the-bone treats through the power of slow cooking.