How to Marinate Your Ribs for Maximum Flavor

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Tenderizing and flavor-boosting a juicy rack overnight
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A marinade is a wet mixture of herbs, oil and acid used to flavor meat. The combination of ingredients tenderizes meat and makes it more flavorful. There are hundreds of marinade recipes, but spicy and sweet flavors make for the best ribs. Prepare the ribs first by defrosting them, removing the membrane, and rinsing them. Then whip up a steakhouse, Asian-inspired, or coffee-molasses marinade and cook the ribs. Make sure you plan ahead though–for the best results, you'll want to marinate ribs overnight.

Things You Should Know

  • Defrost the ribs in the refrigerator for 2-4 days beforehand. Or, place them in a cold water bath for a few hours. Then, rinse the ribs under cool water.
  • Trim away the membrane on the underside of the ribs. Then place the ribs in a large bowl and cover them with marinade. Place the bowl in the fridge for 2-24 hours.
  • Make a classic marinade by mixing vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce.

Ingredients

Barbecue Marinade

  • 1 bottle of barbecue sauce
  • 1 bottle of beer (optional)
  • Honey (optional, to taste)
  • Hot sauce (optional, to taste)
  • Lime juice (optional, to taste)
  • Garlic (optional, to taste)

Steakhouse Marinade

  • 1 cup (0.2l) of vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (118ml) of apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp. (35g) of packed brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. (15ml) of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp. (9.3g) of garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. (1.2g) of onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp. (3g) of kosher salt

Asian-Inspired Marinade

  • 1 cup (0.2l) of honey
  • 1/3 cup (79ml) of soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp. (45ml) of sherry
  • 2 tsp. (6.2g) of garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. (0.9g) of crushed red pepper

Coffee-Molasses Marinade

  • 1 cup (0.2l) of strong coffee
  • 1 red onion
  • 1/2 cup (118ml) of molasses
  • 1/2 cup (118ml) of red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup (59ml) of Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup (59ml) of soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp. (15ml) of hot sauce
  • 2 tbsp. (30g) of shallot

Cola Marinade

  • 2 litres (8.5  c) of cola
  • 2 tbsp. (30g) of chili powder
  • 1 cup (200 ml) of water
  • 1 onion
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 c (118ml) of ketchup
  • 2 tbsp (30g) of brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp (30g) of Worcester sauce
  • 2 tbsp (30g) of apple cider vinegar.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Soaking the Ribs in Marinade

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  1. Before marinating or cooking ribs, make sure they are completely defrosted. The safest and easiest way to defrost ribs is to put them in the refrigerator 2-4 days before you want to cook them.

    Using this method, the ribs will take 1 day for every 4 pounds (1.8 kg) of meat to defrost .

  2. Fill a bowl or the sink with cold water. Submerge the ribs completely in the water in their original packaging or an airtight plastic bag. Add cold water as needed to keep the temperature around 40 °F (4 °C). [1]
    • Using this method, the ribs will take 30 minutes per 1 pound (0.45 kg) to defrost.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Unwrap the ribs and run them under cool water. This will get rid of any bone bits or debris left over from butchering. [2]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    The membrane is a paper-thin layer on the bone side of the ribs. Many times, your ribs will already be skinned of their membrane. If not, insert a butter knife between the bone and the membrane to create separation. It should come away easily, but use a sharper knife if it doesn't. Then, use your hands to pull the membrane off of the bones. [3]
    • Leaving membrane on the ribs will result in a tough, rubbery texture.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Rub the marinade into the meat using a basting brush, spatula, or your hands. Cover all of the meat on both sides with a thick layer. [4]
  6. Allow at least 2 hours for the marinade to absorb into the meat, or up to 24 hours for the most flavor. Keep the ribs moist by adding more marinade about every 3 hours. [5]
    • Always marinate meat in the fridge and do not reuse leftover marinade.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Grill ribs over indirect heat for about an hour and finish over direct heat for 20 minutes until they are done. Or cook ribs at 275 °F (135 °C) for 2-2 ½ hours in the oven. [6]
    • When the meat starts to pull away from the ends of the bones, you can start testing to see if the ribs are done.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making Different Kinds of Marinades

