What to Look For in Great Ribs

Ribs are unfortunately overlooked in a lot of foodie circles. They can be a very diverse dish, but most tend to associate them with less-refined or lower-quality food. There’s absolutely no reason this has to be true, however, if you know where to look. Rib City, located on the web at ribcityutah.com and in person in Salt Lake City, is a great example of a rib place that takes things to the next level. If you’d like to give great ribs a shot, the following is what you need to look for to find the best.

First, always go with barbecued ribs. Barbecuing ribs has a very different result as compared to baking them. Baking ribs is great at home; it can soften up the meat and lead it to nearly fall off the bone. However, this isn’t what you want to look for in restaurant ribs. You want to look for barbecued ribs specifically because these create a very different consistency. This will produce firmer meat that shreds when bitten into, as well as a crispy skin. This is great for actually experiencing the flavor of the sauces, rubs and other things offered on them.

Ken’s BBQ Ribs – recipe soon here! 🙂

Sauces and rubs are what you want to look for next. Generally, you want to find a location that offers either a very broad variety of sauces and spices on their ribs, or else a location that only has a single signature recipe or two. These are generally great hallmarks for specialist locations for ribs, and you can bet on higher-quality ribs in these places. The sauces and rubs used by different locations are what you want to look for because these are what make different makes of ribs truly different, more than the origin of the meat or the method of their cooking.

Finally, don’t be afraid to use additional dipping sauces or whatever else might be offered at the table. Some flavors round out better with an application of ranch or bleu cheese to taste. While this would be a faux pas with some foods, there’s no shame in it with even the highest-quality ribs. As a rule, you’ll want to do this more with sauced ribs than spiced ribs, as these tend to mingle the flavors better.

A great rib experience is very possible for any foodie, even if you’ve overlooked them up to now. Don’t be afraid to get out there and give something new a try. You might just find a new favorite!

Photo credit: Splendid Table, Savory Reviews