Why Did My Ribs Come Out Tough? Ribs need to cook slowly at low temperatures. If they cook too quickly, especially over high heat, the meat how long do you par boil pork ribs before grilling be tough and dry.
Should you encounter this issue, try wrapping the ribs in foil and putting them back on the smoker over low heat. Rib meat is located close to the bone, and it contains a great deal of connective tissue and fat. As such, it needs to cook for a long time, preferably over low heat. When ribs are done right, the meat will be tender and moist. There are a few different types of pork ribs, and which one you choose will affect the cooking technique.
Understanding the difference between the various types will help you get the results you want. These large, impressive-looking ribs come from the underbelly of the hog, where the meat is rich and fatty. This gives them a ton of pork flavor, but the high fat content—coupled with their size—means they take a long time to cook. Louis-style ribs is just a rack of spare ribs that’s been trimmed to remove the sternum and lower cartilage. Butchers and pitmasters take this step to make the rack look more presentation-worthy, and the uniform shape makes for easier handling. That’s because they’re cut from the top portion of the rib cage, near the loin. Despite the misleading name, baby backs aren’t taken from younger animals.