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Home » Instant Pot

Instant Pot Ribs Ultimate 4 Way Test

Published: Apr 13, 2019 · Modified: Sep 16, 2024 by Steven Pennington · This post may contain affiliate links | disclosure policy

Instant Pot Ribs Ultimate 4 Way Test
↓ Jump to Recipe 📹 YouTube

Pot Ribs Ultimate 4 Way Test

Our first Instant Pot Ribs video on youtube, "Fall Off The Bone Instant Pot Ribs" video did pretty well, we are number three on youtube for the search term "Instant Pot Ribs".

fall off the bone instant pot ribs

Fall Off The Bone Instant Pot Ribs - Recipe Link

The video received a ton of comments, hundreds of comments, and a lot of them were people telling me to take off the membrane. Wow, do I agree with them, or do I?

When it comes to proper BBQ technique taking the rib membrane off is a sign you know what you're doing.

When using the Instant Pot and pressure cooking the rules can change. I say "Can" because the Instant Pot doesn't just make the membrane an ok thing to keep on. Matter of fact I'm going to show you how to use the Instant Pot with the membrane OFF and how to use it with the membrane ON. And both are perfection.

Watch Our How-To Video:

https://youtu.be/e7563ejoVGg

Ribs cooked 4 ways in the Instant Pot is the ultimate test for cooking ribs in the Instant Pot under pressure. You will get to see what the done product will look like, then you can make your mind up on what you like best.  Seeing is believing. Watch the entire short video to get the full picture. Please comment on the video and tell me your thoughts on which way is best...

How To Prepare The Ribs for Cooking In The Instant Pot

Since this is the ultimate Instant Pot Rib test we will be using both Baby Back Ribs & Spare Ribs. The first thing we need to do is inspect the racks of Ribs, looking for any pieces of meat that need to be cut off and removed. The Baby Back Rib meat comes from the spine region of the pig and the Spare Rib is the extension of the Baby Back Rib down the rib cage. Preparing the Spare Ribs takes a little extra effort sometimes. You will find Spare Ribs packaged two ways. First is the full rack and has something called the shelf attached. Second is the clean-cut rack of ribs called St Louis cut. If you get the full Spare Rib package you can cut off the shelf pretty easily and shape up the ribs.

inspecting the baby back ribs and the spare ribs

St Louis spare ribs cleaned and trimmed up

st louis spare ribs cleaned and trimmed up

Now it's time to cut each rack of ribs in half. For the Ultimate Instant Pot Rib Test, we will cook half a rack of Baby Back Ribs and half a rack of Spare Ribs at the same time. One with the membrane off and one test with the membrane on. Now, I'm a BBQ guy from Texas. I get it about removing the membrane for sure as well as anyone. I'm telling you one of these tests will allow you to keep the membrane on and you will not be able to tell.

How To Remove The Pork Membrane From The Ribs

I like using the back of a spoon. Try to wedge it in between the bone and the meat until it begins to come off. Then use a paper towel to grip the membrane and softly pull back on the membrane moving across the rack of Ribs. Often, if you have patience it will come off all in one piece.

How To Remove The Pork Membrane From The Ribs

The Membrane: Instant Pot Pork Ribs

do you think the membrane can be softened in the instant pot

Do you think the membrane can be softened in the instant pot? I can see hundreds of opinions on this topic. It's actually the reason I did this post, to begin with. I have a video on YouTube called Fall off the bone baby back ribs in the Instant Pot. It's in position 1 to 3 depending on your location, search word Instant Pot Ribs. I received a ton of comments about removing the membrane. And I'm like-minded with them. We remove the membrane, or do we? I will tell you with a 1,000,000 % confidence I have a way to cook them with it on and you will not be able to tell. Plus the Ribs will not just fall apart in the Instant Pot. Which can happen.

Here's why there's confusion about this. Most people are not professional cooks when comes to cooking under "Pressure". Most don't know about pressure cooking and what can happen while cooking under pressure. It is new to a lot of people.  I can tell you I've learned and had fun while learning about pressure cooking. It's why this post is here, to help you understand it works. Trial and error, right?

Here's a picture of cooked Instant Pot Ribs WITH NO SAUCE and with the Membrane On - also the Ribs are intact - Fall OFF The Bone - awesome!!!

instant pot ribs with membrane on and fall of the bone ribs

instant pot ribs membrane off

Making a BBQ Sauce & Dry Rub for the Instant Pot Ribs

No matter which way you choose to make your Instant Pot Ribs they will need a sauce and some seasoning. I suggest seasoning the ribs the day before or at least a few hours beforehand.

Signup below for our newsletter and get our secret BBQ Dry Rub Recipe sent to you.

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Here is our original Instant Pot Ribs Blog Post Below

instant pot baby back ribs

To See The Full Conclusion of the Ultimate Instant Pot Ribs Test We Invite You To Watch The Video. Please Enjoy

Instant Pot Ribs Ultimate 4 Way Test

📖 Recipe

bbq sauce recipe secret ingredient revealed

Secret BBQ Sauce Recipe

Steven Pennington
Special personal favorite BBQ sauce
4.73 from 11 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course BBQ Sauce
Cuisine BBQ

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Ketchup Hunts Brand – No High Fructose Corn Syrup Helpful with controlling the sweet level yourself.
  • 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
  • 2 teaspoon Honey Mustard Use what you like
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Favorite hot sauce add all ingredient first then taste season and adjust before adding more hot sauce
  • TOP Secret Ingredient:
  • Wasabi Sauce – Wasabi is not HOT but is spicy it’s strongly floral and fragrant like horseradish. What makes it a secret flavor weapon. The heat side of the Wasabi is up front then quickly calms down. Not like spicy peppers that have capsaicin, which is an oil. Once the oil from a pepper touches your tongue that spiciness isn’t going away quickly like Wasabi does.
  • 2 to 3 teaspoon Wasabi sauce/paste
  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • pinch of Salt & Fresh Cracked Black Pepper to taste
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Mix Ingredient together starting with adding the tomato ketchup first then all other ingredients there afterward.
Keyword Secret BBQ Sauce Recipe

More Instant Pot Recipes

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    Hard Boiled Eggs In Instant Pot: Easy Peel
  • Chili Con Queso Recipe
    Best Chile Con Queso | Southwest Classic
  • Instant Pot Traditional Texas Chili
    Instant Pot Texas Chili Recipe
  • Instant pot chicken breast
    Instant Pot Chicken Breast: Quick and Easy

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  1. Anonymous says

    June 06, 2023 at 9:22 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I'm glad I found this recipe again. We're making this for the second time. Thanks for sharing it! 🙂

    Reply

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