Quick Answer
The ideal temperature to grill country style ribs is medium heat, around 350-375°F. This allows the ribs to cook slowly so they become tender and juicy without drying out. Cook for 60-90 minutes, turning occasionally, until the ribs reach an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Apply your favorite barbecue sauce during the last 10-15 minutes of grilling.
What Are Country Style Ribs?
Country style ribs, sometimes called pork loin back ribs, are cut from the blade end of the loin close to the pork shoulder. They contain less fat than spare ribs or baby back ribs. Country style ribs are meatier with more pork loin flavor rather than lots of fat.
Country style ribs are not actually ribs at all. They are cuts of meat from the shoulder end of the loin muscle of the pig. But because they contain bones and connective tissue, they are cooked like ribs.
Country style ribs tend to be more affordable than other rib cuts. They provide a great option for making flavorful, saucy ribs without spending a lot.
Benefits of Country Style Ribs
Some benefits of choosing country style ribs include:
- Less expensive than spare or loin ribs
- Leaner than ribs with higher fat content
- Contain bone and connective tissue so develop rib flavor
- Meatier texture than fattier rib cuts
- Readily absorb barbecue sauces and rubs
Country style ribs are a budget-friendly cut that delivers moist, tender results with the right grilling technique.
Why Grill Country Style Ribs?
Grilling is an excellent cooking method for country style ribs for these reasons:
- Adds delicious smoky barbecue flavor
- Allows fat to drip away, keeping ribs lean
- Provides controlled heat to break down connective tissue
- Creates caramelized exterior while cooking interior
- Lets you char ribs with sauce/rub at the end
The direct radiant heat of the grill sears the outside of the ribs, forming a tasty browned crust. Slow grilling gives the collagen in the ribs time to dissolve into tender gelatin. Grilling imparts that quintessential barbecue taste into the meat that you just can’t achieve through oven cooking.
What Temperature Should You Grill Country Style Ribs?
The ideal grilling temperature for country style ribs is medium heat, around 350-375°F. This relatively low temperature allows the ribs to cook slowly so they become extremely tender. It gives the collagen and connective tissues time to break down without drying out the meat.
Hotter temperatures above 400°F can overcook the exterior before the inside finishes cooking. Lower temperatures below 325°F may not adequately render out fat or soften tissues.
Aim to grill the ribs over a medium-low, indirect heat for best results. If needed, you can finish them over direct heat to char the outsides at the end. Use a grilling thermometer to monitor the temperature inside the grill.
Tips for Grilling at Medium Heat
Follow these tips for grilling country style ribs at a medium 350-375°F temperature:
- Preheat grill to desired temp before starting
- Use 2-zone fire with no flames directly under ribs
- Keep lid closed as much as possible
- Turn ribs every 20-30 minutes
- Move ribs over direct heat at end to sear exteriors
Proper temperature control and 2-zone grilling are key to achieving tender, fall-off-the-bone country style ribs.
How Long to Grill Country Style Ribs
Cook country style ribs for 60-90 minutes at medium heat, depending on thickness. Turn the ribs occasionally to prevent burning. Apply barbecue sauce during the final 10-15 minutes over direct heat to caramelize it onto the ribs.
Use the following cooking times based on rib thickness:
- 3/4 to 1 inch thick – Grill for 60-75 minutes
- 1 to 1 1/4 inch thick – Grill for 75-90 minutes
The ribs are done when they reach an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Check temperature in the thickest part of the meat with an instant read thermometer.
Tips for Getting Tender Ribs
Here are some tips to help country style ribs become fall-off-the-bone tender on the grill:
- Trim off any excess fat before grilling to prevent flare ups
- Grill low and slow over indirect heat
- Use rubs and marinades to help tenderize
- Flip ribs every 20-30 minutes for even cooking
- Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before cutting for juices to redistribute
Proper grilling time, temperature control, and resting produce deliciously tender and juicy country style ribs.
What Are the Best Woods for Grilling Country Style Ribs?
