How do you tell if you have baby back ribs or spare ribs?

Whereas spare ribs come from the belly area, baby back ribs are taken from around loin, the muscle that runs along the pig’s back on either side of the spine. They’re curvier and shorter than spareribs (hence, the diminutive “baby”) with lots of lean meat both between and on top of the bones.

How do I know if my ribs are pork or beef?

It varies from cut to cut, but generally speaking, pork ribs are reasonably lean, at least when compared to beef ribs. The lower on the rib cage you go, the more the meat-to-fat ratio slides over to the fatty side, and the rib tips are mostly fat.

What do spare ribs look like?

Spareribs are the meaty ribs cut from the belly of the animal after the belly is removed. They are usually trimmed down into the popular St. Louis-style spareribs by cutting away the hard breastbone and chewy cartilage, so the slab is more rectangular in shape.

Are pork loin back ribs Baby Backs?

Because the ribs are small—usually 3-6 inches long, depending on the size of the pig—they’re more commonly referred to as “baby back ribs.” You might also see them labeled as “pork loin ribs” or simply “back ribs.” The truth is, pork loin back ribs and baby back ribs are the exact same cut.

What’s the difference between side ribs and back ribs?

Back ribs are more tender and meaty than side ribs, and therefore also more expensive. When cooking, treat them the same way you would side ribs. Both back ribs and side ribs lend themselves well to a spice rub or a marinade, which helps to break down the connective tissue before cooking.

Are baby back ribs pork?

Out of these two types of pork ribs, baby back ribs (or loin ribs) are the cuts of pork taken from the upper portion of the rib cage that connects to the spine. Baby backs tend to have shorter bones and leaner meat, while spare ribs are typically fattier and have juicier meat.

Are baby back ribs made from beef or pork?

Pork back ribs (sometimes called baby back ribs) come from high on the back of the hog where they meet the backbone. They’re the ribs that are found in bone-in pork rib loin chops, but the loin has been removed to make a boneless pork loin, leaving just the rack of ribs.

Do baby back or spare ribs have more meat?

Compared to baby backs, spare ribs have more meat between the bones and less meat on top, and that meat generally has more marbling (and more flavor).

Do you cook spare ribs and baby back ribs the same?

Since both styles are cooked the same way, you can substitute baby back ribs for spare ribs and vice versa. Just note that because they are smaller, if you substitute baby backs for spare ribs, you will need to almost double the amount to feed the same number of people.

What is the difference between spare ribs and short ribs?

The world of ribs can be confusing. Beef spare ribs are more accurately known as beef back ribs. These are taken from the cow’s rib section and are the long ribs most often associated with barbecued beef ribs. Short ribs, however, are beef ribs taken from the plate cut.