Are you a fan of tender, juicy pork spare ribs but don’t have hours to spend cooking them?
Look no further than your trusty pressure cooker!
With the help of this handy kitchen appliance, you can have fall-off-the-bone ribs in a fraction of the time it would take to cook them in the oven or on the grill.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps for cooking pork spare ribs in a pressure cooker, including tips for marinating and seasoning them to perfection.
Get ready to impress your friends and family with your newfound rib-cooking skills!
How To Cook Pork Spare Ribs In Pressure Cooker?
Step 1: Prepare the Ribs
Before cooking your spare ribs in the pressure cooker, it’s important to prepare them properly. You can either leave them as is or trim them into St. Louis style ribs for a more uniform shape.
If you choose to marinate your ribs, mix garlic powder, onion powder, and apple cider vinegar together and brush the marinade all over the ribs. Generously season with ground black pepper and salt, then marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Step 2: Cook the Ribs
Add water, apple juice (or apple cider vinegar), and liquid smoke (optional) to your pressure cooker. Place the ribs upright, with the meat side facing out. If you’re using one large rack of ribs, circle them around the pot.
Secure the lid and close the vent. Press “manual” or “pressure cook” and cook on high pressure for 20-30 minutes, depending on how meaty the rack is. For frozen spare ribs, pressure cook on high for 42 minutes followed by 20 minutes of natural pressure release.
When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then turn the valve to quick release. Carefully remove ribs to a large, foil-lined baking sheet and slather them in BBQ sauce. Optional: broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the BBQ sauce.
Step 3: Make a Sauce
While the ribs are cooking, make a sauce with the cooking liquid in the pressure cooker. Let it rest for several minutes to allow the fat to rise to the surface. Spoon off and discard the fat from the surface of the cooking liquid.
Place the cooker over medium heat or turn it to “brown” or “saute” and bring the stock to a vigorous simmer. Cook until reduced to 1/3 of its original volume, then stir in mustard and brown sugar. Continue simmering until it resembles a thick syrup.
Step 4: Finish Under Broiler
Baste the bone side of the ribs with some of the mustard sauce. Slide them under the broiler until the sauce is bubbling, about 4 minutes. Turn them over, baste with remaining glaze, and return to broiler until warmed through, about 6 minutes.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!
Cut your pork spare ribs into serving sizes and serve immediately. Enjoy your deliciously tender and flavorful pork spare ribs!
Choosing The Right Pork Spare Ribs
When it comes to choosing the right pork spare ribs for your pressure cooker recipe, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, look for ribs that have good fat marbling, but not too much fat. This will ensure that your ribs are flavorful and tender without being too greasy.
Secondly, avoid slabs that have “shiners”, where the meat cutter cut too close to the bone so that the bone shows through the meat. These exposed bones may fall out during cooking, which can be messy and unappetizing.
Thirdly, choose slabs with good meat coverage over the bones and no large areas of surface fat. This will ensure that your ribs cook evenly and have a good meat-to-bone ratio.
Finally, if possible, try to avoid buying ribs that are frozen or have been previously frozen. While there may not be much difference in quality in the finished product, fresh ribs are generally considered to be the best option for pressure cooking.
Experiment with different sizes and cuts of pork spare ribs to find what works best for you. And remember, every slab is unique, so don’t be afraid to try different options and make adjustments as needed. With a little practice and patience, you’ll be able to cook up deliciously tender and flavorful pork spare ribs every time!
Preparing The Ribs For Pressure Cooking
To prepare your pork spare ribs for pressure cooking, start by rinsing them and patting them dry. If your ribs still have the thin, shiny membrane on the back, remove it by wiggling a dull knife between the membrane and the ribs to loosen it. Grip the membrane with a paper towel and pull it away, then discard.
In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Rub this spice mixture all over the ribs, generously coating all of the sides.
Place the trivet or rack in the bottom of your pressure cooker. Pour in water, apple cider vinegar, and liquid smoke. Place the ribs inside the pot, standing them on the trivet on their side and wrapping the rack around the inside of the pot like a circle. Secure the lid and close the vent.
Press “manual” or “pressure cook” and cook on high pressure for 20-30 minutes depending on how meaty the rack is. For frozen spare ribs, pressure cook on high for 42 minutes followed by 20 minutes of natural pressure release.
When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then turn the valve to quick release. Carefully remove ribs to a large, foil-lined baking sheet and slather them in BBQ sauce. Optional: broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the BBQ sauce.
