Air-Fried Riblets: A Quick, Crispy, And Juicy Delight

If you're a fan of juicy, tender ribs, then you'll love making riblets in an air fryer! This cooking method offers a quick, mess-free way to prepare ribs with a crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. You can use baby back ribs or St. Louis-style ribs, and the entire process only takes around 30 minutes. So get your air fryer ready, and let's dive into the world of mouth-watering riblets!

Pre-cooking prep: marinating, seasoning, and brining

To make delicious riblets in an air fryer, there are a few key preparation steps to follow: marinating, seasoning, and brining.

Marinating

The first step is to prepare a marinade for the riblets to soak in. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, shaoxing wine, and white pepper. Whisk the ingredients until the sugar has completely dissolved. You can also add some large garlic cloves to the marinade for extra flavour. Once the marinade is ready, add the riblets and let them soak for at least two hours or even overnight for more intense flavour.

Seasoning

Seasoning your riblets is an important step to enhance their flavour. You can use a variety of spices and herbs to season your riblets. Some common options include kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Mix your chosen spices in a small bowl and generously season both sides of the riblets before placing them in the air fryer.

Brining

Brining, or dry brining, is a technique used to boost the flavour and juiciness of the meat. To dry brine your riblets, sprinkle a decent amount of kosher salt on both sides of the meat, using about 1/4 teaspoon per pound of meat. Let the salt absorb for about an hour before cooking. This simple step will help enhance the flavour and ensure your riblets are nice and juicy.

Air fryer settings and timings

To make riblets in an air fryer, you'll want to preheat your air fryer to somewhere between 350°F and 380°F. The exact temperature will depend on your air fryer and personal preference, but a higher temperature will give you a crispier exterior.

If you're using a marinade, you should marinate your riblets for at least two hours, or even overnight, before placing them in the air fryer. When you're ready to cook, be careful not to add the marinade juices to the air fryer.

For St. Louis-style riblets, cook the riblets for a total of 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket or tossing the riblets with tongs after 6 minutes and again after 12 minutes. For baby back ribs, which are less meaty, you may want to reduce the cooking time to 15 minutes. You can check if your riblets are cooked by using a meat thermometer—the internal temperature should be 195-200°F.

Once your riblets are cooked, you can brush them with barbecue sauce and cook them for a further 1-2 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize. Then, transfer the riblets to a bowl and toss with any remaining sauce. Let the riblets cool for 3-5 minutes before serving.

How to get the ribs crispy

How to get ribs crispy in an air fryer

To get ribs crispy in an air fryer, there are a few steps to follow. Firstly, it's important to prepare the ribs properly. Remove any membrane from the ribs and cut the rack into a few portions. Dry the ribs with a paper towel, as this will help the seasoning stick and the ribs become crispy.

Next, season the ribs generously with a dry rub of salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and brown sugar. You can add other herbs and spices to this mix if you wish. You can also marinate the ribs for a few hours or overnight for an extra burst of flavour.

Now, it's time to preheat the air fryer to 380°F-400°F (195°C-200°C). This step is important for achieving a crispy exterior. Place the ribs in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap, and cook for 25-30 minutes. For even cooking, you may need to cook the ribs in batches.

After this initial cooking time, remove the ribs from the air fryer and brush them with your chosen barbecue sauce. Place the ribs back in the air fryer, uncovered, and cook for a further 5-10 minutes.

Finally, allow the ribs to rest for a few minutes before serving. This will ensure the juices redistribute, resulting in a more tender and juicy texture.

Enjoy your delicious, crispy ribs!

Making a dipping sauce

While your riblets are cooking in the air fryer, you can make a delicious dipping sauce to go with them.

For a spicy sauce, you can combine vinegar, honey, red jalapeno, oregano, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, mild and hot paprika, ground coriander, black and white pepper, and salt. You can also add in some red chilli flakes and Thai dried red chilli flakes for an extra kick.

If you want to try something different, you could make a hot and sweet Thai-style dipping sauce. Combine rice wine vinegar, crushed garlic, red chilli pepper flakes, and sambal oelek to taste. You can also add in some fish sauce, garlic, and cilantro.

For a simpler sauce, you can just combine some chopped garlic, cilantro, Thai chilli flakes, roasted rice powder, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and lime or lemon juice.

Or, if you want to stick to a classic, you can use a BBQ sauce.

Reheating and storing

Leftover air-fried riblets can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, place them in the air fryer for a few minutes or microwave for 20-30 seconds.

For longer storage, place the riblets in a shallow container and store them in the freezer for up to two months.

When preparing frozen riblets, it is recommended to thaw them first and then reheat using the air fryer or microwave.

It is important to note that the cooking time for riblets may vary depending on the type of ribs used and the specific air fryer model. Always ensure the internal temperature reaches 195-200°F for food safety.

Frequently asked questions