Beginning with the caveman, cooking outdoors has always meant a gathering of family and friends to enjoy a feast. Most likely a tradition with beginnings going back to the first forest fire in which animals were killed and cooked by the flame, outdoor cooking is a favorite pastime of many. One of the most popular foods is BBQ ribs and different recipes for barbeque sauce have sparked numerous competitions across the country.

When deciding how to BBQ ribs the type of ribs used as well as the sauce selected will make a lot of difference in the finished product. Baby ribs, from the top of the rib cage, most people believe are the most tender while others claim the main portion of the rib, the St. Louis ribs hold better flavor. Rib tips, near the bottom end of the cage are closest to the portion of the pig used for bacon and often offer similar taste. Using the St. Louis cut still with the tips produces the amazing BBQ ribs flavor.

Preparing BBQ ribs for the grill is a matter of taste and custom with Kansas City style red sauce being popular and for a tangier taste the use of South Carolina mustard sauce is preferred. Lexington vinegar sauces can also provide and excellent flavor as well using a Memphis style rub on the meat before placing it over the fire.

Cooking Ribs Not Meant To Be Quick Meal

Cooking BBQ ribs is not necessarily as easy feat and many steer clear of the job as they believe ribs cooked on a gas grill do not supply enough flavor to make the work worth the effort. Others, however have found many recipes for BBQ ribs that turn out tasting like they were slow cooked over a wood flame.

One of the common mistakes when making BBQ ribs is to coat the ribs before they start cooking. The ribs should be fully cooked before brushing them with sauce and the heated for another 30 minutes before they are ready to eat. Applying sauce too early prevents the heat and smoke from flowing through the meat so adding it late in the process will help flavor the ribs.

Whatever sauce you are using, pour it into a heat safe container and place it on the grill with the ribs about an hour before they are done. This allows the hot sauce to be brushed onto the BBQ ribs, shortening the heating time at the end of the cook time.