By following these simple steps to prepare your pork spare ribs for pressure cooking, you’ll end up with deliciously tender and flavorful ribs that will be a hit with your family and friends.
Marinating The Ribs For Extra Flavor
Marinating your spare ribs before cooking them in the pressure cooker can add an extra layer of flavor to your dish. To prepare the marinade, mix together garlic powder, onion powder, and apple cider vinegar, and brush it generously all over the ribs. Season with ground black pepper and salt, and let the ribs marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
Marinating allows you to experiment with different flavors and tenderizing ingredients to achieve the results you want. The acids in the marinade help tenderize the meat and keep it tender as it cooks. However, keep in mind that some pitmasters will use an injectable marinade for pork ribs, so the same principle applies. While pork is heartier than poultry, fish, and seafood, it is more delicate than red meats like beef, lamb, and venison. Therefore, a shorter marinating time of 2-6 hours will yield better results for pork ribs.
If you’re short on time or prefer not to marinate your ribs, you can still achieve delicious results by seasoning them generously with dry rub before cooking. Simply coat each rack of rib top and bottom with dry rub mixture, massaging it in so it is evenly and well coated. Stack in a large foil roasting pan and cover with foil to let sit in the fridge for at least 8 hours. Preheat the pressure cooker and cook as directed above for fall-off-the-bone tender spare ribs.
Setting Up Your Pressure Cooker
To cook pork spare ribs in a pressure cooker, you need to set up your pressure cooker properly. Follow these steps to set up your pressure cooker for cooking pork spare ribs:
Step 1: Ensure that your pressure cooker is clean and dry. Place it on a sturdy countertop or table close to a power socket.
Step 2: Add water, apple juice (or apple cider vinegar), and liquid smoke (optional) to your pressure cooker. The amount of liquid you add depends on the size of your pressure cooker. Generally, you need to add enough liquid to cover the bottom of the pot.
Step 3: Place the ribs upright in the pressure cooker, with the meat side facing out. If you’re using one large rack of ribs, circle them around the pot.
Step 4: Secure the lid and close the vent. Make sure that the lid is properly locked into place.
Step 5: Press “manual” or “pressure cook” and cook on high pressure for 20-30 minutes, depending on how meaty the rack is. For frozen spare ribs, pressure cook on high for 42 minutes followed by 20 minutes of natural pressure release.
Step 6: When the timer beeps, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then turn the valve to quick release. Carefully remove ribs to a large, foil-lined baking sheet and slather them in BBQ sauce. Optional: broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the BBQ sauce.
By following these steps, you can set up your pressure cooker for cooking delicious and tender pork spare ribs.
Cooking The Ribs To Perfection
Cooking spare ribs in a pressure cooker is an excellent way to achieve fall-off-the-bone tenderness in a fraction of the time it would take to cook them in an oven or on a grill. However, it’s important to cook them correctly to ensure they turn out perfectly. Here are some tips to cook your pork spare ribs to perfection in a pressure cooker:
1. Add enough liquid: To prevent the ribs from drying out, it’s essential to add enough liquid to the pressure cooker. A mixture of water, apple juice, and liquid smoke (optional) works well for this purpose. The liquid should come up about halfway up the ribs.
2. Cook on high pressure: Set the pressure cooker to “manual” or “pressure cook” mode and cook the ribs on high pressure for 20-30 minutes depending on the size of your rack.
3. Natural release: After the cooking time is complete, allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 15 minutes before turning the valve to quick release.
4. Finish under broiler: Once you’ve removed the ribs from the pressure cooker, slather them with BBQ sauce and broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
5. Make a sauce: While the ribs are cooking, make a sauce with the cooking liquid in the pressure cooker. Reduce it down until it resembles a thick syrup, then stir in mustard and brown sugar.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to achieve perfectly cooked pork spare ribs in your pressure cooker every time!
Finishing Touches: Glazing And Seasoning
To add some extra flavor to your pork spare ribs, you can use a homemade dry rub or a store-bought seasoning blend. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Rub the mixture all over the ribs, generously coating all sides.
After pressure cooking the ribs, transfer them to a foil-lined baking sheet and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce. For a caramelized finish, broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes. You can also make a glaze using the cooking liquid from the pressure cooker. Spoon off any excess fat from the top of the liquid and simmer until reduced to a thick syrup. Stir in mustard and brown sugar for added flavor.
Once your ribs are fully cooked and glazed to perfection, serve them up and enjoy! These fall-off-the-bone tender pork spare ribs are sure to be a crowd-pleaser at any gathering or family dinner.