Cook Ribs in the Oven

Although ribs are often cooked on a grill, they can be very tasty, tender, and moist when cooked in an oven, and this can be done in spite of bad weather or regardless of the season.

Steps

 * 1)  Choose a rack or package of ribs that will yield the appropriate number of servings.  Because much of the weight of ribs is bone and fat, this may be as much as one pound per hungry adult.
 * 2)  Prepare the ribs by removing the membrane which still may be on the underside of the rib cage and then seasoning them to your own liking.  Garlic, pepper, salt, and meat tenderizer are pretty basic, but paprika, tumeric, and other spices can be used depending on taste.
 * 3) * Marinating the meat is optional, but this step will help tenderize ribs and provide additional moisture in the finished product if this is desired.  There are commercially prepared marinades available, or Italian salad dressing can be used.
 * 4)  Place heavy duty aluminum foil in a rectangular metal baking pan, with enough hanging over the edges to fold over and cover the pan while the meat is cooking. The pan should have at least two inch sides, and be large enough for all the meat to fit in one layer.  Stacking the meat will cause it to cook unevenly, and very thick layers may result in some of the meat not being cooked thoroughly.
 * 5)  Put water in the bottom of the pan, enough to give it a depth of one fourth inch.  The water will create steam to keep the meat moist, while keeping the bottom of the pan and foil from scorching.  This also reduces the actual temperature in the tent you'll create with the foil.
 * 6)  Place the ribs in the pan with the arch of the ribs up, so that you cannot see the bones as well. In other words, think of it as "concave down, where the opening of the ribs points down."  If you like, and the pan is large enough to allow it, you can add vegetables to cook with your ribs.  Cut onions, carrots, and/or potatoes into large chunks, then place them in between and around the ribs in the pan.
 * 7)  [[Image:Ribs_522.jpg|thumb]]Form a tent with aluminum foil over the meat.  You will not want to make this tent air tight, or the steam produced during cooking may burst it, but it should be tight enough to keep moisture in.  Make sure the foil is loose enough it doesn't actually press against the meat while cooking.
 * 8)  Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees (F) for about an hour, with the ribs covered.
 * 9)  Remove the pan from the oven, and unfold the foil, then return to the oven, raise the temperature to 375 degrees and allow to cook 10 to 15 more minutes.  This will allow the ribs to brown and will cook off some of the juices in the pan.
 * 10)  Remove and serve.  If you have cooked vegetables in the pan with the ribs, they will have absorbed a lot of the flavor of the meat juices, and will be softer and more tender than you would normally be used to, so handle with care.

Tips

 * Prior to seasoning and cooking, when ribs are well thawed,remove the membrane (sheath) on the bone-side of the ribs. Start at one 'corner' to lift it up, and then use needle-nose pliers to pull it off. Ribs cook better and are more tender with this membrane removed.
 * Ribs cooked in the oven can be finished on the grill for that good flavor and add a little crispiness. Just toss on a hot grill for 5-10 min per side.
 * You can use barbecue sauce, hickory smoke flavor, and other ingredients, either at the beginning of the cooking, or after the foil is removed from over the meat.
 * Use a large pan, so that the contents are not crowded together. Heavy, rectangular aluminum cake pans work well with this technique.
 * The meat should be well thawed before cooking and the oven should be preheated before placing the pan in it.
 * You want to be sure the meat is well done. Frozen ribs or starting with a cold oven will slow cooking times.

Warnings

 * Steam will accumulate in the aluminum foil tent while the meat is cooking, so be careful uncovering it for the final browning stage.

Things You'll Need

 * A deep, rectangular (preferred) metal pan.
 * Heavy duty aluminum foil.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Braise Short Ribs
 * How to Make Texas BBQ Ribs
 * How to Broil Steak
 * How to Cook Chicken