

This results in a more rectangular, uniform look to the rack of ribs. These have had both the cartilage and gristle-filled area and the tapered end of the ribs cut off. Louis ribs are simply spareribs that have just been trimmed up more. Spareribs usually take 5 to 6 hours to cook.Īnother popular variation of ribs, St. This is why these ribs take longer to cook and are often the better choice for smoking. One of the biggest differences is that spareribs have significantly fattier meat with more marbling along the top and between the bones. At this tapered end will be a larger chunk of meat, cartilage, and gristle. The other end, towards the chest of the pig, will be more tapered. On one end of the spareribs, where they have been cut away from the baby back ribs, you’ll see the marrow of the bones. Spareribs are longer and flatter in comparison to baby back ribs, allowing them to brown more evenly. You may also hear these referred to simply as spares.

Baby back ribs usually take 3 to 4 hours to properly cook.Īrguably the most popular type of pork ribs, spareribs are cut from further down the side of the pig near the belly, reaching down toward the breastbone.

Even though they usually have more meat on the bones, this rib cut is leaner in the amount of fat in the meat compared to spareribs so they don’t take as long to cook. In the name baby back ribs, the term “baby” does not mean they come from piglets but refers to the size of these ribs being smaller compared to spareribs.īaby back ribs tend to be between 3 and 6 inches in length and have a distinct bend in the bone where the rib meets the spine. These ribs are also sometimes referred to as loin back ribs. One of the most popular types of pork rib cuts, baby back ribs come from the upper loin area of the pig near the spine. Where the ribs are cut from on the pig matters a lot when it comes to how much meat is on the bone, the length, and even the taste. Each type of rib cut comes from a different section of the ribs. Let’s take a look:Ī pig has a total of 14 ribs attached to the center section of the spine. In this article, we’ll break down the different pork rib cuts and what to look for when buying your ribs. Each rib cut has some unique characteristics and variations. Some pork rib cuts are better suited for smoking and cooking low and slow than others. Some pork ribs have more meat on the bone than others while some are more uniform in shape. To truly elevate your barbecue game and master the art of cooking ribs, it is important to understand the different types of pork ribs and how the cuts vary. Many people don’t realize that there are several different types of pork rib cuts.