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    To make an easy marinade, simply spread your favorite barbecue sauce over the ribs and marinate for at least an hour. You can also add more flavor to a store-bought sauce by adding honey, hot sauce, lime juice, or garlic to taste. Or make drunken barbecue ribs by adding a bottle of beer to the barbecue sauce. [7]
    • To make this even easier, try cooking the ribs in a slow cooker.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Whisk together 1 cup (200ml) of vegetable oil, 1/2 cup (118ml) of apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp. (35g) of brown sugar, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp. (10g) garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. (1g) of onion powder and salt to taste in a large container. Marinate the ribs at least 2 hours, or ideally overnight. If you don’t have a container that is big enough to fit the rack, put it into a very large plastic bag or cut the ribs in half and place them in two different containers. [8]
    • Reserve some of the marinade before putting it on the meat to have extra sauce for the cooked ribs.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Mix together 1 cup (200mL) of honey, 1/3 cup (80ml) of soy sauce, 3 tbsp. (45ml) of sherry, 2 tsp. (6g) of garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp. (1g) of crushed red pepper. Heat the mixture on the stove over medium heat and stir the ingredients until they are combined. Allow the mixture to cool completely before pouring it over the meat. Marinate the meat for 12 hours for ideal flavor. [9]
    • If you want a spicier marinade, add more crushed red pepper.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Chop 1 onion and 2 tbsp. (30g) of shallot and cook them over medium heat in 1 cup (200mL) of strong brewed coffee with 1/2 cup (118ml) of molasses, 1/2 cup (118ml) of red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup (60ml) of Dijon mustard, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup (60ml) of soy sauce, 1 tbsp. (15ml) of hot sauce. Once all the ingredients are combined, take them off of the heat and reserve 1 cup (200mL) for dipping sauce. Let the rest cool, then marinate the meat for at least 2 hours. [10]
    • You can also baste the meat with extra marinade while it is cooking.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Marinate Ribs
    Use 2 litres (8.5  c) of your favorite cola mixed with 2 tbsp. (30g) of chili powder, 1 cup (200 ml) of water, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 c (118ml) of ketchup, and 2 tbsp (30g) each of brown sugar, Worcester sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Add salt and cayenne pepper to your taste. Heat the mixture on the stove over a medium flame until it thickens. Cool the thickened sauce and blend it in a blender for 1 minute or until it is smooth. [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What's a good dry rub recipe and how do I properly marinate the ribs?
    Chef Jeff Woodward
    Private Chef
    Jeff Woodward is a Private Chef and the Owner of The Rogue Chef based in Branson, Missouri. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, he has cooked for esteemed clients including The Harlem Globetrotters, Peyton Manning, Mark Wahlberg, and Justin Timberlake. Chef Jeff won the Branson Tri-Lakes News Reader's Choice Award 2023 for Best Catering. He has been the Featured Chef Demonstrator for 2 years in a row for The Women's Show in Springfield, MO. The Rogue Chef has been the Hollister Chamber of Commerce Spotlight Chef, an award published in Tri-Lakes News. Chef Jeff's food has been featured on KY3 Television. He publishes a recipe weekly in the Branson Globe newspaper and monthly in Lost on the Lake Magazine. He published a feature article for Chef Talks in Discover Home and Style Magazine. He has an associate’s degree from Southwestern Illinois College and a Culinary Arts degree with a Certification in Baking from Ozark Technical College.
    Chef Jeff Woodward
    Private Chef
    Expert Answer
    To create a dry rub for ribs, start by spreading mustard evenly over the surface of the ribs to help the seasoning adhere. Next, combine salt, white pepper, brown sugar, paprika, and granulated garlic in a bowl. Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of flavors. Adjust the quantities according to personal preference and taste. Once the dry rub mixture is well-combined, generously sprinkle it over both sides of the ribs, pressing gently to help the rub adhere to the meat.
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  • Question
    Is it okay to marinate ribs for two days?
    Community Answer
    As long as the meat is well coated in the marinade and it is kept in the refrigerator, it is fine to marinate for a couple of days.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    Do you cover them when you cook them in an oven?
    Community Answer
    Do a dry rub first and cover with foil and cook in the oven. After that, put on a liquid marinade like BBQ and broil it for like 5 minutes, with no cover.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Whisk
      • Bowl
      • Lid
      • Large plastic bag/container
      • Basting brush or spatula
      • Refrigerator
      • Saucepan
      • Knife
      • barbecue/oven/grill

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about cooking, check out our in-depth interview with Chef Jeff Woodward .

      References

      1. ↑ https://amazingribs.com/technique-and-science/myths/thawing-meat-with-hot-water
      2. ↑ https://amazingribs.com/best-barbecue-ribs-recipe
      3. ↑ https://amazingribs.com/technique-and-science/cooking-science/how-remove-rib-membrane
      4. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/MarinatingSafely.htm
      5. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/MarinatingSafely.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-grill-ribs-as-succulent-and-juicy-as-the-finest-rib-shack/
      7. ↑ https://cafedelites.com/slow-cooker-barbecue-ribs/
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-ovenbaked-barbecue-ribs-140406
      9. ↑ https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/honey-soy-appetizer-ribs
      1. ↑ https://www.splendidtable.org/recipes/spareribs-with-coffee-molasses-marinade
      2. ↑ https://whatsgabycooking.com/coca-cola-marinated-ribs-homemade-bbq-sauce/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make steakhouse rib marinade, first thaw your ribs. Then, make your marinade a day before you want to cook your ribs by whisking together vegetable oil, vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion, and salt. Next, slice off the membrane on the back of your ribs so they’ll better absorb the marinade. You can then put your ribs and marinade in a large container. Let your ribs marinate in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours, and baste them periodically. Finally, take your ribs out of the refrigerator 1 hour before you cook them for the best flavor. To learn how to make an Asian-inspired marinade or a coffee-molasses marinade, keep reading!

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      Reader Success Stories

      • Judy C.

        Jun 9, 2023

        "I didn't have a marinade for my ribs, so I looked this one up and I am going to try it today. Thanks."
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