Air Fryer Country Style Ribs

Crafting the perfect barbecue can really feel like a Herculean task, particularly when grilling outside on a sweltering day morphs into a steamy marathon.

An air fryer, hence becomes a splendid solution as it is quicker and gives the meat an even better bbq flavor.

Add a nice cut of meat like the country style rib and your weekend can only get better.

This is a great way to bring the family together to enjoy savory meat over some drinks as you wind up your week.

History of the country style ribs

The crazy thing with the country style ribs is that they are not ribs or a fancy name for a meat recipe.

They are small steak cuts made by splitting the chuck primal to resemble meaty ribs.

The rib end of a pork loin is cut into two, just inches from the backbone to get a succulent chunk of meat, eye-catching at the meat display.

However, things were not as rosy when Cliff Bowes discovered the cut and named it country style ribs back in the late 60s.

The meat cutter, like other butchers, was having a hard time selling the rib end of a pork loin.

This was because it looks terribly bony and fatty, hence would end up ground for sausage after removing the bones.

Cliff discovered that by cutting the bone about an inch from the backbone and splitting it into a trifold, he ended up with a nice-looking steak that resembled chops.

That is how a cut that would end up being so popular was born and named country style ribs.

Today, other cuts of meat, such as the sirloin end of a pork loin and the boneless chuck eye steak are cut into strips and sold as country style ribs.

The fatty meat makes it ideal for barbeque and should be cooked slowly over low heat.

When the meat is lean, it is best cooked hot and quick, like a chop.

Air fryer country style ribs recipe

Ingredients

●10 country style ribs

●Garlic powder

●Favorite BBQ sauce

●Smoked paprika

●Ground black pepper

Preparation instructions

Prepare 2 ½ pounds of pork ribs to get ten country style ribs.

The blade bone should not worry you as it will not affect how the meat cooks There will also be some fat on the ribs, which is excellent because it will melt and give the meat flavor and crispiness.

Use the barbeque sauce and your preferred pork seasoning and mix it with paprika, garlic powder, ground mustard, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl for seasoning.

1.Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 370 degrees F.

2.The pork will have excess fat attached to it, so as the air fryer heats, pat the meat with paper towels. split the country style rib rack so that it fits the air fryer and remove the membrane which is at the back of the ribs.

3.Cut any large pieces to fit the size of the air fryer. Put the ribs on a cutting board and sprinkle the seasoning. Rub the seasoning to coat nicely, then turn over and repeat on the other side to ensure the meat is evenly flavored.

4.Grease the inside of the air fryer with oil and put the ribs in a single layer.

5.Cook the meat for 10 minutes, then turn them with tongs and cook the other side for 10 minutes. Brush the air fryer with ¾ cup BBQ sauce. Increase the fryer’s heat to 400 degrees F and cook each side for an additional 10 minutes or until they have browned and crisped to your liking. Wrap them nicely in an aluminum foil and repeat the process for the remaining ribs.

6.Once done, garnish with a sprinkle of parsley and serve with extra bbq sauce on the side.

BBQ sauce

You can buy a BBQ sauce from the store or prepare your favorite at home.

Here is a simple recipe for an easy-to-make sweet and sticky sauce for your air fryer country style ribs.

Ingredients

●2 tablespoons brown sugar

●1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

●½ cup ketchup

●½ teaspoon ground cumin

●1 tablespoon olive oil

●Salt and pepper

Preparation

Combine the ingredients in a saucepan then heat over medium-low heat until the salt and sugar dissolve completely.

Tips to make the best air fryer country style ribs

1.Remove the membrane to make your ribs tender and have more flavor.

2.Preheating the air fryer first will help avoid the ribs not sticking to the basket.

3.How you arrange your meat in the basket is important. Ensure they are as separate as possible and try not to overlap them so that they cook evenly.

4.After adding the BBQ sauce to the meat, increasing the temperature will help give the meat a crunchier crust and also make the sauce sticky and yummy.

5.During the last minutes of cooking, turn the ribs from time to time while monitoring them closely so that they won’t burn.

To boil the country style ribs or not

Some recipes recommend parboiling the country style ribs before putting them on a grill or air fryer.

This is when you bring a pot of water to a boil and immerse the meat for 3 to 4 minutes before you take it out.

It is done to tenderize and make the country style ribs easier to remove the membrane.

Boiling also makes it easier to remove the excess fat if you don’t like it.

After the preparation, rub the marinades on the meat and put it in the air fryer.

While this style is a preference to some, barbeque lovers can argue that boiling the meat releases and lose some of its natural flavors

Losing its water might also result in the country style ribs becoming a bit dry.

Whether to parboil or not is a matter of preference.

Ideal storage for air fryer country style ribs

Cooked ribs are prone to bacterial growth when at room temperature and will spoil fast.

To be on the safe side, refrigerate within 2 hours.

To properly store in the fridge, cool the leftover ribs, put them in airtight containers then refrigerate.

You can also wrap it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freezer

If you want the southern style ribs to stay for much longer, freeze them.

Put them in airtight freezer bags and put them in the freezer.

They should last for 2 to 3 months and still be consumable.

Thawing frozen air fryer country style ribs

The best way to thaw your frozen southern style ribs is to put them in the fridge a day before or overnight so that they can defrost slowly.

Reheating air fryer country style ribs

Reheating your leftover cold southern style ribs will require care so that they won’t lose moisture and harden.

Properly done, your meat will retain its juiciness and have a savory taste rather than a bland one.

oven

1.Preheat the oven to 270 degrees F. Low temperature is ideal so that they do not dry out.

2.Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce.

3.Wrap the ribs in aluminum foil. Put the foil in a baking pan so that it won’t burn your hands when taking it out of the oven. Wrapping in the aluminum will also help cook evenly and kill microbes so that your meat will retain its original flavor.

4.Cook the meat wrapped for about 20 minutes. Use a meat temperature to ensure the ribs reach a temperature of 145 degrees F.

5.Unwrap and continue for another 7 minutes. Since the meat is no longer wrapped, if it cooks longer, you risk drying or burning it.

Using an air fryer

If you want your leftover ribs to have a crunchy outer crust, use the air fryer to reheat.

1.Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F.This temperature will kill all microorganisms in red meat making it safe for consumption.

2.If you want the ribs to be a little juicier, add a teaspoon or two of oil.

3.Cook for about 5 to 8 minutes. Reheating them for longer might leave them dry.

Steaming the ribs

●Steaming is the healthiest method to reheat your southern style ribs and leave the proteins intact. Using a broth instead of water is great to add flavor to the meat as well as make it juicier.

●Boil the broth and for a fancier flavor, add apple or orange juice to it.

●Once it starts to boil, put your ribs in a steamer basket and place it above the broth.

●Steam for 30 to 45 minutes for tastier ribs.

●When the ribs have heated up nicely, place them in a shallow bowl and pour the remaining broth on top to make them even more sumptuous.

Microwaving

●If the ribs are in larger chunks, slice them so that they cook evenly and faster.

●Put the ribs between two damp towels. If they are not damp enough, sprinkle some water, or for more flavor, wet them with marinade.

●Microwave and use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F.

Conclusion

When you want an easy barbeque plan, prepare a nice homemade air fryer country style ribs. It is easy to prepare but will elevate your meat game to another level.

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