Certain wood chips and chunks pair especially well with pork ribs to enhance flavor. The best woods to use when grilling country style ribs are:
- Apple – Sweet, fruity smoke
- Cherry – Mildly sweet, fruity
- Pecan – Rich, nutty smoke
- Hickory – Classic, robust, bacon-like
- Maple – Mellow, subtly sweet
Soak wood chips in water for 30 minutes before grilling to help control smoke. Use chunks for longer smoking times. Play around with combinations like apple and cherry or pecan and hickory to layer flavors.
Should You Soak Wood for Grilling?
Soaking wood chips before grilling helps control the smoke. The water prevents them from burning up too quickly. Soak chips for at least 30 minutes, and drain before adding to grill.
Use wood chunks for longer grilling times, like smoking ribs or pork shoulder. No need to soak chunks since you want a slower, sustained smoke.
A combo of soaked chips and dry chunks provides both immediate and longer-lasting smoke. This gives great layered flavor for ribs and other meats.
How to Prepare Ribs Before Grilling
Proper preparation is key to grilling juicy, tender country style ribs:
Trim
Trim off any excess fat to prevent flare ups during grilling. Leave about 1/4 inch of fat intact to keep ribs moist.
Season
Rub ribs all over with a dry spice mix. Try combinations of brown sugar, chili powder, garlic and onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper and more.
Marinate
For extra flavor, marinate ribs for 1-2 hours in sauce ingredients. Baste with some marinade during grilling.
Partial Cook
For ultratender ribs, parboil for 20-30 minutes until beginning to get tender. Cool, pat dry, then grill as usual.
Cornstarch Slurry
Painting ribs with cornstarch slurry before grilling seals in juices and creates an ultra crispy crust.
How to Grill Perfect Country Style Ribs
Follow these simple steps for flawlessly grilled country style ribs:
- Prep ribs by trimming, seasoning, and marinating if desired. Allow to sit at room temperature 30 minutes before grilling.
- Preheat grill to medium heat, 350-375°F, with 2 zones – indirect and direct heat.
- Place ribs over indirect heat, close lid, and grill 60-90 minutes until 145°F.
- Flip and rotate ribs every 20-30 minutes for even cooking.
- During the last 10-15 minutes, move ribs over direct heat. Glaze with barbecue sauce to caramelize.
- Remove ribs from grill and let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
Proper prep, temperature control, flipping, glazing – follow these steps and you’ll master grilling incredible country style ribs every time.
How to Tell When Ribs Are Done Grilling
It can be tricky to pinpoint exactly when ribs are finished cooking. Here are some ways to test when country style ribs are done:
– Temperature – Use an instant read thermometer to check internal temperature in thickest part. Ribs are done at 145°F.
– Toothpick test – Stick a toothpick into the meat and it should slide in and out without resistance.
– Bend test – Pick up ribs with tongs. Meat should crack slightly and start separating from the bones.
– Visual test – Meat will have pulled back from the ends of the bones about 1/4 inch.
– Time – Follow recommended grilling times based on thickness, turning occasionally.
Checking these signs will help you determine when ribs are perfectly cooked without overdoing it.
Common Grilling Mistakes
It’s easy to make mistakes when grilling country style ribs. Here are some common errors and how to avoid them:
Choosing Lean Ribs
Go for ribs with some fat marbling instead of super lean. The fat keeps ribs tender and moist during grilling.
Grilling Over Direct Heat
Don’t grill over direct heat the whole time. Use indirect heat and only sear at the end.
Burning Flare-Ups
Trim excess fat before grilling to prevent excessive flare-ups from burning ribs.
Cooking at High Temp
Avoid high heat above 400°F which can overcook ribs before inside is done.
Saucing Too Early
Only glaze ribs in the last 10-15 minutes or sauce will burn.
Cutting Ribs Too Soon
Let ribs rest at least 5-10 minutes after grilling so juices redistribute before cutting.
Avoid these common mistakes for perfectly cooked country style ribs every time.
