When planning a barbecue or any meal featuring ribs as the main course, one of the most important decisions is determining how many ribs to cook and serve per person. This depends on several factors including the type and size of ribs, whether other food is being served, and the appetite of your guests. Having the right ratio of ribs per guest is crucial for ensuring everyone gets their fill without having too many leftovers. Quick answers to key questions can help guide you in planning the right ribs to serve ratio.
How many ribs are in a rack?
Ribs are sold in racks which can vary in size depending on the type of rib. Here’s a quick overview:
– Baby back ribs – A rack has 13-15 ribs
– Spareribs – A rack has 11-13 ribs
– Beef short ribs – A rack has 12-14 ribs
– Beef back ribs – A rack has 6-8 ribs
So on average, a full rack will have 12-14 ribs depending on the cut. This is an important baseline number for calculating how many racks you need to purchase per person.
How much meat is on a rack of ribs?
The amount of edible meat on a rack of ribs will depend on the rib type and cooking method.
– Baby back ribs – 1.5 to 2.5 lbs of meat per rack
– Spareribs – 2.5 to 3.5 lbs of meat per rack
– Beef short ribs – 2 to 2.5 lbs per rack
– Beef back ribs – 1.5 to 2 lbs per rack
As you can see, pork ribs like baby backs and spareribs yield more meat per rack compared to beef ribs. And using a moist cooking method like braising can maximize meat versus dry methods like grilling.
How many ribs should I serve per person?
The ideal rib serving size per person depends on the type of ribs and your guests’ appetites.
For average appetites:
– Baby back ribs – 2-3 ribs
– Spareribs – 2-4 ribs
– Beef short ribs – 3-4 ribs
– Beef back ribs – 2-3 ribs
For hearty appetites:
– Baby back ribs – 4 ribs
– Spareribs – 5-6 ribs
– Beef short ribs – 5 ribs
– Beef back ribs – 4 ribs
These serving sizes provide around 1 pound of ribs per person which is considered an average to hearty portion size. Adjust up or down depending on your crowd.
How many racks of ribs should I cook for a group?
Figuring out how many full racks of ribs to cook for a party is easy once you know the serving sizes above. Here are some estimates:
For 10 average appetite adults:
– Baby back ribs – 4-5 racks
– Spareribs – 3-5 racks
– Beef short ribs – 3-4 racks
– Beef back ribs – 5-6 racks
For 10 hearty appetite adults:
– Baby back ribs – 7-8 racks
– Spareribs – 6-8 racks
– Beef short ribs – 6-7 racks
– Beef back ribs – 8-10 racks
Purchase racks accordingly and cook 1-2 extra for good measure. Having leftovers is better than not having enough.
How can I determine portions if ribs are pre-cut or purchased individually?
If you don’t purchase full rib racks, you can still estimate portions using the following general guidelines:
For average appetites:
– Allow 1⁄2 pound of baby back rib meat per person
– Allow 3⁄4 – 1 pound of sparerib meat per person
– Allow 1⁄2 – 3⁄4 pound of beef rib meat per person
For hearty appetites:
– Allow 3⁄4 – 1 pound of baby back rib meat per person
– Allow 1 – 1 1⁄4 pounds of sparerib meat per person
– Allow 1 pound of beef rib meat per person
Weigh your pre-cut rib portions and divide by the recommended serving sizes above to determine approximately how many people they will feed.
What about side dishes and appetizers?
If you are serving a full spread of sides and appetizers along with ribs, you may be able to reduce the rib portions a bit.
A good rule of thumb is to reduce rib servings by 25% if serving 2 or more hearty side dishes. Or reduce by 50% if serving a full buffet spread with multiple proteins.
For example, for 10 average appetite guests with 2 hearty sides like coleslaw and cornbread, purchase 2-3 racks of baby backs instead of 4-5 racks.
Having a variety of sides and proteins helps ensure guests don’t overload on just ribs.
Should I factor in bone weight?
Ribs have a good amount of bone weight that you don’t eat. Here are the general edible meat yields after cooking for common rib types:
| Rib Type | Edible Meat Yield |
|---|---|
| Baby Back Ribs | 50% – 60% |
| Spareribs | 65% – 75% |
| Beef Short Ribs | 65% – 70% |
| Beef Back Ribs | 55% – 60% |
So you’ll need to purchase up to twice as many raw ribs than the final cooked portions. It’s smart to account for this yield when shopping and budgeting.
Should I cook extra ribs?
It’s always smart to cook 10-20% more ribs than you think you’ll need. You can keep leftovers refrigerated for 3-4 days and reheat or use for meals throughout the week.
Ribs also have a tendency to shrink a bit during cooking. So extra gives you a buffer if some ribs finish smaller than expected.
Cook more if you want ample leftovers for lunches or don’t want to risk running short on servings for your guests. Any uneaten cooked ribs can be frozen as well.
How can I estimate portion sizes at a restaurant?
If you want to order the right amount of ribs when dining out, here are some average restaurant serving sizes:
Full rack servings:
– Baby back ribs – 1 rack, 2-3 people
– Spareribs – 1 rack, 3-4 people
– Beef ribs – 1 rack, 3-4 people
Half rack servings:
– Baby back ribs – 1-2 people
– Spareribs – 2-3 people
– Beef ribs – 2-3 people
Single servings:
– About 1 pound or 4-6 individual ribs
Know that portion sizes can vary greatly by restaurant. Check with your server if you need a more accurate estimate for their ribs offerings.
What are the most important factors in determining portions?
The key factors to consider when deciding how many ribs to cook and serve per person are:
– Type and size of ribs (baby back, spareribs, etc)
– Whether you are serving any accompanying side dishes
– Appetite of your guests (average vs hearty eaters)
– Raw weight to cooked, edible meat yield
– Number of people you are serving
– Whether you want leftovers
As long as you account for these factors when shopping and prepping, you can determine the right rib ratios for your particular meal and guests.
Conclusion
Figuring out the right amount of ribs to buy, cook, and serve per person is an important part of meal planning. On average, plan for 2-4 ribs per person depending on rib type and appetite. To serve a party, estimate 3-5 racks for 10 average eaters. Reduce portions if serving ample sides. Cook extra ribs for leftovers. With the handy quick answers provided above as a guide, you can determine the perfect quantity of ribs for any occasion. Applying these simple rules of thumb will help you avoid having too many leftovers or worse, running short on this tasty barbecue staple.