Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs (2024)

FAQs

Why are my short ribs not tender in slow cooker? ›

They may seem tough if they haven't cooked for long enough.

If you really want to get into it, the short ribs need to cook at a high temperature for long enough to break down the connective tissues in the beef, resulting in the meat becoming super tender.

Can You Slow Cook Short Ribs Too Long? Yes, technically you can. Slow-cooked short ribs will go from tough and chewy to fall-apart-tender, but if you keep cooking them after they are tender, they'll slowly become mushy, dry, and stringy.

These ribs are chunky, with plenty of meat surrounding the bones and dense fat marbling throughout. This flavoursome fat and connective tissue means that beef short ribs need long, slow cooking in order to become tender.

If they aren't braised long enough, they can be super tough to eat; if they are cooked too long, the meat will just fall apart. The key to preparing short ribs is to cook them until they reach a point that is just before they would fall apart.

The short ribs should not be submerged in the liquid, because then the liquid will just boil, which you don't want. Make sure the short ribs will be covered only halfway. If you feel the liquid is reducing too much, feel free to add more.

If you cook ribs for too long, even in the slow cooker, they will dry out and become tough. However, slow cookers are a little more forgiving than other methods like grilling. This is why you should not cook them on high.

Cooking vessel / liquid level - the liquid should cover the meaty side of the ribs, if necessary, top liquid up a bit with water, then at the end if Sauce is too thin, just simmer it to reduce. 4. Other cook methods: Stove - 2.5 hours on low simmer, lid on.

Either way, short ribs require long, slow cooking for tender results because they start out so tough. That's why braised short ribs are common. When shopping for short ribs, look for pieces that are meaty—there should be more meat than fat, and the meat should cover the bone.

Put a lid on the pot/Dutch oven and transfer to the oven (325 degrees F.) Cook until the meat is fork-tender and falling off the bone, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours (flip the meat around after 50 minutes).

How do you not overcook short ribs? ›

Cook them low and slow- You can overcook and dry out your short ribs if you cook them over too high heat. Cook them over low heat and they will remain moist and tender.

Grilling to a final internal temperature of 130°F (54°C) ensures that the short rib's intramuscular fat has softened but not yet rendered out, resulting in an unctuous and juicy steak. Slicing short rib steaks across the grain further tenderizes the meat by shortening muscle fibers.

It is definitely possible to overcook short ribs. If you leave them in the oven too long, they will begin to dry out and become tough. You want to remove the meat when it's reached its peak tenderness, before it starts to dry out.

Short-rib polydactyly syndrome (SRPS), is a group of incredibly rare, lethal skeletal dysplasias that are characterized by short ribs, short limbs, and the presence of extra fingers or toes (polydactyly).

Generally, the ribs will be browned before the meat is done, which is where the balancing act comes in. Overcooked ribs will be tender, but mushy.

It's because you haven't let the collagen break down. Extend the cook time, make sure there's enough liquid and keep an eye on the dish.

While slow cooker recipes are designed to cook for extended periods of time, they can still become overcooked if left on the wrong setting for too long. In general, it's best to stick to the indicated cook time on the recipe you're following.

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

Place your short ribs bone side down on the cooler side of the grate, away from the coals. Cook your ribs until the internal temperature reaches 160˚F, which should take around 1½ hours. Remove your ribs from the grill and place them meat side down in the center of a doubled sheet of aluminum foil.

Lay the beef bone side down and fat side up while cooking in the oven.

What if you are not enough braising liquid? ›

You're Not Using Enough Liquid

If you don't have enough liquid to begin with, you're going to have trouble making enough sauce. Don't be skimpy with it! You can use stock or wine or water or beer, but make sure that there's enough to submerge the pieces of meat you're using so you don't have to go sauce-less.

Nestle the short ribs into the liquid, submerging it the best you can (but it's fine if they aren't completely submerged). Cook on high heat for 5 to 6 hours, until the meat is tender and falling off the bone.

Ribs do not need to be submerged in liquid in the slow cooker. However, some liquid should be added to them while they cook. In the case of this slow-cooked pork ribs recipe, the ribs cook with a liquid mixture of BBQ sauce and bourbon in addition to dry seasonings.

Add stock, water or other liquids, making sure there is enough to come up 1-2cm from the base of the slow cooker bowl. Cover with the lid and cook on High for 4-5 hours or Low for 5-8 hours, or until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.

A simple rib spritz is equal parts apple cider vinegar and apple juice or water. So for one cup of apple juice you add one cup of apple cider vinegar. The added moisture to the cooking chamber really helps with color on the smoked ribs and keeping the texture moist.

The 3-2-1 Method refers to the technique used to cook ribs low and slow so that they develop flavour without drying out. First, the ribs are smoked at a low temperature for 3 hours. They're then wrapped in foil and steamed for 2 hours. Finally, they're brushed with a sauce or glaze and grilled for 1 more hour.

Being thick hunks of not particularly tender meat, English-style short ribs are best with a long, slow, moist cooking method (more about that in a sec).

What longer cooking times do to beef ribs. You would think that longer cooking times would simply mean more tender, succulent beef. Sadly, this is simply not the case. Cooking any kind of meat for too long will usually leave it dry, tough, and utterly unappealing.

