One must consider several factors when learning how to cook ribs. Many otherwise good cooks take a very long time to learn this art and impress friends and family. However, learning how to cook ribs need not be as difficult as many initially make it out to be.

First of all, a good cookbook or some recipes found on cooking shows and by perusing the Internet will go a long way in providing enough information for a base. Take a look through a local bookstore or library, or type a phrase such as how to cook ribs into the search box on a Web browser. The best of the recipes will recommend flavors to try and what type of ribs to begin with, as well as cooking times and temperatures.

Visit the meat counter at the local grocery store and talk with the butcher about how to cook ribs. The butcher will be able to recommend what type of ribs and how big, and perhaps even cut a rack into an appropriate size for the customer. Always remember to mention how many people need to be fed with the meal to find the amount needed.

Then, depending upon the party’s favorite flavor, choose either beef or pork ribs. The most tender cut tends to be the spareribs. Seasoning the ribs always depends upon whether beef or pork will be cooked as well as what flavors the person enjoys on such meats. While some cooks will go for a bottled barbecue sauce to slather on the ribs and baste as they cook, others will choose a dry rub in order to create a more exotic flavor. Daring cooks even mix a dry rub into the wet sauce to create a taste all their own so they can enjoy the best of both worlds, generally by using the sauce to help the dry rub stick to the meat as they learn how to cook ribs.

Once the seasoning is added, the real question of how to cook ribs begins. Whether one cooks ribs in the oven or on the outdoor grill, to ensure tenderness, always cook the ribs at a lower temperature. This prevents the fat on the rib meat from melting away too quickly and causing dryness. Dry ribs contain stringy meat that gets caught in a diner’s teeth and takes away the enjoyment of the meal. Another great way to prevent this dryness while cooking ribs is to baste them frequently with barbecue or other sauce containing a flavor complimentary to that of any seasonings added before cooking. To capture the juices and all of the consequent flavors, some even tent the ribs with foil while cooking, and insist upon smoking them over the outdoor grill for added flavors.

Thus, one can see that learning how to cook ribs need not be difficult. Simple places to start for some hints include televised cooking shows, cookbooks at the library, and online sites geared toward cooking. Once the art of cooking ribs is mastered, the cook has learned a skill that will impress friends and family for many years to come.