How Long To Cook Baby Back Ribs In Oven At 350 F
Heavenly goodness on a bone, baby back ribs are a crowd favorite because of its flavorful meat content that’s highly addictive—you can never get enough! Although the taste varies on the way it’s prepared and cooked, most baby back ribs are barbecue-flavored and smoked to perfection.
Oven-baked, grilled, or steamed, baby back ribs can be prepared in a variety of ways and can be marinated with virtually whatever you like as long as it pairs with the distinct meaty flavor of the ribs. Honey garlic is one common seasoning, but you can try other herbs and spices to level them up.
When using an oven heated at 350°F temperature, baby back ribs can be cooked for about 2 hours.
The results would be a crispy exterior and a juicy interior for the baby back ribs. However, keep in mind that the cooking time may slightly vary depending on how big your baby back ribs are.
How Long To Cook Baby Back Ribs In Oven At 350
Baby back ribs, sometimes referred to as loin ribs or short ribs, are relatively smaller with more lean meat fat content compared to other ribs which makes them faster to cook. They are cut from the upper loin part of the pig and weigh around 1 to 2 pounds a rack.
When oven-baking, baby back ribs should be coated prior to cooking. It takes 2 hours to be cooked at 350°F. To know the right time to remove it from heat, keep in mind that you must bake the baby back ribs until the meat starts to fall off from the bone ends and the ribs are tender to touch.
How To Calculate Cooking Time For Baby Back Ribs
The golden rule for cooking baby back ribs is going low and slow for the best, meaty-tender results. Keep in mind that cooking at lower temperatures lengthens the cooking time for baby back ribs. If you have all the time in the world, try slow-cooking them.
If you’re in a tight pinch and you need to cook baby back ribs as soon as possible, consider cooking them at higher temperatures. Don’t forget to test the doneness!
Refer to the table below for the approximate calculations for the cooking time of baby back ribs:
| Oven Temperature | Cooking Time For Baby Back Ribs |
| 225°F | 5 hours |
| 250°F | 4 hours |
| 300°F | 2 hours 30 minutes |
| 350°F | 2 hours |
| 400°F | 1 hour |
| 450°F | 45 minutes |
| 500°F | 25 to 30 minutes |
How To Cook Baby Back Ribs In The Oven
Cooking baby back ribs is not as difficult as you think it is. Here’s a guide on how to best cook them:
- Clean the baby back ribs with cold water and then remove the membrane (white layer on top of the bones) from its rack by using a knife tip to loosen it then carefully pull it away. You can also ask your butcher to remove it beforehand so you won’t have to do it.
- Season the ribs with a classic salt and pepper combination. You can try a spice rub by mixing brown sugar, paprika, pepper (white, black, and lemon), chili powder, and garlic. Also add some barbecue sauce into the mix.
- Preheat the oven at a lower heat from your desired temperature before baking the ribs. For example, if you choose to cook at 350°F, preheat at about 275°F or 300°F. Wrap the ribs in foil to keep in the moisture then bake for 2 hours at 350°F.
- Coat another layer of barbecue sauce (if you haven’t already) and let it grill for 10 minutes. Serve the baby back ribs with a sauce of your choice or as it is.
How To Tell If Baby Back Ribs Are Done
When baby back ribs hit an internal temperature of about 185°F to 200°F, the collagen of the meat is converted successfully into gelatin which is the source of the tenderness and juiciness of the ribs. At this part of cooking time, the baby back ribs are now ready for serving.
To further test the doneness, you can do the bend test using a pair of tongs and lift or slightly bounce it. If the rack is bending in the middle or if there are cracks on the meat, it is already done. You can also use a toothpick test and skewer the meat to check its doneness.
Other Favorite Food Cooking Guides
How To Speed Up The Cooking Time For Baby Back Ribs
Wrapping the baby back ribs in aluminum foil before putting it inside the oven with your chosen temperature will help speed up the entire cooking process.
For better results, an hour before cooking the ribs, you should take them out from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature. If your oven has a convection feature—the one that allows an internal fan to circulate the temperature you have chosen—turn it on. This also helps evenly cook the baby back ribs.
Can Baby Back Ribs Be Overcooked
Yes, it’s totally possible for baby back ribs to end up overcooked. The ribs will be too tough and chewy for you to eat and if the meat is sliding off the bone way too easily, that’s a sign that it’s been cooked too long. You can prevent the risk of overcooking baby back ribs by using a kitchen timer and thermometer.
What Happens If My Baby Back Ribs Are Still Tough
Easy, just cook them for longer. Toughness is a major sign that your baby back ribs are undercooked. A fool-proof tip in making sure your ribs come out just right is to slow-cook them so that the tissue is broken down easily or if you don’t have the time, make sure you have a thermometer with you.
What To Serve With Baby Back Ribs
There are tons of companions you can serve with baby back ribs. You can use side dishes such as mashed potatoes, potato salad, mac and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, sauteed vegetables, corn on the cob, cornbread, dinner rolls, and fritters.
For beverages, you can try some red wine varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. You can also use some classic beer, bourbon, rosé, and whisky. For non-alcoholic drinks, try red bull, soda, lemonade, root beer, sparkling water or cider, and even black tea.