The best, most fool-proof way to make sure that your ribs are fall off the bone tender is to bake them, covered, at a low temperature in your oven. We bake our ribs in a 275° F oven for two to three hours. It is this simple method that guarantees tender ribs!

How to Fix Dry, Chewy Ribs. Moist, gentle heat and a wet vinegary sauce can save dry ribs. Here's what to do: Make a 50/50 mixture of your favorite BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar and coat the ribs in this mixture. Then wrap the ribs tightly in foil and put them in a low oven (say 300°F) for about an hour.

Why are my beef short ribs chewy? ›

Your ribs didn't get hot enough to break down the connective tissue, and the connective tissue is tough. You need to cook the ribs to an internal temperature of 180°-205°F. Don't worry about rendering out the fat; the collagen from the connective tissue provides a moist texture.

Short ribs are directly beneath the back ribs. Meat: The little meat on beef back ribs is between the bones, and beef short ribs have meat atop the bones. Fat: Short ribs tend to have a layer of fat on top of them. Beef back ribs are relatively lean in comparison.

Optional step - soak the beef ribs in cold water for about 1 hour to remove the extra blood in the cut. This is an optional step. It helps tenderize the meat and let the marinade penetrate the meat well.

Seasoning your meat with salt and pepper at least 24 hours in advance will greatly improve the flavor of the finished product. And, if you can spare an extra 24, making them a day ahead of serving will make them even better, with all that braising liquid flavoring the meat as it sits.

Boiling makes it easier to get that skin and membrane off the inner ribs before you cook them too. Some recipes will call for you to simmer the ribs a bit longer, around 60 minutes. Doing it this way will greatly reduce the cooking time once you get them on the grill.

BBQ Apple Cider Ribs are the ultimate juicy, meaty, and messy dinner. This classic recipe has a twist of apple cider, making them extra tender. And if you don't end up with a face full of sauce, you aren't doing your ribs right!

Unlike a brisket where there's a distinct fatty side and a lean side, the fat and collagen in a beef short rib runs evenly throughout the meat, producing that juicy, silken, slightly gelatinous texture.

The fat cap on plate short ribs does not render as nicely or as completely as it does when cooking pork. You can try leaving it on, if you like, but I prefer to remove it and the tough silverskin beneath. This allows the rub to penetrate the meat and makes for a less fatty, more enjoyable short rib to eat.

Long bone short ribs are cut similarly to English-style short ribs. However, instead of being left in racks, they are sliced in between every rib. Each rib is then prepared and served individually. As the name implies, long bone short ribs extend longer than most short ribs.

To sum it up, beef ribs are an excellent protein source and have other essential vitamins and minerals that promote overall health and wellness. They are high in zinc, iron, and B vitamins, making them a great choice for people trying to boost their energy levels or enhance their physical performance.

Are short ribs worth it? ›

Short ribs get the rich marbling of rib steaks with the deep beefy flavor of chuck roast. In short, they're an indulgent treat for anyone who loves beef and a real “stick to your rib” (haha) comfort food. They're one of my favorite cuts of beef, so give them a try!

Meat Thermometer

The light connective tissue in ribs begins to break down around 195 degrees F. Anything under that temperature and your ribs will be chewy, stringy, and tough.

This flavoursome fat and connective tissue means that beef short ribs need long, slow cooking in order to become tender. Once fully cooked, however, they are particularly soft - the meat can be easily pulled away from the bones with little effort and cut through with a spoon.

The 3-2-1 Method is a process the involves smoking the ribs for three hours, wrapping them in foil and braising for two hours, and the smoking unwrapped for one hour. This not only helps the ribs cook faster, it ensures an even smoke ring, and more tender meat.

Raw meat can carry bacteria which cause food poisoning and, accordingly, eating undercooked pork or chicken may result in food poisoning. If you experience symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and fever after eating undercooked meat, seek a diagnosis from a medical institution immediately.

Braising, which is actually slow simmering (after browning in a bit of oil or butter), brings irresistibly tender and boldly flavored results to this meaty cut of beef. Because short ribs require long, slow cooking for tenderness and flavor, braising is the perfect technique for cooking them.

Grilling to a final internal temperature of 130°F (54°C) ensures that the short rib's intramuscular fat has softened but not yet rendered out, resulting in an unctuous and juicy steak. Slicing short rib steaks across the grain further tenderizes the meat by shortening muscle fibers.

To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

The light connective tissue in ribs begins to break down around 195 degrees F. Anything under that temperature and your ribs will be chewy, stringy, and tough. At 195 degrees F, that tissue starts to gelatinize and turn into tasty, melty deliciousness.

It is definitely possible to overcook short ribs. If you leave them in the oven too long, they will begin to dry out and become tough. You want to remove the meat when it's reached its peak tenderness, before it starts to dry out.

How long does it take for short ribs to be tender? ›

On the stove, fill a deep saucepan with water until half full and boil the short ribs for about 15 minutes. The longer they boil, the more tender they will become. About 15 to 20 minutes is usually sufficient, but don't forget they will continue to cook in a stew or sauce after if you feel they need longer.

Soak them (yes, soak them—it drains the ribs of excess blood) in a very large bowl of cold water for two hours, changing the water after the first hour. Drain the ribs and put them in a large pot or Dutch oven, cover with water, and bring to a boil.