How to Make that Perfect Barbecued Spare Rib Dinner
Barbecued spare ribs is one of America's favorite summertime foods and one that so few people actually know how to prepare. It is a shame that this meal is generally only shared with family and friends but maybe once per year, if that. I've never met a person who did not like barbecued spare ribs so it is a complete mystery why it is not made more often; seems that instead it is reserved for those barbecue competitions or only on the 4th of July. Not only is barbecued spare ribs a wonderful meal, but when you compare prices to other meats it is really reasonable considering all the people that you can feed with just 3 or 4 racks of spare ribs.
When prepared barbecued spare ribs you first need to decide if you want smoked ribs or oven-cooked ribs. Both can be delicious when done right, although the expert barbecue cooks will say that only the smoked ribs version is worthy. The first thing you will want to do is to rinse the racks of spare ribs well with cold water. Warm water fosters bacterial growth while cold generally inhibits it.
Coat the ribs with a thick mixture of mustard, cola, brown sugar, pepper, and lime juice. Use garlic and sea salt too if you prefer those tastes. Let ribs rest in refrigerator for several hours or overnight. For oven preparation you should cook in for 6 hours at 255 degrees. Add 1 bottle of barbecue sauce with about 1 hour to go and uncover. Make sure that the spare ribs are in an oven safe metal pan and that the pan is tightly covered. Be careful of the steam when opening lid after they are done. Serve the ribs hot with fried potato slices and a bean salad -- yummy !!
If you are going to smoke the spare ribs then you will want to start you grill and gather or buy some small chunks of wood that you can use to produce the smoky flavor. Soak the wood prior to using in a mixture of water and soy sauce. Place the ribs on the grill as far away from the actual heat source as possible. If you are using a traditional smoker then that won't be a problem but if you are using a regular charcoal or gas grill please consult your user's manual to see if smoking is safe.
