Marianne Martinez
Cooking ribs in an instant pot is a quick and easy way to make tender, juicy, and delicious ribs. With an instant pot, you can have tender ribs ready in less than an hour, locking in moisture and making the meat tender without the long cooking time of other methods. The cooking time will depend on the type of ribs you use, your elevation, and how tender you like your ribs, but generally, ribs can be cooked in an instant pot in around 25 to 30 minutes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time | 25-30 minutes for tender ribs, 35-45 minutes for fall-off-the-bone ribs |
| Pressure | High |
| Liquid | Water, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, liquid smoke |
| Ribs | Baby back ribs, spare ribs, country ribs, beef back ribs |
| Seasoning | BBQ sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin, onion powder, salt, pepper |
| Cooking method | Pressure cooker, air fryer, oven |
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare the ribs before cooking
To prepare your ribs before cooking, start by checking if there is a white, shiny membrane on the back (bone side) of the ribs. If there is, remove it by flipping the ribs so that the meaty part is face down, then slide your fingers or a butter knife under the membrane to rip it off.
Next, score the ribs by making small cuts between the bones on the bone side. This will make it easier to curl or roll the ribs when it's time to cook them.
Now, it's time to make your dry rub. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, chili powder, parsley, salt, garlic powder, pepper, cumin, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper to taste. You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper. This dry rub will give your ribs a delicious, flavorful crust.
Generously coat both sides of the ribs with the dry rub. You can let the ribs sit for a while after applying the rub to allow the flavors to develop even more.
If you want to add liquid smoke for an extra boost of flavor, now is the time to do it. Liquid smoke is a concentrated form of smoke that gives your ribs a "meatier" taste. It's optional but highly recommended, especially if you're short on time and want to achieve that slow-cooked flavor.
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What to add to the pot to cook the ribs
To cook ribs in an instant pot, you'll need to add liquid to the bottom of the pot. This can be water, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, or a combination of these liquids with liquid smoke. Liquid smoke adds a great smokey flavour to your ribs and is highly recommended.
Once you've added the liquid, you can season the ribs with a dry rub. This can be a mixture of brown sugar, chilli powder, parsley, salt, garlic powder, pepper, cumin, onion powder, and paprika. You can also add more cayenne pepper to the rub if you prefer your ribs spicy. After the ribs are seasoned, place them in the pot with the meat side facing outwards. If you're using a large rack of ribs, you can circle them around the pot.
If you want to make baby back ribs, you can cut a slab of spare ribs into four pieces, between every third bone. You can then season the ribs with a BBQ dry rub and stack them in the pot, bone side down.
Finally, secure the lid and cook on high pressure for 25-30 minutes, depending on how tender you want your ribs to be.
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How long to cook the ribs for
The cooking time for ribs in an instant pot varies depending on the type of ribs, your elevation, and the level of tenderness you want.
For tender ribs, without the meat falling off the bone, a cooking time of 25 minutes is recommended. If you want the ribs to be even more tender, you can increase the cooking time to 30 minutes. However, keep in mind that the longer you cook them, the more likely they are to fall off the bone. If you want to be able to eat the ribs like regular ribs, without the meat falling off, it's better to stick to a cooking time of 25 minutes.
For spare ribs, it is recommended to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time, with the higher number being for higher altitudes and very tender ribs, and the lower number for lower altitudes and ribs that are just tender.
Additionally, the cooking time may vary depending on the model of your instant pot and the functionality it offers. Some instant pots have different pressure settings, allowing you to cook at high or low pressure. Cooking ribs on high pressure for 25-30 minutes will yield tender results. However, if you prefer your ribs to be super tender, you can increase the pressure cooking time to 38 minutes in a stovetop PC or even 45 minutes in an instant pot or other electric PC.
It's important to note that ribs can be overcooked in an instant pot, so it's recommended to follow the suggested cook times and perform a natural release at the end. After pressure cooking, you can brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and place them under the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce.
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How to remove the ribs from the pot
Once the timer beeps, carefully remove the ribs from the pot and place them on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. You can use a ladle to get them out if they are too tender. Be cautious, as the contents of the pot will be extremely hot.
After removing the ribs, you can slather them in your favourite barbecue sauce. You can then place them under the broiler for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce. This step is optional but will add a nice crisp to the ribs.
If you are cooking spare ribs, you may want to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time. This will ensure they are tender and juicy. You can also brush the ribs with a layer of sauce and then broil them for a few minutes to tighten up the sauce.
If you want to make the ribs even more tender, you can increase the pressure cooking time. For example, cooking the ribs for 45 minutes in an Instant Pot will make them super tender, and they may even start to fall apart.
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How to sauce the ribs
Once your ribs are cooked, it's time to sauce them!
First, remove the ribs from the Instant Pot and place them on a large, foil-lined baking sheet. You can brush or slather the sauce onto the ribs. You can use store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce. Some recipes suggest adding a dry rub to the ribs before adding the barbecue sauce. A dry rub can be made from a mixture of spices such as brown sugar, chilli powder, parsley, salt, garlic powder, pepper, cumin, onion powder, and paprika. You can also add more cayenne pepper to the rub to make it spicier.
After saucing, you can place the ribs under the broiler for a few minutes to lightly crisp the top and caramelize the sauce. This will also make the barbecue sauce extra sweet and thick.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking ribs in an instant pot generally takes around 25 minutes for good ribs, and 30 minutes for fall-off-the-bone tender ribs.
You can use baby back ribs, spare ribs, or St. Louis Cut spare ribs. Baby back ribs are smaller and take less time to cook, while spare ribs are larger and juicier.
Check if there is a white, shiny membrane on the back of the ribs and remove it if there is. Score the ribs between the bones to make them easier to curl or roll. Season the ribs with a dry rub made from spices like chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and brown sugar.
Place a wire trivet rack in the bottom of the instant pot and add water, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, or liquid smoke. You can also add barbecue sauce to the pot or brush it on the ribs after cooking.
The ribs are done when they are tender and easily come off the bone. You can also broil them in the oven for a few minutes after cooking to caramelize the barbecue sauce.
