Pork Ribs

More Information on Pork Ribs

Here at Tom Hixson of Smithfield, we offer a range of pork ribs, from large St. Louis racks, to meaty spare ribs. All of our pork is sourced from the finest producers across the globe, all working alongside our expert team to provide you with the highest quality products.

Our Recommendations For Buying Pork Ribs

Ribs sourced from the finest Iberico pigs, including the Spanish black pig, are a firm customer favourite. Iberico meat is known for its distinctive flavour, due to the swine’s unique diet of acorns. It also features increased fat marbling compared to traditional pig breeds. Check out our ‘Iberico French Trimmed Rack’ for a show-stopping dinner centrepiece. If you want ribs for a more casual dining setting, try our ‘Iberico Baby Back Ribs’, which are incredibly succulent and full of flavour.

If you’re planning a BBQ for your friends and family, try the ‘Pork Baby Back Ribs’, perfect for cooking on the grill. You could also check out our meat boxes, which are ideal for cooking for a summer party or simply getting an amazing deal on top-quality meat. Our ‘Deluxe BBQ Box’ is, in particular, a great choice for feeding a large crowd, especially alongside ‘Iberico Spare Ribs’ and ‘USDA Short Ribs’. This box also contains Wagyu burgers and Iberico collar, both perfect for slow cooking.  

If you prefer to cook your meat using the ‘low and slow’ technique, we would recommend our ‘Smokers BBQ Box’, which contains large cuts of Boston Butts and USDA Brisket. It’s capable of feeding very large groups and includes two kinds of pork ribs that make sure you’ve got plenty to go around.

Pork Ribs FAQs

What Types Of Pork Rib Cut Are There?

Popular cuts of pork ribs include:

• Large St. Louis style ribs.
• Smaller baby back ribs.
• Spare ribs.

Each offer similar flavour profiles, but differ in shape, size and meat left on the bone.

What Are St. Louis Ribs?

Our ‘St. Louis Rack Of Ribs’ are our most popular BBQ ribs. They’re square-cut from the bottom section of the swine’s ribs, close to the belly. They are considerably meatier and typically larger in size than baby back ribs.

What Are Baby Back Ribs?

Baby back ribs are cut from the top of the rib cage, with its natural tapering contributing to one of the ribs’ ends being shorter. In terms of flavour, these are fairly close to spare ribs, but contain tender, leaner meat.

What Are Spare Ribs?

Our ‘Spare Ribs’ are cut from the same bone. This gives less meat than the St. Louis cut, but offers a much more tender meat.

Do Pork Ribs Need To Be Marinated?

Pork ribs offer a great flavour on their own, thanks to the high-fat content that renders into the meat during cooking. While it isn’t necessary to marinate or brine pork ribs, they are the perfect carrier for sweet, sticky sauces, or tasty dry rubs.

How Should You Cook A Rack Of Pork Ribs?

Traditionally, ribs are cooked on a grill or outside barbecue. However, you can also cook them in either an oven or slow cooker, which is best done on a low heat over a long period of time. This allows the meat to tenderise. Oven-baked ribs are the simplest way to get good-tasting food, but might not be as flavourful as slow-cooked meat. Slow-cooked ribs have a beautiful tender finish, particularly when paired with BBQ sauce.

Need inspiration for how to use your great quality pork? Check out our ‘BBQ Pork RIbs Recipe’, perfect for those summer months. 

What Is The 2-2-1 Method For Cooking Pork Ribs?

The ‘2-2-1’ method refers to the timings of the different stages of cooking ribs; a fool-proof way of getting deliciously tender meat. The method involves:

• 2: Smoke the unwrapped ribs for two hours.
• 2: Wrap the ribs in foil and smoke for a further two hours. 
• 1: Unwrap the ribs to cook and firm up for the last hour. 

What Is The 3-2-1 Method For Pork Ribs?

This method is similar to the ‘2-2-1’ method of cooking, but is more commonly used for pork spare ribs. It follows these rules:

• 3: For the first three hours, infuse the meat with a smokey flavour.
• 2: Next, steam the ribs for two hours to make it succulent.
• 1: For the final hour, baste and glaze the meat with a BBQ sauce.

What  Is The Difference Between Pork Ribs And Baby Back Ribs?

Despite the name, baby back ribs don’t come from piglets. They’re taken from around the loin, which is a muscle that runs down the pig’s back on either side of the spine. They are shorter than pork ribs and take less time to cook. Pork ribs, on the other hand, come from the belly of the pig and are often very succulent.

What Temperature Should Pork Ribs Be Cooked At?

The UK Food Standards Agency recommends that pork needs to reach an internal temperature of 75℃ for two minutes. This kills off any potentially harmful bacteri

Can I Freeze Pork Ribs?

All of our pork ribs are frozen and could begin to thaw out during the delivery process. We, therefore, recommend that you don’t re-freeze your ribs once you receive them. If you buy fresh ribs, you can freeze them - simply defrost in a fridge 24 hours before use.