St. Louis Ribs: Crock Pot Cooking Time

how long to cook st louis ribs in crock pot

St. Louis-style ribs are a delicious, tender, and juicy dish that can be made in a slow cooker or crock pot. They are a great option for a summer meal, potluck, or weekday dinner. The ribs are seasoned with a spice rub and sauces like BBQ sauce, vinegar sauce, or a tangy St. Louis-style sauce with apple cider vinegar. The cooking time for St. Louis ribs in a crock pot can vary depending on the settings and desired level of doneness, but generally, they are cooked for around 5-10 hours.

Characteristics Values
Type of ribs St. Louis-style ribs
Ingredients BBQ sauce, salt, paprika, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, oregano, brown sugar, vinegar sauce
Crock pot temperature Low
Crock pot time 5-10 hours
Broiler time 2-5 minutes
Silver skin Optional to remove

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St. Louis ribs in a crock pot: cooking time and temperature

St. Louis ribs are flatter, longer, and meatier than baby back ribs. They are also known as spare ribs. You can cook them in an instant pot, slow cooker, or crock pot.

Cooking Time and Temperature

St. Louis ribs can be cooked in a crock pot on a high setting for 5-6 hours or on a low setting for 8 -10 Hours. The ribs are ready when the meat is pulling away from the bones.

If you want to add a char to your ribs, you can finish them under the broiler for 2-5 minutes. However, be careful not to leave them under the broiler for too long, or they may burn.

Some recipes suggest cooking St. Louis ribs on low for 8 hours and adding BBQ sauce 30 minutes before they are ready.

Seasoning

Before cooking, you can season your ribs with a dry rub made from seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, brown sugar, and salt. You can also add paprika and cayenne for some extra heat.

Some recipes suggest removing the silver skin or membrane from the back of the ribs before cooking, as it can prevent the seasonings from penetrating the meat. However, removing this membrane is optional, as it is edible.

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Removing the silver skin

To remove the silver skin, start by rinsing the ribs under running cold water. This will make it easier to separate the skin from the meat. Then, use your fingers to gently get under the skin and peel it off in one big piece. Work your fingers around the center of the rack until most of the silver skin separates. You can also use a knife to score the membrane and help loosen it.

Alternatively, you can try to create a "pocket" by sliding your fingers under the skin and around the edges. This will allow you to separate the skin from the edges and then remove it in one piece.

With some practice, you'll be able to remove the silver skin quickly and efficiently, ensuring that your St. Louis ribs are full of flavor and ready for the crockpot!

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Preparing the ribs for the crock pot

Preparing St. Louis ribs for the crock pot is a simple process. Firstly, decide whether you want to remove the silver skin or membrane from the underside of the ribs. This is optional, as it is edible, but removing it can allow your seasonings to penetrate the meaty side of the ribs more easily.

If you choose to remove the silver skin, you can use a dry rub recipe with seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and brown sugar. Mix these together in a small bowl and rub them onto the ribs. You can also add some liquid smoke to give the ribs extra flavour. Place the ribs in the refrigerator for at least half an hour after applying the rub.

If you are using a slow cooker, wrap the ribs around the inside of the crock pot. If you have a tall crock pot, place the ribs standing up, with the meat side facing the walls of the cooker. You can also cut the slab in half with kitchen scissors if needed to fit the ribs inside. Spray the crock pot with cooking spray or use a crock pot liner before placing the ribs inside.

If you are using an Instant Pot, place a trivet at the bottom and pour in about a cup of water. Coil the ribs around the inside of the pot.

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BBQ sauce and other seasonings

St. Louis-style ribs are often cooked with BBQ sauce, but you can use a vinegar sauce if you prefer. You can make your own BBQ sauce or use a store-bought variety. Some recipes suggest adding apple cider vinegar to a sweeter BBQ sauce to balance out the flavor.

Before cooking, you can season the ribs with a dry rub. One recipe suggests using garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, brown sugar, and other seasonings in a small mixing bowl. Another recipe recommends smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. You can also add liquid smoke to give the ribs a perfect flavor.

After cooking the ribs in the crockpot, you can brush BBQ sauce on both sides of the ribs and broil them for 2-3 minutes on each side.

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Serving suggestions

St. Louis ribs cooked in a crock pot are a versatile dish that can be served at any get-together or BBQ and can be paired with a variety of side dishes and salads.

One suggestion is to serve the ribs with corn on the cob, marinated carrot salad, and Italian three-bean salad. You could also serve them with stovetop mac and cheese, creamy or Italian potato salad, and easy beer bread on the side. For dessert, blueberry pie is a great option.

Another option is to pair the ribs with coleslaw, beans, or potatoes. You could also try Greek yogurt macaroni salad, which gives you that "I am at a BBQ" vibe.

If you're looking for a more substantial meal, consider serving the ribs with scrubbed potatoes on top of a trivet.

For a true American BBQ experience, serve the ribs with some classic sides like baked beans, cornbread, and coleslaw.

These ribs are also great as a standalone dish, and their finger-licking goodness will have your guests asking for more.

Frequently asked questions

St Louis ribs should be cooked on low for 8 hours.

You can remove the silver skin on the backside of the ribs, although this is optional as it is edible. You can then season the ribs with salt, paprika, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, oregano and brown sugar.

After slow cooking, place the ribs on a baking sheet and coat them with barbecue sauce. Then put them under the broiler for 2-5 minutes, until the sauce begins to darken.

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