How to Tell if Ribs Are Overcooked
It’s easy to overcook ribs on the grill if you aren’t careful. Here’s how to tell if your country style ribs are overdone:
– Meat has pulled away from the bones a lot, looks shrunken
– Ribs feel very dry without any moisture
– Exterior is charred black in spots
– Meat has dark, dry spots
– Interior looks grey throughout
– Chewy or tough texture
At the first signs of overcooking, remove ribs from grill immediately and check temperature. Let rest before serving or ribs will be dry. Learn from any mistakes and adjust time or temp next time.
How to Rescue Overcooked Ribs
If your country style ribs are slightly overcooked, try these tricks to rescue them:
– Wrap in foil and let rest longer to redistribute juices
– Cut into individual bones so dry outer layers fall off
– Coat with extra barbecue sauce to add moisture
– Chop or shred meat off bones for pulled pork style
– Dice and simmer in braising liquid to rehydrate
– Use meat in another dish like tacos, nachos or sandwiches
While you can’t undo overcooking, there are ways to recover at least some tender and juicy meat from ribs. Get it right next time with the proper grilling guidelines.
Serving Suggestions
Country style ribs pair well with various flavors. Consider these tasty serving suggestions:
Barbecue Sauces
– Tomato based, sweet and tangy
– Vinegar style, like Carolina barbecue
– Mustard sauce, with tangy zip
– Fruit based with pineapple, peach or apricot
– Bourbon, whiskey or beer infused
Sides
– Corn on the cob, grilled or roasted
– Coleslaw – vinegary or creamy
– Potato salad
– Baked beans
– Corn bread or biscuits
– Macaroni and cheese
– Collard greens
– Creamed spinach or other greens
Drinks
– Iced tea – sweet, unsweet or Arnold Palmer
– Lemonade or limeade
– Beer like lager, wheat or amber ale
– Bourbon, whiskey or rye
– Wine like Zinfandel, Sangiovese or Sauvignon Blanc
With so many possibilities, you can create the perfect barbecue meal to enjoy your finger lickin’ good country style ribs!
Grilling Tips for Perfect Country Style Ribs
Here are some top grilling tips for serving up the best country style ribs:
- Grill over indirect medium heat around 350-375°F.
- Use a dry rub plus marinade for extra flavor.
- Flip ribs every 20-30 minutes while grilling.
- Insert a few wood chunks or chips for smoky flavor.
- Brush ribs with sauce only during the last 10-15 minutes.
- Let ribs rest 5-10 minutes before cutting to serve.
- Check for doneness at 145°F internal temperature.
- Cut into individual ribs before serving.
Mastering medium heat grilling and avoiding common mistakes will let you turn out mouthwatering country style ribs every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about making country style ribs on the grill:
What’s the difference between country style ribs and spare ribs?
Country style ribs come from the loin muscle near the pork shoulder. Spare ribs are from the belly and side of the pig.
Do you remove membrane from country ribs?
Yes, peel off the thin translucent membrane for more tender grilled ribs.
Should country ribs be marinated?
Marinating for 1-2 hours adds great flavor. Reserve some marinade to baste while grilling.
Do you flip country ribs while grilling?
Yes, flip ribs every 20-30 minutes for even cooking on both sides.
What temp do you cook country ribs in the oven?
Cook in the oven at 300°F for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until tender.
How can you tell if country ribs are bad?
Discard ribs if they have a sour, ammonia smell or are slimy.
Can you grill country ribs from frozen?
Partially thaw first for 1-2 hours at room temp before grilling frozen ribs.
Is bone-in or boneless better for grilling?
Bone-in is better. The bones add moisture and flavor during grilling.
Conclusion
Grilling country style ribs at around 350-375°F for 60-90 minutes delivers finger-licking results. Allow collagen to break down into tender gelatin without drying out the meat. Flip occasionally and glaze with sauce at the end. Rest before cutting for juicy, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Master the medium heat grilling method and enjoy your new go-to for barbecue perfection at home. Delight family and friends with tender, saucy country style ribs off the grill this weekend.